Nationally, Lambda Chi Alpha International Fraternity boasts the largest initiated membership of all North American college fraternities ever with over 300,000 members. Also, LCA boasts of having the most college fraternity chapters weighing in at over 300 individual chapters on college campuses in Canada and the U.S. Founded in 1909, LCA is one of the youngest college fraternities. So what makes it so popular? Many say, and all initiates agree, it is its vital and enduring Ritual that makes men fraternity brothers even though they have never met or have only known each other for the shortest of time.
Locally, Lambda Chi Alpha was established as the Beta Zeta Chapter (the 207th Installed LCA chapter) on the campus of Western Carolina with its charter on May 22, 1970. It was founded locally by Wilson Augustus Boyd III. The Beta Zeta Chapter started out as the Sigma Tau Sigma local fraternity established in the Spring of 1968.
Through the years, Lambda Chi Alpha has been the trend-setting fraternity at Western earning loads of campus awards including several Fraternity of the Year awards as well as many top academic achievement awards. Intramurals has always been a strong suit for its brothers as well.
The Beta Zeta Chapter has set itself apart on campus by its extensive university and community service involvement. Many areas of the community have been touched by the efforts of the brothers over the years and those efforts have not gone unnoticed. Every year, the Beta Zeta chapter at Western holds Watermelon Bust that helps raise money for the American Red Cross and also raises over 4,000 pounds of food for the local food bank. Additionally over the years, the brothers have been seen at Lake Junaluska lake cleanups, taking care of shut-ins, involved in river clean-ups, raising money for various organizations, holding clothes drives for the needy, house painting of low-income area homes, refurbishing and cleaning the Women's Shelter in Sylva, visiting nursing homes, holding informational and fun fairs for area children, blood drives, canned food drives, road clean-ups, assistance to the University, and always proud supporters of the Cats! Finally, Western has been inundated by student leaders in on-campus clubs and organizations, sports teams, cheerleading, and student government over the years.
Naught Without Labor is one of Lambda Chi's open motto's-one that each generation of brother certainly outshines!
What is being a brother of Lambda Chi Alpha like? One simple phrase- becoming a brother will be one of the greatest and most meaningful accomplishments you have ever done throughout your lifetime! You will not be a brother for only four short years, but you are a brother for life! Associate with the most dynamic and exciting and fun fraternities on the WCU campus- join the best- I promise!
-- Joe Cleary
BZ 455