The History of Phi Theta Sigma

Phi Theta Sigma was born at Arkansas State University on Tuesday, April 20th, 1999 after much planning on the part of its founders: Candice Blake, Angela Bunting, Nikki Carroll, Mike Duncan, Courtnie Gibson, Justin Gramling, Ross Harms, Wesley Lindsey, Jonathan Nettles, Sasha Smith, and thier sponsor, Mrs. Harriet O'Neal.

However, a year earlier, the ideas for a service to music fraternity had been in discussion between Wesley Lindsey, Justin Gramling, and Sharleenia Skipper. But with the current abundance of student organizations in the department, the trio soon disbursed, seeing that any new kind of fraternity would most likely not survive at that time.

Then, almost a year later, the idea of an organization similar to that of a year before resurfaced between Wesley Lindsey and Sasha Smith. The idea initially was for a coed social fraternity solely for musicians; but after much deliberation, they decided that an organization such as that, as popular as it might be, would never be recognized by the faculty and would probably never leave the Arkansas State University campus. So they, along with three other members that had since joined, voted to change the Pi Omega Psi fraternity into a social/service fraternity under the name of Phi Theta Sigma. Soon after that they began approaching faculty members hoping that if they had a majority of the faculties approval, thier petition to the department chair would be accepted.

On Monday, April 19, the small delegation of fifteen approached the department chair, Dr. Dale Miller, for permission to charter the new organization. President Lindsey carried with them letters from thirteen of the twenty-two faculty members documenting thier support of the new society. Dr. Miller listened to thier oral and visual presentation and then asked for a few days to review the documents and to consider thier proposal. That next morning, Dr. Miller left a memo giving his approval and best wishes for the groups chartering. That afternoon, they chapter declared April 20th as "Founder's Day" and preparations for activities were planned. A week later, on Monday, April 26th, President Wesley Lindsey officially installed the Alpha Chapter as the first chapter to be established in the Nation.

That summer they held meetings, had thier shingles and charter printed, and planned for activities to aid the department and to live up to the ideals that they were founded. Thier first major event that introduced themselves to the Department of Music was a cookout the welcomed the Marching Band back to school. Since then, the Alpha Chapter of Phi Theta Sigma has busied themselves with setting up and tearing down for the ASU Orchestra; aiding the marching band through the relining of the marching practice field; holding fundraisers; co-hosting the annual Fall Formal with Tau Beta Sigma, Sigma Alpha Iota, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia; preparing packets to aid in the colonization and expansion of the fraternity; and initiating the first class to be installed into Alpha and Phi Theta Sigma.

We look forward to many years of service to the department of music, and we hope to be able to expand ourselves to other colleges and universities. But first and foremost, we hope that Arkansas State and its department of music is a better place because of our fraternity being here. To quote our Creed, "We Shall Succeed!"

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©Wesley Lindsey

This page was last updated on January 19, 2000