After two years of hard work the Kappa Sigma fraternity has finally obatained its official charter. At first the fraternity struggled to obtain members on a campus that is not predominantly Greek.
“It was hard to find 50 guys who were willing to take a chance,” said Tim Vanthournout, Kappa Sigma treasurer, “because anytime you join something new, you are taking a chance.”
“It’s very exciting, especially after you’ve worked two years for it,” said Kappa Sigma president Kris Triplett. “What it took was a group of guys who said ‘I’m not going to give up until it gets done. I will not be a failure. I will be remembered on this campus as starting Kappa Sigma.'”
Kappa Sigma existed on the ETSU campus in the ’80s, but was dismissed along with several other fraternities for excessive partying. Now the fraternity has earned back its position on campus. In two years they wrote numerous programs, attended seminars, raised $5,000 and completed over 2,000 hours of community service.
Kappa Sigma brothers are required to participate in at least one other organization on campus. “I know for a fact that we are the most diverse fraternity on campus,” Vanthournout said, “We want well-rounded people.”
For the future, Triplett stated that membership is on the rise, and that they hope to one day have a fraternity house. Triplett and Vanthournout also said that Greek life has a lot of room for improvement, with regards to engaging the campus.
“I don’t think you have enough people staying on campus,” said student Phil Ross about the low membership of fraternities and sororities. “It’s a commuter school. People come and then they leave.”
Triplett stated that the reason for adding Kappa Sigma was to work towards the goal of involving more people in on- and off-campus activities.
“I think that Greek life in general is moving in the right direction, but I also think it takes leadership among the Greeks,” Vanthournout said.
The charter’s installation ceremony was especially rewarding for Triplett, who has worked to get Kappa Sigma chartered since he was a sophomore. He graduates in May.
“After being a part of Kappa Sig,” he said, “and being a pledge for two years, and then getting to be a brother for a semester, I’m going to miss it.

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