ALPHA XI
Illinois Institute of Technology

FOUNDED ON
10.28.1939

LOCATION
Chicago, IL

HISTORY
Armour Institute of Technology opened in 1893. In 1940, it merged with the Lewis Institute in 1940, taking the name Illinois Institute of Technology.

On February 1, 1913, the Gamma Chapter of Beta Phi National Fraternity was chartered at Armour Institute of Technology. In 1919, the National Fraternity of Beta Phi dissolved, leaving the group as a local fraternity. In 1923, the group was chartered as the Gamma Chapter of Phi Pi Phi. 

Prior to World War II, the chapter house was located at 3131 South Michigan Avenue. The chapter house was taken for Navy V-12 training quarters in 1942. The Chapter had long dominated the intramural basketball competition, winning 16 consecutive titles beginning in 1917.

In June 1939, Gamma of Phi Pi Phi was re-chartered the Alpha Xi Chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi. In the late 1940’s, the Chapter was located at 3154 S. Michigan Avenue and moved to 3224 S. Michigan Avenue. in 1957. In 1963, the Chapter moved into a new house on college owned-land at 3361 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago.

The Chapter won three consecutive Grand Senior President’s Awards in 1964, 1966, and 1968, and a fourth in 1976. The 1964 Grand Senior President’s award was accepted by then undergraduate member Thomas C. Wajnert, Illinois Tech ‘61. Theodore Belytschko, Illinois Tech ‘61, and Judson Althoff, Illinois Tech ‘91, were Alpha Sigma Phi Scholars of the year in 1964 and 1994, and Althoff was an Undergraduate Grand Councilor, in 1993-94, and won the Frank F. Hargear Award winner in 1993. Alpha Xi Chapter won National Province Leadership Awards in 1968 and 1970.

The Chapter assisted with expansions at Indiana (Gamma Chi), Loyola (Delta Alpha) and Northern Michigan (Delta Beta) Universities.

From the late 1990’s to 2006, the Chapter had a history of risk management policy violations, and its housing corporation developed a debt of over $150,000.00 to the Illinois Institute of Technology for unpaid lease installments and damage repair charges on its on campus house. Notification of impending charter revocation motivated alumni, and in turn, debt and undergraduate behavior problems were resolved. The chapter newsletter “32nd Street Sentinel,” was replaced by “The Oak Wreath.”

James Fitzpatrick, Illinois Tech ‘47, was a longtime leader of alumni support for the Chapter and served on the Grand Council of Alpha Sigma Phi. Michael Coccia, Illinois Tech ‘42, also served on the Grand Council of Alpha Sigma Phi. Otto Kuehn, Gamma of Phi Pi Phi ‘23, served as National Secretary and Executive Secretary of Phi Pi Phi from 1933 to 1937. Thomas C. Wajnert, Illinois Tech ‘61, served as a Trustee and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Alpha Sigma Phi Educational Foundation and was awarded the Distinguished Service Award in 2001.

CHAPTER AWARDS
Records show award name and year(s) received.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Records show brother's name, initiation year, and award received.