A GUIDE TO COMMUNICATING THETA CHI
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 20 20 21
introduction using this manual the elements of our graphic identity Logomark Wordmark Logo Tagline guidelines for using our graphic identity Logomark treatment variations Sizes and proportions Placing the logomark Organization-wide applications Greek-letter version of the logomark Greek-letter version of the wordmark Typefaces Chapter and School Designation Color usage Two-color uses One-color uses Reverses Hot Stamping Embossing Unacceptable uses of the visual identity
22 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 32 33 34
communication ideals Signature Signature placement Specifications for stationery system Signature as return address Theta Chi Coat of Arms Pledge Button, Badge, and Flag Sacred Purpose logomark Visual identity and merchandising Online uses Social media guidelines Photography
38 39 64 71 72 74 75 77 79
appendix 1 Foreword Section I: Using this Style Guide Section II: Chapter Designations and Colleges/Universities Section III: Formatting Section IV: Awards Section V: Officer Titles Section VI: For Foundation Use Section VII: Common Abbreviations Section VIII: Trademarks
INTRODUCTION
Since our founding in 1856, more than 175,000 Theta Chi Fraternity brothers have participated in and grown our traditions. They know our symbols well—the rattlesnake and the swords, the Coat of Arms and the Badge—and what these symbols represent. Although we’ve had many symbols that we’ve come to know and love over the years, we’ve never made a concerted effort to create a sophisticated visual identity for ourselves. Until now.
Our visual identity, as represented in this manual, effectively demonstrates the Theta Chi experience. The design elements—including our logomark, color palette, and tagline—work together to embody the spirit of Theta Chi, and to communicate that spirit to a wide range of audiences. The standards and guidelines in this manual are intended to provide the framework for coherent communications that effectively represent Theta Chi. In addition to this document, a Coherence Manifest has been created as a valuable resource to help Fraternity members convey the ideals and concepts of Theta Chi.
2 3
USING THIS MANUAL
This manual contains standards for creating clear and distinct communications for Theta Chi Fraternity. Purposeful planning has informed the development of the Theta Chi Fraternity message. These guidelines are simple to follow and will help make your communication efforts easy, attractive, and effective.
In this manual you will find:
A note about AP style:
• Suggested applications of the visual identity
As a general rule, our style guide follows the standards set forth by the Associated Press Stylebook, with which many of you will be familiar. However, unlike what is called for in AP style, we employ the use of the Oxford (or serial) comma as a Theta Chi rule of thumb.
If you need further instruction regarding the use of the Theta Chi visual identity, or assistance developing your communications, please contact International Headquarters at 317-848-1856 or ihq@thetachi.org.
• An explanation of the elements of the official Theta Chi Fraternity visual identity • Guidelines for the use of these elements and supporting elements
THE ELEMENTS OF OUR GRAPHIC IDENTITY
Fig. 4.1
The Theta Chi Fraternity identity consists of several different elements as described below—each one playing an integral part in the overall positioning of the Theta Chi brand. Deviations from any of these elements jeopardize the consistency of the Theta Chi identity and its communications.
logomark The Theta Chi Fraternity logomark (Figure 4.1) consists of a wordmark (the rendering of the Fraternity’s name in its distinctive typeface), a graphic element (or logo), and the Fraternity’s tagline.
Note: Because the elements of the Theta Chi Fraternity identity have been carefully crafted, electronic files of the identity should be used unless otherwise indicated. Any attempt to recreate the art, letterforms, spacing, or styling of the identity in desktop publishing will result in inconsistencies that will compromise the integrity of the identity.
4 5
wordmark The words “Theta Chi Fraternity� appear in the Parango Bold typeface. With its soft angles and low contrast between thick and thin strokes, Parango evokes the feel of ancient printed pages; its crisp look makes it distinctly contemporary. Parango has been selected because it both honors the Fraternity’s rich history and reflects our forward-thinking programming and modern aesthetic. While the Fraternity name is strongest as the centerpiece of the full logomark, there are times when it may be used alone, typically on occasions when there is insufficient space to accommodate the full logomark. The wordmark itself may be presented in a horizontal version (Figure 5.1) or as vertically stacked (Figure 5.2). The use of horizontal or vertical presentations will largely be dictated by available space.
Fig. 5.1
Fig. 5.2
THE ELEMENTS OF OUR GRAPHIC IDENTITY
logo The Theta Chi Fraternity logo (Figure 6.1) includes a number of the Fraternity’s most beloved and enduring symbols. In fact, the logo’s design is based in large part on a radical simplification of our Coat of Arms. You’ll notice the swords, the rattlesnake, the shield, and the colors from our original Coat of Arms, streamlined and modernized so that they will represent well across a number of different mediums. The shield anchors the symbols, evoking our military roots and suggesting the strength of the Theta Chi brotherhood. Instead of forming a Theta with the snake, it embraces the shield, its eye a focal point of the fullcolor version of the logo. Generally, the logo should appear with the wordmark.
Fig. 6.1
6 7
Fig. 7.1
tagline The tagline (Figure 7.1), consisting of the words “Resolute Men” and set in the Parango typeface, is also part of the full logomark. “Resolute Men” comes directly from the second sentence of the Fraternity’s Creed, which reads: “Born of sturdy manhood, nurtured by resolute men, ennobled by high and sacred purpose, [Theta Chi] has taken its place among the educational institutions of America as a promoter of knowledge, an advancer of culture, and a builder of character.”
“Resolute Men” has resonated with our members since Frank Schrenk penned the Creed nearly a century ago, and, as a tagline, will continue to communicate the purposeful, determined, and unwavering character that defines us. As a basic rule, the tagline should not be used apart from the Fraternity name/wordmark, though there may be occasions when it appears as a headline or accent line in a Fraternity communications piece. Combined, these three elements—the wordmark, logo, and tagline—form the core of the Theta Chi identity. For guidelines about the placement of these three components in relation to one another, please see the following page.
GUIDELINES FOR USING OUR GRAPHIC IDENTITY
logomark treatment variations Fig. 8.1
Fig. 8.2
Both the horizontal version (Figure 8.1) and the stacked version (Figure 8.2) of the logomark are acceptable. The use of one rather than the other will depend on context and available space. The horizontal version, for example, is best suited for applications with ample space, because at reduced sizes it may otherwise become illegible.
8 9
sizes and proportions
1.8"
The suggested approximate minimum usage sizes for the elements of the graphic identity are: Logo (Figure 9.1) Horizontal logomark (Figure 9.2) Stacked logomark (Figure 9.3) Hz logomark w/ tagline (Figure 9.4) Stacked logomark w/ tagline (Figure 9.5)
Fig. 9.2
.375" wide 1.8" wide 1.44" wide 2" wide 1.44" wide
1.44"
When selecting an option for an application with limited space, refer to this page to select the most appropriate solution.
.375"
Fig. 9.3
2" Fig. 9.1 Fig. 9.4
1.44"
Fig. 9.5
GUIDELINES FOR USING OUR GRAPHIC IDENTITY
placing the logomark When placing the logomark, it is important to maintain sufficient white space around the image so that it will stand out and be noticed. Always use no less than a space equivalent to the width of the logo around the logomark on every side (Figure 10.1). This protected area should remain free of other visual elements or page trim.
Fig. 10.1
“As an international organization, the decisions we make and the directions we take are all driven toward making a positive impact on a young man’s life.” Richard D. Elder, International President
10 11
organization-wide applications The Theta Chi logomark has been intentionally designed to accommodate a wide range of communication needs, organizational levels, chapters, and initiatives. Figures 11.1–11.4 show how the centered logomark works with the Fraternity, Foundation Chapter, Norwich Housing Corporation, and individual Chapters. Figures 11.5–11.8 show the horizontal variations. When using the Norwich Housing Corporation logomark, do not include the Fraternity tagline.
Fig. 11.1
Fig. 11.5
Fig. 11.6
Fig. 11.2
Fig. 11.7
Fig. 11.3
Fig. 11.4 Fig. 11.8
GUIDELINES FOR USING OUR GRAPHIC IDENTITY
Fig. 12.6
Fig. 12.1
greek-letter version of the logomark
greek-letter version of the wordmark
For internal audiences who are familiar with Theta Chi, we’ve created a version of the logomark that replaces the wordmark with Greek letters (Figure 12.1). Figures 12.2–12.5 illustrate how the Greek-letter version of the logomark works with The Foundation Chapter, Norwich Housing Corporation, and individual chapters, respectively.
For those same audiences with a high level of familiarity with Theta Chi, we have created a Greekletter version of the wordmark (Figure 12.6). Figures 12.7–12.10 illustrate how the Greek-letter version of the wordmark works for The Foundation Chapter, Norwich Housing Corporation, and individual chapters, respectively. Remember that these examples are for informal, internal communications only. When including the name of the host institution—or when communicating with audiences who might be unfamiliar with Theta Chi—please use the formal horizontal and vertical versions of the logomark and wordmark.
Fig. 12.2
Fig. 12.4
Fig. 12.7
Fig. 12.9
Fig. 12.3
Fig. 12.5
Fig. 12.8
Fig. 12.10
12 13
Parango typefaces
Parango and News Gothic are the preferred fonts for publications. When Parango and News Gothic are unavailable, Helvetica, Univers or Open Sans (sans) and Garamond, Palatino or Times New Roman (serif) may be used as alternatives.
A BCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQR ST U abcdefgh ijklmnopqrstuv w x yz ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVW abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTU abcdefghijklmnopqrstuv wxyz abcdefghijklmnopqrstuv w x yz
When selecting a typeface for the web, News Gothic is the preferred font. Garamond is also a suitable serif type family that has been optimized for digital use.
News Gothic
Typography plays a major role in the visual continuity of the Theta Chi identity. Proper implementation of fonts helps ensure the consistency of design and messages, as well as the legibility of type across all communications.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUV abcdefghijklmnopqrstuv w x y z A B C D E FG H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X a bcd efgh i j kl m n o pq rstu v w xyz A BCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTU V abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz A B C D EFG H IJ KLM N O PQ R STU V abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
GUIDELINES FOR USING OUR GRAPHIC IDENTITY
guidelines for chapter and school designation Figures 14.1 and 14.2 illustrate how chapter designation may be included with and without the shield, respectively. These marks do not feature the host institution information and therefore should only be used internally on communications between Fraternity brothers. Figures 14.3–14.6 show how to include both chapter and host institution information in the formal versions of the logomark.
Fig. 14.1
Fig. 14.2
14 15
Fig. 14.3
Fig. 14.4
Fig. 14.5
Street Address City, State ZIP
Fig. 14.6
Street Address City, State ZIP 000-000-0000 name@school.edu
000-000-0000 name@school.edu
GUIDELINES FOR USING OUR GRAPHIC IDENTITY
color usage PMS 186
PMS 465
military red
resolute gold
The official primary color for Theta Chi is military red, most properly represented in print by PMS 186. The other colors to be used in producing Theta Chi’s logomark are resolute gold (PMS 871 metallic when possible, or PMS 465) and process black. Except for PMS 871 metallic gold, these colors can be built from CMYK as follows:
process black (K)
military red, PMS 186 C:0 M:100 Y:75 K:4 resolute gold, PMS 465 C:7 M:27 Y:55 K:22 process black C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:100 The RGB color formulas are: PMS 186 PMS 465
R:198 G:12 B:48 R:179 G:153 B:93
16 17
two-color uses
Fig. 17.1
Military red (PMS 186) and resolute gold (PMS 871 or 465) are to be utilized in two-color uses of the Theta Chi logomark. Figure 17.1 specifies the colors of each element within this logomark. If your printed piece is printing as a full-color job (also referred to as 4C, 4-color, and CMYK) and you do not have adequate printing ink units to run the logomark in PMS designated colors, the CMYK equivalents noted on page 16 will need to be assigned to the various elements within the logomark(s). The elements of the identity that are specified in PMS 465 may also be printed using PMS 871, the metallic gold ink. The luster of a metallic ink will be most noticeable on coated paper stocks, which minimize the ability of the ink to penetrate the sheet.
PMS 186
PMS 465 or PMS 871 metallic PMS 186
GUIDELINES FOR USING OUR GRAPHIC IDENTITY
one-color uses Fig. 18.1
Fig. 18.2
For pieces using only one color, there are a number of options for the treatment of the logomark: While it is preferred to run the logomark(s) in full color or 2-colors, figures 18.1–18.3 show acceptable versions in 100% process black, 100% military red (PMS 186), and white reversed out of black, PMS 186, or other appropriately dark backgrounds. Optimized versions of the logomark are available for digital applications. A variety of sizes and file formats may be procured from International Headquarters.
Fig. 18.3
18 19
reverses If sufficient clarity and resolution are possible, the Fraternity logomark may be reversed out of a dark, solid background (Figures 19.1–19.2). Even slightly variegated backgrounds may distort the details of reversed seals or logomarks, so use proper judgment (Figure 19.3).
Fig. 19.1
Fig. 19.3
Fig. 19.2
GUIDELINES FOR USING OUR GRAPHIC IDENTITY Metallic Red Foil
Fig. 20.1
hot stamping
embossing
The use of special treatments, such as foil hot stamping and embossing, can add elegance and appeal to our visual identity. These treatments are especially appropriate in formal and official publications.
The guidelines (listed on pages 14–17) for the choices and combinations of colors still apply when embossing. In addition to color embossing, blind embossing (in which no color is added) is also acceptable. The minimum size for embossing the logomark is no less than 2.5" wide for the horizontal version (Figure 20.2) and no less than 1.8" for the vertical version (Figure 20.4).
For one- and two-color hot stamping applications, appropriate colors are: metallic red foil: 6260 chili red (API) metallic gold foil: 4039M smooth gold (API) metallic red foil
Care should be taken, however, to ensure that fine details are not lost, so we ask that you seek approval from International Headquarters at 317-848-1856 or ihq@ thetachi.org before using hot stamping or embossing in smaller presentations.
metallic gold foil metallic red foil Fig. 20.2
Fig. 20.3
Fig. 20.4 2.5"
1.8"
20 21
unacceptable uses of the visual identity When creating communications in desktop publishing, users should not rescan visual identity art from their printout or other Theta Chi publications. Only the optimized electronic files available from International Headquarters should be used. If you need to resize an EPS or TIFF file of the identity, do not stretch or disproportionately adjust the file art. Wrong choice of graphic element The Coat of Arms should never replace the logo in the logomark. Rearranged The elements of the visual identity should not deviate from the official choices specified on pages 4–8. Stretched The visual identity should not be stretched or distorted from its original proportions.
Incorrect reverse To reverse out of a photo or illustration, the area chosen for the reverse should be as dark and solid as possible, avoiding patterns that could make reading difficult. Too small The horizontal logomark should never appear at less than 1.8" wide, the stacked logomark no smaller than 1.44". The wordmarks should never appear at less than 1" for the horizontal version and .8" for the vertical version. At this size, the wordmark should stand alone without the logo. Incorrect colors Please refer to pages 14–19 for complete guidelines on correct color usage. Incomplete The visual identity includes the full Fraternity name and should not be truncated.
COMMUNICATION IDEALS
signature A “signature� is a logomark plus contact information for the Fraternity or for an individual, chapter, special program, or office. Typically, the signature will include a postal address, phone and fax numbers, email address, URL, and any relevant social media handles. Signatures are used when specific contact information is necessary.
Fig. 22.1
International Headquarters P.O. Box 503 Carmel, IN 46082
The signature can be arranged horizontally (Figure 22.1) or vertically (Figure 22.2), and the contact information must appear beneath the Theta Chi combination mark in this order: street address, phone, fax, URL, social media handles. Unlike the rest of the visual identity, a signature may be created or modified, always using the News Gothic Medium typeface. At the minimum usage size, the type specifications are News Gothic Medium set at 6.4-point type over 8.8 points of leading.
Fig. 22.2
International Headquarters
A signature should only follow the horizontal and vertical formats represented on this spread. To create a new signature file, always begin with an existing electronic file suitable to the application desired (business card, brochure, email, etc.). Then open the file and change the relevant information, paying careful attention to the style shown in this manual.
317-848-1856 ihq@thetachi.org
P.O. Box 503 Carmel, IN 46082 317-848-1856 ihq@thetachi.org
22 23 1.44"
2"
Fig. 23.1
Street Address Line 1 Street Address Line 2 City, State ZIP
Street Address Line 1 Street Address Line 2 City, State ZIP
News Gothic Medium 6.4/8.8 points (3 additional points of leading between address and information sets)
Contact Information 1 Contact Information 2 Contact Information 3
Contact Information 1 Contact Information 2 Contact Information 3
News Gothic Medium 6.4/8.8 points (3 additional points of leading after the host university)
It is preferred to break any contact information lines that extend beyond the words ‘THETA CHI’
Fig. 23.2
650 Sycamore Street River Falls, WI 54022
650 Sycamore Street River Falls, WI 54022 715-425-3774 name@my.uwrf.edu
715-425-3774 name@my.uwrf.edu
1440 N. Jordan Avenue Bloomington, IN 47405
1440 N. Jordan Avenue Bloomington, IN 47405 812-855-0000 name@indiana.edu
812-855-0000 name@indiana.edu
COMMUNICATION IDEALS
signature placement
2" Fig. 24.1
When printing the Theta Chi signature, it is highly recommended to use supplied art. The horizontal signatures should not be used at a size smaller than 2" (horizontal logomark with tagline, Figure 24.1) or 1.44" (vertical logomark, Figure 24.2).
International Headquarters P.O. Box 503 Carmel, IN 46082
In some cases, it may be necessary to typeset new information. Please consult with International Headquarters at 317-848-1856 or ihq@thetachi.org before attempting to typeset any new information. Use of this signature forms at sizes larger than what is represented here should be proportionate to this example.
317-848-1856 ihq@thetachi.org
News Gothic Medium 6.4/8.8 points
1.44"
Fig. 24.2
International Headquarters P.O. Box 503 Carmel, IN 46082 317-848-1856 ihq@thetachi.org
News Gothic Medium 6.4/8.8 points
24 25 International Headquarters P.O. Box 503 Carmel, IN 46082
317-848-1856 ihq@thetachi.org
2.17.15 Dear Sir, Em is ipicto quam dolupiet hiciet essus poreste pa dolendae. Andunde quia ab is sam, tem vollestrum iducitaturit et autenda ndanim lantore quid qui dolo dita volupta temperum quidellaces mo consequi dit dolut pos con rest qui dolo isite pernatibus apide qui verum quia nonsequi occum rehenis nis velitem ulparibus utemper ovidel istiis et ius alitatiis nobit, voloreres et et, undeles sunt am ea velentint, coreri offici dunt, omnihition experatiam vel idel molores tibusam lam rem. Os et, omnissitasit faccae. Rore vendae ommodip santione nes nossit et liquam ipic test volent, aliquos nis volorro rionsequi conseriae esedisint modias magnatur aut occabore, quae vellupt atibust ioreper feritia sollesciisit ut ressum laniscia ipicit arciisq uaspici usdandu cilluptam labore nem quibus as venissunt, im imodipid ma dollacc aerchiciet optaeceped es sum eaturesseque nem facerit ecerestiur, simpori omnimod istissi magniss undandelic tem quamet quo mo int laboriae evelendici offictiis et etust aut aut pre, soluptae nus il ipsamus, odipsam eatum que et, net omnimus ipiende llaborp orrovitio essum auda dus mollabore maximen dandam quas mincti del inim id molectoribus id minumenda ipicium delic tectios dolores dit omnist, adi berum que qui corem lab inulpar ciditae issitate con rehenducid magnistia ipiendit, quamus remporumquam untioresti recepernatis moditaq uiatem dest, coreptiis nobitatur reperae. Tatur, quiataeria que remperf ercieni musdam iducienem facerun deliciis aut peles alist, sum et odi vero blautem. Ihic tem accum et porrovi dusapellab in conse del in cor soluptur ma vita delit reicae labo. Ugit, acepudis dunt harciendem a volorepel et fugit que commolo rehendissint dolupiet dolent, comnihil es vendendion pro event officitin coneceperi di optatur autem et omnist alic te diae con cusam estisciendi conseque sum utas moluptas pra que sae. Eque et eum idus pedicia simaxim intio. Nate sit laborisquam dolut volestrum qui beat rest aut omnimagnam rem quibusapid millenda siti utem doluptae plaudit ium que eaque ra sequuntiost, cum inctem is vide ne poreratectis re susdae dolorest aut vollect iatquis vellat aut et unt, sam quiae. Quia nistrumqui blaborati sunt, sequi alitium repre eveleca eperibus eos mo consereptum, unt omnihiciis atus sum esciate volore dici voloribust ulparum excerup tationes unt, sedit voluptam anditissum faciis solupti ut qui tem re excea velis ea nonet, at hilit eum que dolor ma pedicit atibusam fugitint rem faccae. Endandusae culparum rem re aut odi odignatis ad mo et quassenda pra nobistisciis ute. Sincerely,
Michael Mayer, Executive Director
International Headquarters P.O. Box 503 Carmel, IN 46082 317-848-1856 317-824-1908 (fax) mmayer@thetachi.org
We, the men of Theta Chi, cordially invite
Pledge Name to become a pledge of the
Alpha Iota Chapter
Recruitment Chairman
President
specifications for stationery system Theta Chi’s official stationery system includes letterhead, envelopes, and business cards—all of which should be ordered from an authorized vendor designated by International Headquarters to ensure quality and consistency. Do not attempt to create letterhead, envelopes, or business cards on your own. Letterhead The preferred fonts for all correspondence on Fraternity letterhead are Parango, Adobe Garamond, Palatino, or Times New Roman in no less than 10-point size. Envelopes For business-size envelopes, allow a margin of 4.75" from the left side of the envelope, and place the addressee’s name 2" down from the top. Try to be consistent by using the same type font and size as you use in the letter. Business cards Personalized business cards for individual offices may be ordered through an authorized vendor designated by International Headquarters.
COMMUNICATION IDEALS
signature as return address International Headquarters P.O. Box 503 Carmel, IN 46082
When the signature is used as a return address (on an envelope or a self-mailing brochure), use the horizontal version shown here to conform to postal regulations.
.5"
.5"
1440 N. Jordan Avenue Bloomington, IN 47405
650 Sycamore Street River Falls, WI 54022
26 27
coat of arms Sometimes mistakenly called the crest, the Fraternity’s Coat of Arms is arguably Theta Chi’s most ubiquitous symbol and also one of its most sacred. Care must be taken to ensure that the Coat of Arms is used in an appropriate way. When the Coat of Arms is reproduced in color, the bar dexter and alternate sections of the torse on which the eagle stands are military red, the helmet is silver, the scroll is gold with red lettering, and everything else is gold with black shading, as shown. The Coat of Arms should be used in the same manner that a university would use its seal: on formal publications, for special events, and mostly on internal documents (like bid cards, awards, and membership certificates, for example). Even though we’ve simplified the design of the Coat of Arms, it is still a complex image and won’t render well at a small size. If you’re interested in printing the Coat of Arms in a publication or on special event materials, please contact International Headquarters at ihq@thetachi.org or 317-848-1856 for guidance on how to do so in a manner that ensures the integrity of the image.
COMMUNICATION IDEALS
pledge button, badge, flag The Pledge Button is entrusted to a young man who has demonstrated his readiness to join our brotherhood. Through his words and actions, he has shown a true understanding of and commitment to becoming a contributing member of Theta Chi. The Badge of Theta Chi is presented to a Theta Chi pledge after he has proven himself worthy of becoming a Theta Chi member. He is initiated into full brotherhood after he has executed the Theta Chi Honor Code, lived by the Theta Chi Creed and Constitution and Bylaws, and proven his understanding of Theta Chi’s rites of passage. The present specifications for the Fraternity Flag, as adopted at the 64th Anniversary Convention in 1920, feature a double-sided banner with a white field and an 8" red border. The Greek letters theta and chi are centered within the white field with the year 1856 at the top left and a coiled rattlesnake on the bottom right. Two sizes of this flag are offered for sale: 6' × 9' and 4' × 6'.
28 29
sacred purpose logomark Sacred Purpose is an integral component of the Theta Chi experience. As such, it has received its own visual identity, including a logo, logomark, wordmark, tagline, and typefaces.
Fig. 27.1
Sacred Purpose is a critical movement to improve the health, safety, and overall well-being of Theta Chi members. As Theta Chis, we know that the highest expression of brotherhood and true friendship is caring for and helping others. We have been called to live out this higher purpose, to lead a more noble life, and to inspire a better brotherhood.
30 31
visual identity and merchandising The Theta Chi Fraternity logo, logomark, and wordmark may be applied to apparel and merchandising items— such as mugs, caps, T-shirts, or banners—that are tasteful and appropriate.
When designing or procuring apparel and merchandise, use Affinity, wich may be found at greeklicensing.com. They can offer counsel and access to numerous vendors who provide excellent service and savings to the Fraternity. The Fraternity does not encourage nor condones the usage of an ox, oxen or bulls to represent the Fraternity.
COMMUNICATION IDEALS
online uses We take great care in maintaining the Theta Chi Fraternity website. Often, our site is the first point of contact for audiences who would like to learn more about Theta Chi. As such, we must constantly be aware of the messages we spread and make sure they are appropriate within the larger scheme of Theta Chi communications. While the Theta Chi website is a powerful tool for your chapter to reach internal and external audiences, it also makes ensuring the integrity of our visual identity increasingly difficult. As you continue to develop your online presence, we ask you to work closely with International Headquarters in order to help preserve the integrity of the Theta Chi visual identity in all of its forms.
32 33
social media guidelines Any use or representation of the Fraternity’s insignias, including, but not limited to, the Badge, Coat of Arms, Pledge Emblem, Flag, The Rattle, the Greek letters “Theta Chi,” and the words “Theta Chi,” or any other intellectual property of the Fraternity for use in connection with Internet websites and social media must be in keeping with the mission and ideals of the Fraternity, in suitable taste, and in compliance with applicable laws and policies. The Fraternity reserves the right to require the removal of any content, information, web page, website, or social media post that is determined by the Executive Director, or his designee, to cast the Fraternity in a negative light or to be contrary to the policies, mission, ideals, and principles of the Fraternity. This includes, but is not limited to, any materials deemed to glorify or promote alcohol or controlled/illegal substance use, hazing, or any materials considered to be sexist or demeaning of women, minorities, or other person(s).
We encourage and request that you utilize your college or university alongside Theta Chi in your social media handles or titles. This is about your brand so make it strong. Think about it: Which has a stronger presence—@ThetaChiBA or @UCLAThetaChi?
COMMUNICATION IDEALS
photography As technology advances and more people have access to high-quality cameras with their phones and other devices, audiences are becoming increasingly aware of photography. When low-resolution, blurry, and/ or pixelated images appear in printed publications, it communicates to these image-savvy audiences that quality isn’t important and that careful attention hasn’t been paid to the creation of Theta Chi’s communications. In order to ensure that the photography you use in all Theta Chi communications is indicative of the quality of the Theta Chi experience, please consider the following suggestions: • Use Theta Chi–sponsored photography whenever possible. You can obtain official Theta Chi images from International Headquarters. • PPI or DPI connotes the quality of an image. The higher the PPI, the larger the image can print. Ensure that your photographs meet the minimum resolution requirements for quality printing (300 DPI minimum, 600 preferred). An easy way to do that is by submitting the largest file version of the photo you have (make sure it’s at least 1 MB).
• Use candid photography whenever possible. While the use of portraits or posed group shots is perfectly acceptable in the right circumstances, a proliferation of posed photographs suggests an experience that is inauthentic or staged. The two examples above are examples of candid photography. • It’s inevitable: you will encounter poor photography. When you’re forced to use photography that isn’t ideal, make it as user-friendly as you can by: • Making images smaller • Using stock imagery for conceptual photographs, thus minimizing your dependence upon provided images • Using monotones or duotones to help mitigate colorbalancing problems that can occur when a photograph is poorly lit
36 37
appendix i
Theta Chi Style Guide second edition, october 2015
Foreword Section I: Style Guide Section II: Chapter Designations and Colleges/Universities Section III: Formatting Section IV: Awards Section V: Officer Titles Section VI: For Foundation Use Section VII: Common Abbreviations Section VIII: Trademarks
FOREWORD
The purpose of The Style Guide of Theta Chi Fraternity is to make clear and simple rules and to provide uniformity for reading and writing ease in all publications and other documents endorsed by Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc. All Fraternity volunteers, Board Members, and International Headquarters staff members should consult this guide when producing documents intended for distribution to or on behalf of Theta Chi Fraternity members. Undergraduate and alumnus members will also find this guide useful when developing chapter-specific publications. Entry words, in alphabetical order, are in boldface. They represent the accepted word forms unless otherwise indicated. Examples of correct and incorrect usage are in italics. Any style or usage questions not addressed in this document should be referred to the most recent edition of The Associated Press Stylebook and follow the hierarchy described therein. The following resources were consulted during the development of the First Edition of this Style Guide in 2010: The Associated Press Stylebook (2009 ed.), The Lambda Chi Alpha Stylebook, The Kappa Alpha Order Style Guide, The Caduceus Style Guide of Kappa Sigma, and the College Fraternity Editors Association Public Relations Manual (the CFEA is now the Fraternity Communications Association). The editor of this revision is grateful for the continued support, advice, and keen eyes of Jennifer Kuntz (Alpha Xi Delta Women’s Fraternity), Jody Toth (Maury Boyd & Associates), and Amber Ray (Theta Chi International Headquarters), as well as Executive Director Mike Mayer, Director of Communications Kris Taibl, and this Style Guide’s original Editor, Bart Zino (Iota Theta/ Central Florida 2008).
While an update to this Style Guide was indeed necessary, it was imperative to provide a revision to coincide with the Fraternity’s 2016 branding initiative to create coherent and consistent messaging across both visual and written communication platforms. It was also our intention to be as comprehensive as possible and to provide additional clarification and specificity where needed. This guide remains a “living document,” and steps should be taken to ensure continued updates. Benjamin R. Hill, Associate Executive Director October 2015
38 39
SECTION I: STYLE GUIDE
what is a style guide? A style guide: • Is a set of standards for the writing and design of documents—the “house style” • Standardizes the way that grammar and language are used to convey an idea in printed and online publications
using the interactive elements of this document In order to streamline navigation between sections, this PDF has been designed with interactive elements. There is a navigation bar in the header and footer of every page. To jump to a different page or section, simply click the corresponding button.
why have a style guide?
who is expected to use the style guide?
If used correctly, a style guide: • Provides uniformity in style and formatting of documents • Helps reinforce an organization’s overall brand or image • Facilitates the development of an organization’s professional tone
All Theta Chi members (including International Headquarters staff and employees of The Foundation Chapter and the Norwich Housing Corporation) are expected to be familiar with Theta Chi’s house style. This will streamline the proofreading process and ensure that not only will documents go out on time, but also that they will be free of errors or style inconsistencies.
how do i use the theta chi style guide? A style guide (Theta Chi’s included) is often organized the same way as a dictionary. Entry words or phrases are in bold and organized alphabetically. Examples of correct usage are in italics. Unlike a dictionary, however, you will not find definitions of words so much as you will find guidelines for usage and correct spelling, unless including a definition would help clarify meaning. The more you familiarize yourself with the house style, the more efficient your workflow will become. When proofreading your own work, you should reference the Theta Chi Style Guide to ensure that your document meets the guidelines of the house style before sending it off to the Director of Communication for final proofreading and approval. If, at any time, questions arise concerning the Fraternity’s house style, the Director of Communication will be available to assist you.
SECTION I: STYLEBOOK
A academic degrees, titles If mention of a degree is necessary, the preferred use is in a phrase rather than an abbreviation: a bachelor’s degree; he holds a Bachelor of Science in biology. When abbreviated, academic degrees are capitalized and when used with a name are set off by commas: B.A., Ph.D.; Bill Russo, Ph.D., attended the meeting. Do not precede a name with a title of an academic degree and follow it with the abbreviation for that degree: Dr. Bill Russo, M.D. academic departments Always lowercase, except when referring to a language: the department of history, the chemistry department, the department of English, the English department academic majors/courses Lowercase in all uses except languages: he is a business major; he graduated with a degree in history; she is a political science major; I passed my English class. academic years Always lowercase: freshman, sophomore, junior, senior. When referring to a period of time, use numerals separated by a forward slash: 2009/2010. Not 2009/10 or 2009–2010. activate, activation Do not use. The correct terminology is initiate or initiation. active Avoid when not using as an adjective. All members of Theta Chi are expected to be active. When referring to initiated members, brothers is preferred. When referring to a group of initiated members and pledges, use members. active chapter Refers to a group of undergraduates at an institution that has been granted a charter and has been properly installed by the Grand Chapter
40 41
addresses Spell out and capitalize words like avenue, boulevard, drive, road, and street when using as part of an address in running text Use the United States Postal Service’s two-letter abbreviations for street addresses and states. Do not abbreviate states unless part of an address or accompanied by a city: He is from Seattle, WA; There are two active chapters in Washington. Use the abbreviations Ave., Blvd., St., etc. only with a numbered address. Spell out and capitalize when part of a formal street name without a number: 1400 Ralston Ave.; Ralston Avenue. adviser Not advisor, unless someone’s title explicitly uses that spelling. Capitalize chapter adviser and Greek adviser only when the title directly precedes an individual’s full name. Lowercase when used in general reference: Chapter Adviser Nick Mehas attended the meeting; next week, there will be a retreat for all chapter advisers. alcohol abuse Two words, no hyphen
Alumni Advisory Board Prefer Colony Advisory Board or Chapter Advisory Board alumni association Capitalize when referring to a specific alumni association; lowercase when used in general reference Alumni Leaders Forum Always capitalize; abbreviated as ALF after first reference alumnus, alumna, alumnae, alumni Alumnus refers to an individual male initiate who has completed his undergraduate academic career; alumna refers to a female graduate; alumnae refers to more than one female; alumni may refer to many males, or a combination of males and females. Always lowercase unless part of a formal name or title: He is an alumnus of the Iota Theta Chapter. The alumni will help pay for the event. Do not pluralize as an adjective. Use alumnus volunteers, not alumni volunteers; just as it’s sophomore biology majors, not sophomores biology majors.
alcohol free, alcohol-free Means in absence of alcohol. Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier: The event will be alcohol free; This is an alcohol-free house.
alumni chapter A group of alumni from different chapters in a particular locality who join together for fellowship. Capitalize when referring to a specific alumni chapter.
all-campus average Lowercase
alumni corporation Use house corporation
all-fraternity average Refers to the grade point average of an institution’s IFC member organizations for a given semester; always lowercase
a.m./p.m. 10 a.m., not 10:00 a.m. or 10:00; lowercase with periods. Avoid redundancies like this morning at 10 a.m. Not AM, PM, am, pm. See time.
all-men’s average Lowercase alma mater Lowercase (no hyphen) except when quoting the Fraternity maxim “Alma Mater First and Theta Chi for Alma Mater” alumnus/alumni adviser Prefer chapter adviser unless referring to someone who specifically advises alumni. See chapter adviser.
ampersand (&) Do not use unless part of an official title or formal name. Do not use as a replacement for and. annual An event can only be considered annual if it has already been held for at least two consecutive years. Do not use first annual or second annual. If something is being held for the first year, it should be referred to as inaugural.
B anti-Greek Hyphenate An Assisting Hand The Fraternity’s official motto. Capitalize when citing, referencing, or using as allusion to the motto. Interchangeable with The Helping Hand. Theta Chi’s motto is “An Assisting Hand”: Members of the chapter extended An Assisting Hand to their local campus. at-large Used to refer to initiated members of the Fraternity who attended or graduated from an institution at which a charter has not been granted; use the following construction when referring to specific at-large members: Name (At-Large/YYYY) attribution When attributing a direct quote to someone, always use a subject-verb construction. Commas and periods always go inside the quotation marks. Correct: “This year’s Convention was the best one yet,” Steve said. Incorrect: “This year’s Convention was the best one yet”, said Steve. associate member Do not use when referring to pledge. There is no associate member status in Theta Chi. Associated Students Same rules as Student Government Association Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values Always capitalize. AFLV is an appropriate abbreviation after first reference. Style as AFLV Central and AFLV West. -a-Thon When referring an event with a –thon suffix, use a hyphen: The Walk-a-Thon will begin at 1 p.m. Not Walk a Thon. The –Thon portion should always be capitalized when naming an event. awards, honors, and prizes Capitalize only when referring to a specific or formal award. Do not italicize or put in quotes: Alter Award; Hersey Award; There are many awards in Theta Chi.
badge Uppercase when referring to Theta Chi’s Badge or The Badge of Theta Chi. Lowercase when referring to multiple badges, or when referring to another fraternity or sorority’s membership pin: The Badge may only be worn by members; Our Badge has a very unique design; The badges arrived last week. barbecue Not barbeque or BBQ. BBQ may be used if part of the official name of an event. Beta Kappa Fraternity One of the fraternities absorbed by Theta Chi. When referring to a member of Beta Kappa who was later initiated into Theta Chi, use the chapter he graduated from in attribution. When referring to a member of Beta Kappa who was not later initiated into Theta Chi, use the following construction: Name (Beta Kappa Fraternity/School YYYY). blog Lowercase unless it appears as part of a specific blog’s official name board Capitalize when referring to a specific board of directors; is acceptable to use on second reference; should be preceded by Fraternity, Foundation, or Norwich: The Fraternity Board met in Indianapolis last weekend; The Norwich Board voted to sell the chapter house. Board of Directors Capitalize when referring to the Grand Chapter, The Foundation Chapter, or Norwich Housing Corporation’s officers: The Fraternity’s Board of Directors is the Grand Chapter; He is a member of that university’s board of directors.
C brother, brothers Refers only to initiated members of the Fraternity. Use lowercase except when directly preceding an individual’s name or as part of a formal salutation of a letter: The event was organized by Brother Carroll; Dear Brothers of Alpha Chapter; Dear Brother; There were 23 brothers in attendance. It is preferred to use Brother (Last Name) over Brother (First Name). If citing a title before the name, use: International President Doug Allen was re-elected (not International President Brother Doug Allen) brotherhood Lowercase Brotherhood Plaza Capitalized; refers to the engraved bricks displayed at 865 W. Carmel Drive. biannual, biennial Biannual refers to an event that occurs two times per year. Biennial refers to every two years; The International Convention is a biennial event. Big Brother Interchangeable with Pledge Father. Always capitalized: He is my Big Brother; The Big Brothers met prior to the ceremony. bimonthly Means to occur every other month. Semimonthly refers to twice a month. biweekly Means every other week. Semiweekly means twice a week. bylaw, bylaws Not by-laws, by laws, or bi-laws. Should always be lowercase unless referring to a specific set of bylaws, or The Constitution and Bylaws of Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc. BYOB Abbreviation for “bring your own beer”; no periods
42 43
campus Capitalize when used with the full name of the campus. Lowercase when it stands alone: He lives on East Campus; meet me on campus at 2 p.m. capital, capitol Capital refers to the city where a seat of government is located, or to describe money, equipment, or property. Do not capitalize. Orlando is the tourism capital of the world. Capitol refers to the physical building or complex that hosts a seat of government. Capitalize when referring to the U.S. Capitol, or the Capitol. The same rule applies for state capitols. The Florida Capitol is in Tallahassee; Thomas Jefferson designed the Capitol of Virginia. capital campaign Lowercase unless referring to a specific capital campaign: The Alpha Iota Chapter Capital Campaign kicked off last week with an event at the chapter house; Planning a successful capital campaign requires smart planning and good communication. cash bar No hyphen ceremony Lowercase without underline unless referring to ceremony specific to Theta Chi: The Colonization Ceremony will begin in 30 minutes. Chapman-Alter Library Refers to the library at International Headquarters chapter When referring to a specific chapter, capitalize. Lowercase when referring to multiple chapters. When using as an adjective, lowercase, with the exception of officer titles (see officer). Do not hyphenate chapter designations (Beta Alpha, not Beta-Alpha) or use as a substitute for chapters and colonies: Alpha, Beta, and Gamma chapters formed the Grand Chapter; Theta Chi has more than 120 chapters and colonies; The Iota Theta Chapter is one of the largest chapters; Theta Chapter will celebrate its 100th anniversary in December; All chapters are expected to comply with local and campus rules; The Chapter President must live in the chapter house.
chapter adviser Use to refer to an individual who advises an undergraduate chapter. Not alumni adviser. Capitalize when preceding a person’s full name: He is the chapter adviser; Chapter Adviser Josh Wilson attended the retreat last week. Chapter Advisory Board, Colony Advisory Board Capitalize when referring to a specific advisory board. Lowercase when used in general reference. CAB is an acceptable abbreviation after first reference, no periods. Not Chapter Advisery Board. chapter designation When naming an individual in text, always attribute what chapter he is from on first reference. Do not attribute if the individual is a non-member. When attributing, use the following format:
Use the short form for attribution, or when naming several chapters/institutions in a list or series: Frederick Norton Freeman (Alpha/Norwich 1856) and Arthur Chase (Alpha/Norwich 1857) are the Founders of Theta Chi Fraternity. Do not make a break in the Greek letters or school name. Make all line breaks following the / or after the school name: Correct: Denny Vaggalis (Gamma Phi/ Nebraska Wesleyan 2011) Denny Vaggalis (Gamma Phi/Nebraska Wesleyan 2011)
Incorrect: Denny Vaggalis (Gamma Name (Chapter/School YYYY) Phi/Nebraska Wesleyan 2011) Always spell out the chapter letters; do not use stand-alone single Denny Vaggalis (Gamma Phi/Nebraska or double letters. See letters. Wesleyan 2011) When attributing, always use the short form for a member’s Chapter Eternal school. The year refers to the year that the individual completed This is the term to describe the death of a member. When a his undergraduate degree. Do not use initiation year. To assist member has passed away, it is said that he has joined or entered with clarity, always use a 4-digit year. See Section II for inforthe Chapter Eternal. Always capitalize; do not use as a verb. mation. Chapter Fund If referring to a member who was initiated but did not complete Capitalize. Acceptable abbreviation is CF after first reference. his degree, use the year of that individual’s withdrawal from Chapter Leadership Conference school, if known. If unknown, refer to the year on file in the Refers to a former national leadership conference. Always capitalFraternity’s database. If referring to a current undergraduate ize. May abbreviate to CLC after first reference. Prefer to include member who has joined the Chapter Eternal, maintain his curwhich CLC is being referenced: CLC IX was held at the University of rent (intended) year of graduation. Maryland. If referring to a member who has transferred to a new chapter, chapter operations manual always utilize his most recent chapter; a member initiated at Alpha Iota/Indiana who then transfers to Delta Pi/Indiana State Lowercase unless referring to a specific officer manual or title: The Vice President Chapter Operations Manual was very helpful; The would be attributed to Delta Pi Chapter. If a member transfers International Headquarters provides chapter operations manuals for to a school without an active chapter, he remains attributed to download on myΘΧ; This chapter operations manual will help new officers his chapter of initiation. If that member were to assist in the (Re)installation of a chapter at his new school, he would properly Chapter Specific Scholarship Fund, CSSF transfer into the new chapter and be attributed as such. Do not use. See Chapter Fund.
44 45
charter Always lowercase Chartered, rechartered Prefer installed, reinstalled Charter Member Capitalize. Refers to those who established a chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity When referring to a group of men who installed and reinstalled chapters, use (Re)Charter Members: More than 600 men were initiated as (Re)Charter Members during 2018/2019. Club, Mothers’ (Fathers’) Not Mother’s (Father’s) Club or Mothers (Fathers) Club coat of arms Capitalize when referring to the coat of arms affiliated with Theta Chi. Lowercase when referring to more than one coat of arms, or when referring to that of another fraternity or sorority. Do not use coat-of-arms. Do not substitute crest for coat of arms. code of conduct Lowercase unless referring to a specific code of conduct: Every chapter should utilize a code of conduct; All members are required to sign the Code of Conduct. colonist Lowercase; colony member or member is preferred when referring to a member of a colony colony Lowercase, except when used in conjunction with a specific colony: The Zeta Eta Colony currently has 25 members; The colony was officially recognized last week; The Grand Chapter has officially recognized 10 colonies this year. colonized, colonization Capitalize as a noun, lowercase when used as a verb: The Theta Psi Colonization will take place later this semester; Alpha Eta colonized in April. See Initiation.
When referring to both the colonization and recolonization of several groups, use (re)colonization: Do not miss the opportunity to participate in a (re)colonization in 2016/2017; Seven groups were (re)colonized during Fall 2017. colors The official colors of Theta Chi are military red and white. Do not capitalize when referring to the Fraternity’s colors: Our colors are military red and white. committee Lowercase unless referring to a specific committee: The Leadership Education Committee met last week; All chapter committees will report to the Vice President. community service Defined as something made or done by an organization for the public benefit and without regard to direct profit. Not to be confused with philanthropy. Constitution and Bylaws of Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc., The Italicized; refers to the full, legal name of the supreme governing document of Theta Chi Fraternity. Constitution and Bylaws or International Constitution is an acceptable abbreviation after first reference; do not use National Bylaws or Constitution. All suspension proceedings shall be performed in compliance with The Constitution and Bylaws of Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc. Chapter Presidents should be familiar with The Constitution and Bylaws. Convention Refers to both the governing and legislative body of the Fraternity and to the international biennial meeting of the same body. Always capitalize. When referring to the event, use XXth Anniversary Convention, with XX signifying which particular Convention is being referred to: The 162nd Anniversary Convention will take place in Las Vegas. Do not use superscripts (154th); Do not use National Convention.
D Cornerstone Always capitalize when referring to the capital campaign to endow the Presidents Conference Counselors Always capitalize when referring to the International Volunteers called Counselors cross over, crossed over Do not use. The correct term is initiate or initiated. Creed, The Always capitalize when referring to The Creed of Theta Chi. An acceptable short form is The Creed. crest Refers to the part of a coat of arms that is above the helmet. Do not use when referring to the Fraternity’s Coat of Arms.
Dates Always use Arabic figures without th, st, or nd. No comma between month and year if the day is omitted: This year, Nov. 12, 2019, will be the date for Homecoming. When using a month and a year only, do not separate with commas. When a phrase is used with a month, date, and year, set both the date and year off with commas: July 6, 1980, is his birthday; November 1993. Datelines The following cities stand alone in datelines: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Honolulu, Houston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, Washington dean’s list Always lowercase. Steve is on the dean’s list; Jimmy is a dean’s list student decades Use figures to indicate periods of history. Use an apostrophe when abbreviating a particular decade: The 1990s; the ’90s; but not the ’90’s department, office Capitalize when used to designate the full name of corporate and organizational units; capitalize when using generic references: Office of Advancement; Communication Department; Department of Chapter Services Deranian Presidents Conference Refers to a former national leadership conference. Always capitalize. Abbreviated as DPC after first reference. Not Deranian President’s Conference or Deranian Presidents’ Conference. The Digital Rattle Italics and capitalized. Not eRattle, e-Rattle, E-Rattle, or Rattle E-Edition. Preferred name of the online publication of The Rattle of Theta Chi if referenced in text: Visit the Fraternity website to obtain a link for The Digital Rattle. See The Rattle of Theta Chi.
E directions and regions In general, lowercase south, northeast, west, southwest, etc., when they indicate compass direction. Capitalize these words when they designate geographic or administrative regions. Two Field Executives will travel west this semester; Some of our largest chapters are in the Southeast; The South has a rich tradition of Greek life. Dream Girl Capitalize. Dream Girl is preferred over Sweetheart.
46 47
eFollow AP style, which suggests using a hyphen for e- terms such as e-book, e-business, or e-commerce email Not e-mail or Email. Always lowercase. executive board, executive council Lowercase unless referring to a specific executive board: The Executive Board’s decision was unanimous; Good executive councils always hold weekly meetings. Executive Director Capitalize. The chapter adviser met with Executive Director Mike Mayer today; The Executive Director will not be in today. Executive Office Former name of the International Headquarters. Do not use when referring to Theta Chi’s International Headquarters. Executive Secretary Use Executive Director expansion Lowercase except when used as part of a formal title: Theta Chi is working on several expansion projects this semester; The Harvard Expansion has been particularly fruitful; Justin Jones served as the Director of Recruitment and Expansion.
F 501(c)(3), 501(c)(7) No spaces Fan Page Capitalize. Refers to the official Fan Page of Theta Chi Fraternity on the social network Facebook. Field Executive Always capitalized. Always spell out, no abbreviation. Not F.E. or Field Exec. The terms Leadership and Education Consultant (LEC), Expansion Coordinator, Recruitment and Expansion Specialist, Field Representative (Field Rep), Field Secretary, and Traveling Secretary refer to the job titles that preceded the current Field Executive title and should be capitalized. However, they should only be used to lend historical perspective, and their meaning should be clarified in the text. Do not identify a Field Executive by any of these other titles. Brothers who are or were Field Executives, LECs, Expansion Coordinators, Recruitment and Expansion Specialists, Field Representatives, Field Secretaries and Traveling Secretaries comprise the Field Staff. Field Staff Capitalize in all uses. This proper noun refers to all past and present Field Executives, Leadership and Education Consultants, Field Representatives, Field Secretaries, and Traveling Secretaries. First Guard Always written out; not 1st Guard or 1st Guard forms Capitalize when referring to a specific Theta Chi form. Do not italicize. Previously, all members were required to fill out a Member’s Personal Record Form before they were initiated.
former Prefer to use past. Always lowercase, except when preceding a national officer: Past National Marshal Brian Hall. If the individual you are referring to has served in more than one position, use Past National Officer unless one of those positions was National President, in which case, use Past National President: Please join me in welcoming Past National Secretary Joe D’Amore; Also in attendance was Past National President Dave DeVol. Foundation Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc., The Refers to an entity—the educational foundation of Theta Chi. The The is always capitalized. The Foundation Chapter and The Foundation are acceptable abbreviations after first reference. When referring to actions, attribute them to the Board of Directors. A number of academic scholarships are available to eligible brothers through The Foundation Chapter; The Foundation Chapter Board of Directors voted to increase funding. Founders Day Always capitalize. Not Founder’s Day or Founders’ Day Founders Refers to Frederick Norton Freeman and Arthur Chase. Capitalize: Our Founders would be very proud. Founding Brother, Founding Father Use Charter Member. Only Freeman and Chase (and Phelps as an Assistant Founder) are to have the distinction of being called Founding Fathers. frat Never use this term, even as an abbreviation fraternal Used as an adjective and is not capitalized: His chapter offers a good fraternal experience; We must always honor our fraternal oaths. Fraternal Government Relations Coalition Always capitalize. FGRC is an appropriate abbreviation after first reference. Fraternal Information & Programming Group Always capitalize. FIPG is an appropriate abbreviation.
G fraternity Lowercase except when used as part of another fraternity’s official name, or when referring to Theta Chi Fraternity: He is a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity; He is a member of Theta Chi Fraternity; The official colors of the Fraternity are military red and white; He is a distinguished member of our Fraternity; Membership in a fraternity is a lifelong commitment. Lowercase when used in general reference: fraternity education, fraternity programming; At the University of Mississippi, fraternities and sororities are very selective; There are many benefits to joining a fraternity. Fraternity and Sorority Political Action Committee Always capitalize. FSPAC is an appropriate abbreviation after first reference. Never use FratPAC. Fraternity Anthem Capitalize only when referring to “It Is to Thee, Dear Old Theta Chi” Fraternity Communications Association Always capitalize. FCA is an appropriate abbreviation after first reference. Formerly known as the College Fraternity Editors Association (CFEA). Fraternity Executives Association Always capitalize. FEA is an appropriate abbreviation after first reference. freshman, freshmen Freshman refers to a single first-year student; freshmen refers to more than one first-year student. Do not pluralize freshman as an adjective. Freshman Republicans, not Freshmen Republicans— like sophomore biology majors, not sophomores biology majors fundraising, fundraiser One word in all cases: not fund raiser, fund raising, fund-raising, or fund-raiser Futures Quest Always capitalized. A program of the North-American Interfraternity Conference.
48 49
GEICO All letters are capitalized G.I. Theta Chi Capitalize and use periods for G.I. This is the name for local events held or hosted by Theta Chi chapters to benefit the USO. golf outing To be styled as XXth Annual International Golf Outing grade point average Usually in lowercase and in long form when spelled out. When directly following a number, it may be abbreviated. Capitalize and omit periods when using abbreviated form. The chapter’s grade point average exceeds the all-men’s average; The chapter earned a 3.3 GPA. Grand Chapter One of the three boards of Theta Chi Fraternity (the other two being The Foundation Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity and The Norwich Housing Corporation); always capitalize Grand [Officer] Do not use. See International [Officer]. Greek Always capitalize Greek adviser Capitalize both words only if it directly precedes a name: Greek Adviser Ron Maranto called a meeting; The Greek adviser visited the chapter house Greek-letter Use a hyphen if it precedes a noun: Theta Chi is a Greek-letter organization; Organizations that identify themselves with Greek letters have been around for decades. Greek life Two words; no hyphen Greek row Two words; uppercase only if used as part of a formal name Greek Week Always capitalize
H Hall of Honor Capitalized. Refers to the listing and display of the recipients of The Distinguished Achievement Award of Theta Chi.
Honorary Member Always capitalize: He is an Honorary Member of Iota Mu Chapter; He is an Honorary Member of more than 10 chapters.
Handbook of Theta Chi Fraternity, The Capitalize and place in italics when referring to The Handbook of Theta Chi Fraternity. The Handbook is an appropriate abbreviation after first reference. Lowercase when referring to multiple handbooks: Bring your handbook to every executive board meeting; Don’t forget your copy of The Handbook; The Handbook was last updated in 2015.
house Refers to the physical structure. Do not use house when referring to chapter: We had a barbecue at the chapter house.
Headquarters Capitalize when referring to the Fraternity’s office building. Is an acceptable abbreviation for International Headquarters after first reference. Do not use National Headquarters. The Headquarters is located in Carmel, a northern suburb of Indianapolis; This is the Headquarters’ library (not Headquarters’s). See International Headquarters. Helping Hand The Fraternity’s motto. Capitalize when citing, referencing, or using as allusion to the motto. Interchangeable with An Assisting Hand. Theta Chi’s motto is “the Helping Hand”: Brothers, we would like to thank you all for extending a Helping Hand in our time of need. History of Theta Chi Fraternity, The Capitalize when referring to The History of Theta Chi Fraternity; italicize, do not put in quotes Holland Report, The A former publication of the Fraternity. Capitalize and use italics. homecoming Lowercase unless referring to a specific institution’s homecoming home page Two words, no hyphen. Refers to the front page of a website. hometown One word, always lowercase
house corporation Capitalize when referring to a specific house corporation. Lowercase when used in general reference: The Iota Pi House Corporation will meet with the University next week; Some house corporations own their chapter houses outright.
I IFC Academy Always capitalize. A program of the North-American Interfraternity Conference. IMPACT All capitalized. A program of the North-American Interfraternity Conference. inactive chapter A chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity of which the charter has been suspended or revoked by the Grand Chapter, and which is no longer recognized as an undergraduate chapter inactive member Do not use. There is no “inactive” status in Theta Chi. Prefer suspended or alumnus. induction Do not use when referring to the processes of either pledging or initiation. New members are not inducted into Theta Chi; they are initiated. initiate, initiates Lowercase; prefer brother when using as a noun: The chapter is composed of 74 initiates (brothers) and 30 pledges; He is a recent initiate. Lowercase when used as a verb: We will initiate the pledges on April 10; The pledges will be add-ed to the room selection process after the chapter initiates them. Initiation Capitalize: December’s Initiation; the initiation of four brothers Initiation Ritual Capitalize when referring to The Initiation Ritual of Theta Chi Fraternity Initiative Academy Capitalize when referring to the Theta Chi Initiative Academy Initiative Group The name of a specialized programming track formerly offered at International Convention. Not to be confused with the Initiative Academy.
50 51
Instagram Always capitalize; do not use as a verb Installation Refers to the establishing of a new chapter. Capitalize. Do not use as a substitute for Initiation. See also initiated, colonized. When referring to the installation of several chapters including a Reinstallation, use (Re)installation: Do not miss the 10 opportunities to attend a (Re)installation in 2016/2017. installed Lowercase: The Iota Tau Chapter was installed in November. When referring to a group of chapters being installed and reinstalled, use (re)installed: Twelve chapters were installed into the Iota Series starting in 2001; Six chapters were (re)installed during 2014/2015. Installation of Chapter Officers Ceremony Always capitalize. This is one of Theta Chi’s rituals. interest group Always lowercase except when referring to a specific interest group. Used to refer to a group of undergraduates who have formally declared their interest in starting a chapter of Theta Chi: The Gamma Alpha Interest Group reported 12 new members; Starting an interest group requires considerable resources. interfraternal, interfraternalism One word, no hyphen. Always lowercase. interfraternally Appropriate as an informal salutation to a member or members of any fraternity or sorority Interfraternity Council Always capitalize. Not Inter-Fraternity Council or Inter Fraternity Council. Abbreviated IFC. Interfraternity Institute Always capitalize. IFI is an appropriate abbreviation after first reference.
J Internet Capitalize, per AP Style; should not be used interchangeably with World Wide Web intramural Always lowercase. Do not hyphenate. Not intermural. International, Internationals Do not use when referring to Theta Chi Fraternity, the International Headquarters staff, or the Grand Chapter; the term International can be used as an adjective to describe the Fraternity-at-large in a general sense. International Chapter Do not use as a substitute for International Headquarters or Grand Chapter. There is no “international chapter” in Theta Chi. International Convention Always capitalize International Fraternity Lowercase if referring to an organization other than Theta Chi. Theta Chi is an international college men’s fraternity; The International Fraternity celebrated its 154th anniversary in Orlando; do not use Theta Chi National Fraternity. International Headquarters Always capitalize. Refers to the Fraternity’s office building on 865 W. Carmel Drive. Do not use when referring to one or more of the individuals who work at or for the International Headquarters: The International Headquarters staff is based in Carmel, IN; A representative of the International Headquarters staff will be contacting you shortly; The International Headquarters is home to some of the Fraternity’s oldest artifacts. International [Officer] Not Grand Chapter [Officer]. Use International when referring to an officer of the Grand Chapter after February 1965. All Grand Chapter Officers pre-1965 remain as National [Officers]. Correct: He is the International Marshal. Incorrect: He is the Grand Chapter Marshal.
junior active, junior initiate, JI, JA Do not use. This membership status does not exist in Theta Chi.
L Ladue Loan Program Capitalize. Not Ladue Memorial Fund. lavalier A lavalier is a jeweled pendant (bearing the Fraternity’s letters) worn on a chain around the neck. Presenting a gift of a lavalier is called lavaliering and indicates a romantic commitment. Do not capitalize. LEAD A former Fraternity membership development program. Use Leadership Education and Academic Development Program on first reference. Use all caps with no periods on subsequent references. Theta Chi does not currently use LEAD in any educational curriculum. Leadership and Education Consultant See Field Executive legacy Always lowercase legislation Always lowercase letters Do not use Greek letters, such as ΘX, in text. Always spell out Greek letters. Exceptions are made for myΘX and in social media platforms such as Twitter that limit characters. lifelong, lifetime One word, no hyphen Little Brother Interchangeable with Pledge Son. Always capitalized: He is my Little Brother; The Little Brothers met prior to the ceremony. lodge, lodgers Do not use when referring to members who are living in a chapter house
M
52 53
Manual of Theta Chi Fraternity, The Capitalize and place in italics when referring to The Manual of Theta Chi Fraternity. The Manual is an appropriate abbreviation after first reference. Lowercase when referring to multiple manuals: Bring your manual to every meeting; Don’t forget your copy of The Manual; The Manual was last updated in 2015. Marshal One word; one l. Not Marshall, Pledge Marshal/Pledge Marshall, or Pledge Master. maxim The Fraternity Maxim is “Alma Mater First and Theta Chi for Alma Mater.” The word maxim is lowercase, but when quoting the actual phrase, it is appropriate to capitalize. member Refers to initiates and pledges. Do not capitalize: More than 450 members from 129 chapters and colonies attended the Convention. Do not use Member John Smith as a substitute for Brother John Smith. member development program Lowercase membership card Lowercase membership certificate Lowercase membership review Refers to the interview process conducted by an Alumni Probation Committee. Lowercase. Member’s Personal Record (E-1) Refers to a form previously used to register newly initiated members of Theta Chi Men Since ‘56 A formerly used tagline middle initial A period always follows a middle initial: James M. Holland
N Mid-Year Leadership Conference Always capitalize. Do not use Mid-Year Leadership Challenges. MYLC is an appropriate abbreviation after first reference. Mid-Year Leadership Summit Always capitalize. MYLS is an appropriate abbreviation after first reference. Military red See colors military titles/ranks Capitalize a military rank when used as a formal title before an individual’s name. See Section VII for a complete listing of abbreviation and style guidelines for military titles. motto The word motto is lowercase, but when quoting the actual phrase, it is appropriate to capitalize myΘΧ Preferred over “myThetaChi”; can stand alone or be preceded by “OmegaFi”: You can use myΘΧ to register; Be sure to login to your OmegaFi myΘΧ account.
national, nationals Do not use. See International, Internationals. National APIA Panhellenic Association Always capitalize. NAPA is an appropriate abbreviation after first reference. Formerly known as the National Asian Greek Council. National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations Always capitalize. NALFO is an appropriate abbreviation after first reference. National Board of Trustees Do not use when referring to The Norwich Housing Corporation, unless to provide historical context. NBT is an appropriate abbreviation after first reference. National Chapter Do not use as a substitute for International Headquarters or Grand Chapter. There is no “national chapter” in Theta Chi. See International Chapter. National Convention Do not use. See International Convention. National Eagle, The The official blog of Theta Chi Fraternity. Always capitalize and use italics. National Interfraternity Fund Always capitalize. Abbreviate as NIF after first reference. National Headquarters Do not use when referring to the International Headquarters. National Multicultural Greek Council Always capitalize. NMGC is an appropriate abbreviation after first reference. National [Officer] Do not use except as historical reference, pre-1965. See International [Officer].
54 55
National Panhellenic Conference Always capitalize. NPC is an appropriate abbreviation after first reference.
Northeast Greek Leadership Association Always capitalize. NGLA is an appropriate abbreviation after first reference.
National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. Always capitalize. NPHC is an appropriate abbreviation after first reference. Refers to its members as historically African-American.
Norwich Housing Corporation Always capitalize. Refers to an entity—the private, not-forprofit lender that provides housing loans to house corporations. NHC is an appropriate abbreviation after first reference. When referring to actions, attribute them to the Board of Directors. The Norwich Housing Corporation is the primary lender; The NHC Board of Directors voted to approve a loan; We applied for a loan from the Norwich Housing Corporation.
neophyte Do not use when referring to pledges/new members except in The Ritual of Theta Chi Fraternity new member Interchangeable with pledge. Use lowercase except when directly preceding an individual’s name or as part of a formal salutation of a letter: The event was organized by the new members; Dear New Members of Zeta Alpha Chapter. See brother for similar usage. New Member Ceremony Capitalize when referring to the New Member Ceremony of Theta Chi NIC Foundation, The Always capitalize. NICF is an appropriate abbreviation after first reference. nonalcoholic One word, no hyphen non-Greek Hyphenate nonprofit One word, no hyphen North-American Interfraternity Conference Always capitalize. NIC is an appropriate abbreviation after first reference. Formerly called the National Interfraternity Conference. Not North American-Interfraternity Conference or North American-Interfraternity Council.
O Objectives of Theta Chi Fraternity, The Capitalize when referring to The Objectives of Theta Chi Fraternity. Abbreviated as Objectives or The Objectives after first reference. Do not use The 22 Objectives or other variants.
over/more than Use over to refer to spatial relationships: The plane flew over the city. There are some special exceptions when it can be used with numerals: He is over 50; I paid over $200 for this suit.
officers Capitalize when referring to a specific Theta Chi chapter officer. Lowercase when referring to a group of officers: The Treasurer handles all of the chapter’s financial matters; The Greek adviser called an emergency presidents meeting; He is the Iota Theta Chapter President.
Prefer more than to refer to quantity amounts: The chapter collected more than 4,000 pounds of food.
When referring to a member of the Grand Chapter, The Foundation Chapter Board, or Norwich Housing Corporation Board, include his official title. Always capitalize titles of national board members: National Vice President Joseph D’Amore; Foundation President Jim Moylan; the National Marshal will look into the matter. See Section V for specific information and a list of properly formatted titles. Official Family A term used to describe present and past members of the Grand Chapter, National Board of Trustees, and/or The Norwich Housing Corporation, Theta Chi Funds for Leadership and Education, and/or The Foundation Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc., Counselors, and the International Headquarters staff. Always capitalize. online Not on-line or on line OmegaFi Official and preferred name of Omega Financial, Inc. Not Omega Fi, Omega Financial, or OmegaPhi. Operation Military Red Capitalized, no punctuation
AP Style has relaxed its position on this. Over may be used in place of more than when necessary for better spacing or layout. ox Do not use as a substitute for ΘX; the letter theta is not equivalent to the letter o in English, nor is chi equivalent to x. The ox is not a symbol that appears in any ritualistic, branding or other Fraternity publications/traditions.
P
56 57
Panhellenic Always capitalize
pledge brother Always lowercase
Parents Weekend Capitalize when referring to a specific parents weekend. Not Parent’s Weekend or Parents’ Weekend.
Pledge Button Uppercase when referring to the Fraternity’s official Pledge Button. Lowercase when referring to multiple buttons, or when referring to another fraternity or sorority’s pledge button/pin. In Theta Chi, Pledge Button is preferred over pledge pin: The Pledge Button may only be worn by pledges; Our Pledge Button has a very unique design; The pledge buttons arrived last week.
party Prefer social event Pathway of Brotherhood Capitalized. Refers to the former brick pathway at 3330 Founders Road. See Brotherhood Plaza. percent One word; do not use the % symbol unless it appears in a graph, listing, sidebar or other pulled-out information petition Always lowercase philanthropy Defined as an activity done to raise money or donate funds to a nonprofit organization. Not to be confused with community service. Not philantropy. phone numbers Formatted as xxx-xxx-xxxx. Do not use parentheses or periods. Incorrect: (xxx) xxx-xxxx or xxx.xxx.xxxx. PIN Stands for personal identification number. Do not use the phrase PIN number. pin number Prefer roster number pledge (noun) Interchangeable with new member. Use lowercase except when directly preceding an individual’s name or as part of a formal salutation of a letter: The event was organized by the pledges; Dear Pledges of Zeta Alpha Chapter. See brother for similar usage. pledge, pledging (verb) Always lowercase.
Pledge Father Interchangeable with Big Brother. Always capitalized: He was my Pledge Father; The Pledge Fathers met prior to the ceremony. Pledge Marshal, Pledge Marshall Do not use when referring to the officer responsible for pledge education. See Marshal. Pledge Son Interchangeable with Little Brother. Always capitalized: He was my Pledge Son; The Pledge Sons met prior to the ceremony. potential new member Lowercase prefixes/suffixes Follow all Associated Press guidelines for prefixes and suffixes preinitiation One word, no hyphen. Lowercase. probation Capitalize if referring to a specific type of probation. Otherwise, use lowercase: The chapter has been placed on Academic Probation; The chapter is on probation. programs/programming areas Lowercase the programs of the Fraternity, but capitalize when referring to a specific program
R publications In general, italicize the titles of major publications such as magazines, books, plays, music albums, newspapers, works of art, movies, TV series, major (long) poems, ship, train, and plane names, and vehicles (but not brand names). Place poems, short stories, song titles, magazine or newspaper article titles, document and chapter titles, and TV episodes in quotes.
Rattle of Theta Chi, The Always capitalize and use italics when referring to The Rattle of Theta Chi; The Rattle is an acceptable short-form abbreviation. Do not use The Rattler or any derivations of that nickname when referring to the Fraternity’s official magazine. The Digital Rattle is the preferred usage if referring to the online issue. reFollow all Associated Press guidelines for prefixes and suffixes: re-elect, re-election, re-elected; reinstallation, recolonization; reinstalled, recolonized recolonize, recolonization One word, no hyphen. Always lowercase. Only previously existing chapters can be recolonized. When referring to the recolonization and colonization of several groups, use (re)colonization: Do not miss the opportunity to participate in a (re)colonization in 2016/2017; Seven groups were (re)colonized during Fall 2017. recharter Do not use when referring to a reinstallation. Use reinstall. Rechartering Member Capitalize. Refers to those who reinstalled a chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity. See Charter Member. Rare: When referring to a group of men who reinstalled and installed chapters, use (Re)Charter Members: More than 600 men were initiated as (Re)Charter Members during 2018/2019. recruitment Always lowercase. The term recruitment is preferred over rush, and member recruitment rather than membership recruitment. re-established Term used when a charter is still in place with no members and a group is initiated. The colony process is skipped, and since the charter was never revoked, it would be inaccurate to describe this as a (re)installation. The men initiated would be called Re-establishing Members not Charter Members or Rechartering Members. Six weeks after their Pledging Ceremony, 12 men re-established Omega Chapter at Penn State in 2002.
58 59
Regional Counselor Always capitalize. Do not use unless to provide historical context. Regional Director Always capitalize. Do not use unless to provide historical context. regional plan Capitalize if referring to a specific regional plan. Do not use unless to provide historical context. regions Capitalize if referring to a specific region in Theta Chi’s former Regional Plan: The Southeast Region; Theta Chi once had 14 regions. Do not use unless to provide historical context. Reinstallation Refers to the reopening of a previously closed chapter. Capitalize. Do not use as a substitute for Initiation; see also initiated, colonized. reinstalled Lowercase: The Gamma Zeta Chapter has been reinstalled twice. When referring to a group of chapters being both reinstalled and installed, use (re)installed; Six chapters were (re)installed during 2014/2015. reorganization Refers to a membership review conducted by one or more members of the International Headquarters staff. Lowercase Resolute Man, Resolute Men Always capitalized resume Not résumé Ritual Capitalize when referring to The Ritual of Theta Chi Fraternity or Theta Chi Fraternity’s Public Ceremonies (often referred to as Public Ritual). Do not capitalize when referring to other ritualistic activities: The Ritual has undergone a number of revisions since 1856;
Please collect the Ritual books before adjourning the chapter meeting; The Private Ritual should be conducted respectfully. Individual ceremonies contained in the Ritual and Public Ceremonies are capitalized: According to the Public Ritual, the New Member Ceremony is open to the public. roster book Lowercase roster number Lowercase unless referring to a specific number. Preferred over pin number; use Arabic numerals: The chapter assigned roster numbers; He is Roster Number 1 of Kappa Iota Chapter. runner-up, runners-up Hyphenated. Runner-up is singular; runners-up is plural. Lowercase: The winner and first runner-up were each given a scholarship. rush Do not use unless referring to the name of a formal event. Recruitment or formal recruitment is preferred. If formal recruitment is the official name of a university-sanctioned recruitment period, capitalize.
S Sacred Purpose Always capitalize Sasser Presidents Conference Always capitalize. Abbreviated as SPC after first reference. Not Sasser President’s Conference or Sasser Presidents’ Conference. School of Fraternity Practices Always capitalize seal Always lowercase when referring to the Fraternity’s official seal or the Grand Chapter’s seal seasons All seasons are lowercase: fall of 2004, summer 2010 edition, winter 2005 Second Guard Always written out; not 2nd Guard or 2nd Guard series Lowercase unless referring to a specific Greek letter series. Used in Theta Chi to denote a grouping of chapters based on their chapter designations: Single-letter Series (Alpha through Omega chapters), Alpha Series (Alpha Beta through Alpha Omega chapters), etc. Single-letter, Single-letter chapters, Single-letter Series Use a hyphen. Often used in Theta Chi to denote the first 24 chapters (Alpha through Omega). ski trip Style as XXth Annual International David E.DeVol Ski Trip; not XXth Annual Theta Chi International David E. DeVol Ski Trip. sorority Lowercase unless referring to a specific sorority. However, most sororities prefer to use fraternity or women’s fraternity. Refer to the Interfraternity Directory or the Fraternity Executives’ Fraternity/Sorority Directory to properly reference NPC members. Southeastern Interfraternity Conference Always capitalize. SEIFC is an appropriate abbreviation after first reference.
staff Always lowercase. Do not capitalize when directly following administrative, International Headquarters, volunteer, or other iterations. For staff titles, all positions are always capitalized, including any title preceded by “Director of” or “Senior Director of,” or “Editor of.” See Section V for specific positions. state Always lowercase unless part of a formal title. Do not capitalize when used as an adjective. state names Spell out the names of states when they stand alone in text, and use the two-letter Postal Service abbreviations when abbreviations are necessary. See Section VII for more information. Student Government Association Always capitalize when Student Government Association is the official title of the organization. Use SGA to abbreviate after first reference. Lowercase if making a nonspecific reference to a student government organization: He was elected to an important student government position; He has proven to be an invaluable asset to the Student Government Association. substance free, substance-free Means in absence of alcohol, drugs and, tobacco. Students who report being substance free; substance-free dorms. See also alcohol-free, alcohol free. Sweetheart Prefer Dream Girl
T
60 61
telephone numbers See phone numbers
Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Former tagline. Do not use.
Theta Chi Chapter Refers to the honorary chapter approved at the 132nd Anniversary Convention. When referring to a member from Theta Chi Chapter, use the following construction: Name (Theta Chi/GC Honorary YYYY); YYYY is the year of his initiation into Theta Chi Chapter.
toward Not towards
Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc. This is the full, legal name of the organization. Use sparingly or for formal occasions when appropriate. In most cases Theta Chi is sufficient. Do not use Theta, OX, ox, TX, T-Chi, etc., when referring to Theta Chi or Theta Chi Fraternity. Theta Chi for Life When using this axiom, style as above; not Theta Chi For Life Theta Chi Funds for Leadership and Education, Inc. Always capitalize. Do not use when referring to The Foundation Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc., unless to provide historical context. Theta Chi Funds is an acceptable abbreviation after first use. Theta Chi Funds merged with The Foundation Chapter in 2003. Theta Chi Monument Capitalize when referring to the marker commemorating the founding of Theta Chi Fraternity third party vendor No hyphens time Use figures except for noon (12 p.m.) and midnight (12 a.m.). Use a colon to separate hours from minutes: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m. Avoid redundancies like 10 a.m. this morning. titles of officers, chapter See officers titles of officers, international See officers
transfers See chapter designation Truth, Temperance, Tolerance Capitalize when using as grouped words and citing, referencing, or using as allusion to them: We are the brothers of Truth, Temperance, and Tolerance; We discussed Truth, Temperance, and Tolerance at the pledge meeting. T-shirt Hyphenate. The t is capitalized. tweet A post on Twitter. Always lowercase. May be used as a verb depending on the context. Twitter Always capitalize; do not use as a verb
U Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute Always capitalize. UIFI is an appropriate abbreviation after first reference. university Lowercase unless referring to a specific university. Do not use if the institution is actually classified as a college: The University of Central Florida is the second-largest public university in the United States; The University has been hesitant to increase its on-campus housing facilities for Greek students in spite of its large Greek community. U.S. Spell out when used as a noun. Use U.S. only as an adjective. Note: Per AP Style, use US in headlines (no periods). USO For all communications and material, refer to the organization as the USO. Some people may express interest in learning the origin of the USO name. In that context, it is correct to refer to the USO (United Service Organizations), not United Services Organizations (USO).
V Vice President Capitalize; see officer. Never use a dash or hyphen. See Section V. Vice President of Health and Safety Capitalize; see officer. No abbreviation. Never use a dash or hyphen. See Section V.
W website One word; lowercase website URLs Lowercase all letters and italicize. Avoid using overly long or complicated URLs in text. Within These Walls A former publication of the Fraternity. Capitalize and use italics. woman, women Preferred over girl, girls; exception is Dream Girl; Dream Girl of Theta Chi www.thetachi.org Always lowercase. Italicize when used in a paragraph. It is not necessary to precede with http://.
Y
62 63
years When referring to a period of years, no apostrophe is needed. When referring to a specific academic or calendar year, use numerals separated by a forward slash: The 2009/2010 academic year saw a huge jump in recruitment numbers; but not 2009/10 or 2009–10. See also decades, academic years. When attributing a member’s name in text, use a 4-digit date and utilize his graduation year or year that he withdrew from school. If an alumnus initiate or member of Theta Chi Chapter, use year of initiation. yearlong One word; no hyphen year-round Always hyphenate
SECTION II: CHAPTER DESIGNATIONS AND COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES
identifying someone’s chapter designation/ alma mater If identifying someone’s chapter designation/alma mater in text is necessary, use the following format: Name (Chapter/School YYYY) This construction is referred to as the short form. When attributing in text, always use the short form for a member’s school. Correct: James L. Powell (Delta Pi/Indiana State 1981) Incorrect: James L. Powell (Delta Pi/Indiana State ’81) Incorrect: James L. Powell (Delta Pi ’81) Incorrect: James L. Powell, Delta Pi ’81 Incorrect: James L. Powell, Delta Pi/Indiana State ’81 Incorrect: James L. Powell (ΔΠ/Indiana State 1981) Incorrect: James L. Powell (ΔΠ/Indiana State ’81) Incorrect: James L. Powell (ΔΠ 1981) Incorrect: James L. Powell (ΔΠ ’81) Incorrect: James L. Powell, ΔΠ 1981 Incorrect: James L. Powell, ΔΠ ’81 Incorrect: James L. Powell, ΔΠ/Indiana State ’81 Always spell out the chapter letters; do not use stand-alone single or double letters. Different word processors can render Greek letters as other (or incorrect) symbols. Exception: single or double Greek letters may be used on social media platforms such as Twitter that limit characters. Do not make a break in the Greek letters or school name. Make all line breaks following the / or after the school name. Correct: Denny Vaggalis (Gamma Phi/ Nebraska Wesleyan 2011) Denny Vaggalis (Gamma Phi/Nebraska Wesleyan 2011) Incorrect: Denny Vaggalis (Gamma Phi/Nebraska Wesleyan 2011) Denny Vaggalis (Gamma Phi/Nebraska Wesleyan 2011)
When attributing a member who has transferred to a new chapter, always utilize his most recent chapter; a member initiated at Alpha Iota/Indiana who then transfers to Delta Pi/ Indiana State would be attributed to Delta Pi Chapter. If a member transfers to a school without an active chapter, he remains attributed to his chapter of initiation. If that member were to assist in the (Re)installation of a chapter at his new school, he would properly transfer into the new chapter and be attributed as such.
yyyy/year The YYYY refers to the year that the individual completed his undergraduate degree, or the year that he withdrew from school. In the event of the death of a current undergraduate member, maintain his current (intended) date of graduation. If a graduation/withdrawal date is unknown, refer to the year on file in the Fraternity’s database or other official records. While a 4-digit date (YYYY) is cumbersome, it aids in properly identifying members of an organization which has (thus far) spanned three centuries. The only time an initiation year should be used is for members of Theta Chi Chapter or in the case of other alumnus initiates, unless initiated at their alma mater, in that case they should use their graduation year. For example, Alpha Pi Chapter was installed at the University of Minnesota in 1924. Prior to this installation, decades of men had been members of the local fraternity that preceded Alpha Pi Chapter. Though initiated into Theta Chi as alumnus members, they retain their graduation date from their alma mater at Minnesota. Thus, Alpha Pi (and many other chapters) may have members who have graduated prior to the chapter’s installation. Alumnus initiate of his own alma mater: Correct: Einar Hoidale (Alpha Pi/Minnesota 1898) Incorrect: Einar Hoidale (Alpha Pi/Minnesota 1924)
64 65
The graduation year (YYYY) may be added in parentheses as a stand-alone following the member’s name based on the information obtained from the wording of a sentence. Note the difference in identification based on context: Gamma Tau/Drake House Corporation President Tom Rossley (1983) led the efforts for a new house; Gamma Tau/Drake House Corporation President Jon Fleming (Alpha Mu/ Iowa State 1972) led the efforts for a new house. If reporting chapter news or a chapter-specific story where the chapter designation has already been stated, the (YYYY) may follow the name: Notable Alpha Phi alumni include Dale Taylor (1969), Marvin McConaghy (1972), Wes Wicker (1979), and Lucas Elgie (2005). Examples of short form: Use the short form for attribution, or when naming several chapters/institutions in a list or series: Frederick Norton Freeman (Alpha/Norwich 1856) and Arthur Chase (Alpha/Norwich 1857) are the Founders of Theta Chi Fraternity. Examples of long form: The long form may be used for awards or other formal recognition, or when referring to a particular college or university without attribution: He is an alumnus initiate of the University of Central Missouri. Short form vs. long form Short form: Jon Fernandez (Tau/Florida 2008) is a past Leadership and Education Consultant Long form: He graduated from the University of Florida Incorrect: He attended Florida Incorrect: Jon Fernandez (Tau/University of Florida 2008) Incorrect: Jon Fernandez (Tau/Florida ’08) Determining whether to use the long form or short form will depend on context. As a general rule, use the long form for formal occasions, or when making a stand-alone reference to a particular institution. The long form may also be used when printing awards or other recognitions. The short form is to be used in informal situations, or to clarify where an individual attended school and what chapter he belonged to. Do not use the short form for non-members.
When using the short form, omit the words college or university in the name of the institution: University of Florida is Florida Florida State University is Florida State This rule also applies to colleges and universities that have regional campuses. When referring to a flagship school or main campus, omit the word university or college in the name. For regional campuses, indicate which campus you are referring to, and separate with a hyphen (-). University of Michigan is Michigan (but not Michigan-Ann Arbor) University of Michigan at Flint is Michigan-Flint, not Michigan, Flint Unless noted otherwise, use a hyphen with multi-name schools. The official names for most schools can be found on the school’s website. Many use a hyphen as part of their official name. Hampden-Sydney College, not Hampden Sydney College Birmingham-Southern College, not Birmingham Southern College Randolph-Macon College, not Randolph Macon College Lenoir-Rhyne University, not Lenoir Rhyne University
exceptions Some schools have exceptions to the above guidelines. These exceptions originate with common usage. A list of exceptions is below: Chapter Beta Delta Epsilon Mu Kappa Upsilon Omega Alpha Lambda Alpha Nu Alpha Omicron Alpha Rho Beta Alpha Beta Eta Beta Nu Beta Tau Beta Phi Gamma Alpha Gamma Delta Gamma Epsilon Gamma Kappa Gamma Pi Delta Gamma Delta Epsilon Delta Lambda Epsilon Eta Epsilon Lambda Epsilon Tau Epsilon Phi Epsilon Chi Epsilon Psi Zeta Theta Eta Lambda
Name of Institution Massachusetts Institute of Technology Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Worcester Polytechnic Institute University of California-Berkeley University of Pennsylvania New York University Pennsylvania State University Ohio State University Georgia Institute of Technology Washington State University University of Washington University of California-Los Angeles Washington College Case Western Reserve University University of Southern California University of Nevada University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Florida Southern College Western State Colorado University Miami University State University of New York-Buffalo West Virginia Wesleyan College University of Miami (FL) Colorado School of Mines Indiana University of Pennsylvania Lewis & Clark College Stephen F. Austin State University University of Central Missouri Missouri University of Science & Technology New Jersey Institute of Technology Troy University Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
Short Form MIT RPI WPI California Pennsylvania NYU Penn State Ohio State Georgia Tech Washington State Washington UCLA Washington (MD) Case Western Soutern California Nevada Chattanooga Florida Southern Western State Miami (OH) Buffalo WV Wesleyan Miami (FL) Colorado Mines IUP Lewis & Clark Stephen F. Austin Central Missouri Missouri S&T NJIT Troy Virginia Tech
Notes Not “Rensselaer Poly” Not “Worcester Poly” Not “UC-Berkeley” Not “Penn” Not “New York” Not “The Ohio State” Not “Wazzu” Not “Washington (WA)” Not “UC-Los Angeles” or “UC-LA” “Washington” reserved for Alpha Rho Not “Case Western Reserve” Not “USC” or “Southern Cal” Not “Nevada-Reno” or “UNR” Not “Tennessee-Chattanooga” Not “Florida-Southern” Not “Miami of Ohio” or “Miami Ohio” Not “SUNY Buffalo” Not “West Virginia Wesleyan” Not “Miami (Fla.) Not “Ind.-Pa.” or “Indiana-PA” Not “Lewis and Clark” Not “Stephen F. Austin State” Not “Central Missouri State” Not “Missouri-Rolla” Not “New Jersey Tech” Not “Troy State”
66 67
Chapter Eta Rho Eta Upsilon Eta Psi Theta Beta Theta Xi Theta Chi Iota Beta Iota Eta Iota Mu Iota Nu Iota Xi Iota Omicron Iota Pi Iota Rho Iota Upsilon Iota Chi Iota Psi Iota Omega
Name of Institution Centenary College of Louisiana Texas A&M University University of Alabama-Birmingham The College of New Jersey Virginia Commonwealth University Grand Chapter Honorary Missouri State University University of the Pacific University of Missouri University of South Florida Georgia College and State University Florida International University Louisiana State University Southern Polytechnic State University Texas State University Binghamton University Rochester Institute of Technology SUNY Cortland
Short Form Centenary (LA) Texas A&M UAB TCNJ VCU GC Honorary Missouri State Pacific Missouri South Florida Georgia College FIU LSU Southern Poly Texas State Binghamton RIT SUNY Cortland
Notes Not “Centenary” Not “TAMU” Not “Alabama-Birmingham” Not “Virginia Commonwealth” Not “Southwest Missouri State” Not “Mizzou” Not “Southern Florida” Not “GCSU” Not “Florida International” Not “Louisiana State” Not “SPSU” Not “Texas State-San Marcos” Not “SUNY Binghamton” Not “Rochester Tech” Not “Cortland” or “Cortland State”
beta kappa fraternity When referring to a member of Beta Kappa who was later initiated into Theta Chi, use the Theta Chi chapter he graduated from in attribution. When referring to a member of Beta Kappa who was not later initiated into Theta Chi, use the following construction: Name (Beta Kappa Fraternity/School YYYY).
additional guidelines Staff and Official Family Members of the International Headquarters staff and Official Family should refrain from noting their chapter designations in official correspondence. In these instances where additional identifying information is needed, these individuals should instead include their official or formal titles (e.g., Executive Director; International Secretary).
At-Large Members When referring to at-large members, use the following construction: Name (At-Large/School YYYY). If a chapter is eventually installed where at-large members were initiated, all efforts should be made to work with the Membership Department at International Headquarters to fold or transfer their membership into the new chapter. These men would then be identified by that particular chapter and would use their official graduation date from their alma mater (or the date that they withdrew from that institution). At-Large alumnus initiate folded or transferred into the new chapter and properly updated in the database; John Doe (At-Large/South Florida 1971) would become John Doe (Iota Nu/South Florida 1971) University of North Carolina System Use the abbreviation UNC to refer to schools in the University of North Carolina system other than the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, which is abbreviated as North Carolina. For example: Alpha Eta/North Carolina Theta Zeta/UNC-Asheville Iota Alpha/UNC-Wilmington
68 69
University of California and California State University Systems When referring to a University of California school, include the name of the school, preceded by the abbreviation UC, with no periods (exception: Beta Alpha/UCLA). Use a hyphen to designate which campus you are referring to: University of California-Santa Cruz is cited as UC-Santa Cruz When referring to a school in the California State system, use the following guidelines: Name of Institution California Polytechnic State University
Short Form Cal Poly
California State University-Bakersfield California State University-Chico California State University-East Bay California State University-Fresno California State University-Long Beach California State University-Los Angeles California State University-Northridge California State University-Sacramento California State University-San Diego California State University-San Jose California State University-Stanislaus
CSU-Bakersfield Chico State CSU-East Bay Fresno State Long Beach State CSU-LA CSU-Northridge Sacramento State San Diego State San Jose State CSUÂÂ-Stanislaus
Notes San Luis Obispo campus; there is no chapter at Pomona Not CSU-Hayward Not CSU-Los Angeles Not CSUN
State University of New York System The State University of New York system is currently composed of 64 campuses. The SUNY brand and how schools are named have inconsistencies in print and online. Some schools are dependent on the brand while others attempt independence. Some school names are very lengthy because they are very specialized.
Thus, each SUNY school where a Theta Chi chapter has been installed will have its own particular format. Use the format indicated below when attributing a SUNY chapter. If your SUNY chapter is not represented in this version of the Style Guide, please contact the International Headquarters for specific guidelines.
The four primary campuses include Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, and Stony Brook. These four opted to use their city as a standalone name and/or utilized the word at to imply that they are still part of the system without actually naming the system.
Chapter Gamma Pi Iota Chi Iota Omega
City Buffalo Binghamton Cortland
Long Form for Very Formal Documents/Occasions State University of New York at Buffalo State University of New York at Binghamton State University of New York at Cortland
Future
Albany
State University of New York at Albany
Future
Geneseo
Future
Stony Brook
Future
Oswego
Long Form for all other occasions University at Buffalo Binghamton University SUNY Cortland
Short Form Gamma Pi/Buffalo Iota Chi/Binghamton Iota Omega/SUNY Cortland
Currently: At-Large/Albany; Future: Greek letters/Albany TBD by local group. Likely: State University of New York at Geneseo TBD by local group. Likely: SUNY Geneseo Greek letters/SUNY Geneseo State University of New York at Stony Brook Stony Brook University TBD by local group. Likely: Greek letters/Stony Brook TBD by local group. Likely: State University of New York at Oswego TBD by local group. Likely: SUNY Oswego Greek letters/SUNY Oswego University at Albany
70 71
SECTION III: FORMATTING
Bold Only bold text when part of a subhead or to add extra emphasis Bullets Do not add periods at the end of items in a bullet list Capitalization Avoid capitalizing whole words in text, unless the text being capitalized is a subhead or in some other way is being used to set one section of the copy apart from another. Online, using ALL CAPS is considered the equivalent of “yelling” or being overly dramatic Commas Though contrary to AP Style, in order to provide the utmost clarity, Theta Chi Fraternity publications utilize the serial (Oxford) comma. Note the difference in context: Correct: He attended Mid-Year Leadership Conference, Initiative Academy, and International Convention. Incorrect: He attended Mid-Year Leadership Conference, Initiative Academy and International Convention. Italics Titles of books, newspapers, and other major published works are either italicized or underlined in text. In general, italics are preferred over underlining, though both are considered interchangeable. Use italics when referring to the titles of the following: books, plays, musicals, long poems, magazines, scholarly journals, newspapers, works of art, films, screenplays, television series, record albums, tapes, CDs, long musical compositions, operas, websites, blogs. Do not italicize or underline sacred texts like the Bible or the Koran, or books within sacred texts, or legal documents. However, do italicize the names of specific ships, spacecraft, trains, and aircraft.
Quotation marks Quotation marks are used for shorter works and individual sections of larger works such as short stories, chapters in a book, and songs. Use quotation marks for the following: short stories, poems, short plays, essays, articles, songs, television episodes, short musical compilations, book chapters. Do not use straight quotation marks (") in place of curly quotation marks (“). Spacing between sentences Only one space is necessary between sentences in text. Incorrect: Theta Chi Fraternity was founded at Norwich University. It is one of the oldest men’s fraternities in North America. Correct: Theta Chi Fraternity was founded at Norwich University. It is one of the oldest men’s fraternities in North America. Superscripts Do not use superscripts (th, st) in text. Many word processors (most notably Microsoft Word) will autoformat superscripts. Correct: 154th Anniversary Convention Incorrect: 154th Anniversary Convention Underline Do not underline text
SECTION IV: AWARDS
Theta Chi Fraternity recognizes outstanding undergraduates, alumni, and chapters each year by giving out various awards. Many awards are no longer given out, but may still be referenced from time to time. When referring to awards, always use the award’s official name (including the precedence of The) on first reference. Unofficial or shortened names may be used on subsequent references. For more information on all of Theta Chi Fraternity’s awards, refer to Theta Chi Fraternity—Award Descriptions and Procedures.
Active Chapter Service Award Carnation Award of Theta Chi Fraternity Abbr.: Carnation Award Chapter Achievement Award Chapman-Alter Award for Interfraternal Excellence Abbr.: Chapman-Alter Award *Note that this is not the same as the Alter Award Chapter Excellence Award Citation of Honor Plural: Citations of Honor Convention Attendance Trophy Abbr.: Man Mile Award; not “Attendance Trophy” or “Attendance Award” David E. DeVol Award Abbr.: DeVol Award David L. Westol Sacred Purpose Award Abbr.: Westol Award Diamond Brigade of Theta Chi Abbr.: Diamond Brigade Distinguished Achievement Award of Theta Chi Fraternity Abbr.: Distinguished Achievement Award Distinguished Service Award of Theta Chi Fraternity Abbr.: Distinguished Service Award Dream Girl of Theta Chi Abbr.: Dream Girl Earl D. Rhodes Theta Chi for Life Award Not Earl D. “Dusty” Rhodes Abbr.: Theta Chi for Life Award Floyd W. Field Award Abbr.: Field Award
72 73
Foundation Chapter Service Plaque Abbr.: Foundation Service Plaque
Philip S. Randall Success in Recruitment Award Abbr.: Randall Award
Golden Guard of Theta Chi Abbr.: Golden Guard
Reginald E.F. Colley Memorial Trophy Abbr.: Colley Trophy or Colley Award
George T. Kilavos Alumni Award Abbr.: Alumni Award
Ross A. Nash Spirit of Theta Chi Award Abbr.: Spirit of Theta Chi Award
Grand Chapter Scholarship Award Not Stanford Award Abbr.: Stanford Trophy
Sidney Ann Gilpin Lewis Memorial Trophy Abbr.: Lewis Award
Grand Chapter Service Plaque Henry B. Hersey Significant Increase in Membership Award Abbr.: Hersey Award Howard R. Alter, Jr. Award for Chapter Excellence Abbr.: Alter Award James M. Holland Award Abbr.: Holland Award James Ralph “Shug” Jordan Award Abbr.: Shug Jordan Award Key Man Award, Key Man With an “E” Award Abbr.: Key Man; Key Man With an “E” Kenneth L. Duke Memorial Award Abbr.: Duke Award Mabel Oswaldt Service Award Abbr.: Oswaldt Service Award Most Improved Chapter Award Norwich Housing Corporation Service Plaque Abbr.: NHC Service Plaque Outstanding Senior Award Park Valentine Perkins Award Abbr.: Perkins Award
Silver Legion of Theta Chi Abbr.: Silver Legion USO Fundraising Award USO Service Award
SECTION V: OFFICER TITLES
undergraduate chapters
grand chapter
the foundation chapter
President Capitalize chapter if using the word before President: Chapter President
Note: If pre-1965, use National
President
International President
Vice President Never use a dash or hyphen. Not Vice-President, Vice-president.
Vice President Never use a dash or hyphen. Not VicePresident, Vice-president, VicePresident, or Vice president. Vice President of Health and Safety Never use a dash or hyphen. No abbreviation. Secretary Treasurer Marshal One word; one l. Not Marshall, Pledge Marshal/Pledge Marshall, or Pledge Master. Chaplain Scholarship Chairman Recruitment Chairman Historian First Guard Always written out; not 1st Guard or 1st Guard Second Guard Always written out; not 2nd Guard or 2nd Guard Standards Board Chairman
International Vice President Never use a dash or hyphen. Not National Vice-President, National Vice-president.
Secretary
International Secretary
Treasurer
International Treasurer
Director (multiple)
International Counselor International Marshal International Chaplain International Historian
norwich housing corporation President Vice President Never use a dash or hyphen. Not Vice-President, Vice-president.
international headquarters staff For staff titles, positions are always capitalized, including any title preceded by “Director of” or “Senior Director of” or “Editor of.” In the event of a “Senior Director of” position, Sr. Director of XXX is an acceptable abbreviation. Executive Director Associate Executive Director Director of Collegiate Services
Secretary
Field Executive
Treasurer
Administrative Assistant
Counselor
74 75
SECTION VI: FOR FOUNDATION USE
annual giving levels
lifetime giving levels
Level indicates annual giving total based on gifts received during fiscal year July 1 to June 30
Level indicates lifetime giving total
The Ruby Eye Society (annual giving more than $5000) Visionary Level $250,000/year+ Diamond Level $100,000–$249,999/year Platinum Level $50,000–$99,999/year Gold Level $25,000–$49,999/year Silver Level $10,000–$24,999/year Bronze Level $5,000–$9,999/year
Board of Visitors $25,000+ Chairman’s Council $10,000–$24,999 Freeman Fellow $5,000–$9,999 Chase Council $2,500–$4,999 Century Club $1,000–$2,499 Men Since ’56 $500–$999 Snake & Sword $250–$499 Founders’ Club $100–$249 Heritage Club $50–$99
The Crossed Swords Society (annual giving between $100 and $4,999)
capital campaigns
Diamond Level Platinum Level Gold Level Silver Level Bronze Level
Cornerstone Visionary $100,000+ Cornerstone Architect $25,000–$99,999 Cornerstone Designer $10,000–$24,999 Cornerstone Surveyor $5,000–$9,999 Cornerstone Builder $2,500–$4,999 Cornerstone Supporter $1,000–$2,499
$2,500–$4,999/year $1,000–$2,499/year $500–$999/year $250–$499/year $100–$249/year
Grateful Men (annual giving less than $100)
Cornerstone Giving Levels
chapter fund
Military Rank
Capitalize. Acceptable abbreviation is CF after first reference. Do not use Chapter Specific Scholarship Fund/CSSF.
See abbreviations in Section VII.
Retired Military: When it is crucial to denote a member as retired military, use the following: special rules for donor listing Abbreviated Rank preceding the name and then followed Middle Initial by (Ret.): Always has a period. May be removed if space is needed. Correct: Lt. Gen. Henry P. Osman (Ret.) Sr. and Jr. Incorrect: Lt. Gen. Henry P. Osman RET Always preceded by a comma. May be removed if space is needed. Incorrect: Lt. Gen. Henry P. Osman USMC RET Robert T. Jones, Jr. Dan Fleetham, Sr. Academic- and Career-related, and Other Suffixes Dr. / Ph.D. / M.D. / D.D.S. / D.O. Sometimes a name in the database will include both “Dr.” as a prefix and the field “M.D.” as a suffix. If the suffix is known, cut the “Dr.”; if the suffix is unknown, retain “Dr.” Example from database: Dr. Joel Corvera, M.D. (Gamma Sigma/Duke 1990) Correct Donor Listing: Joel Corvera, M.D. All additional career-related and society-related suffixes such as CPA, AIA, and ASA may be retained as space allows.
76 77
SECTION VII: COMMON ABBREVIATIONS
Addresses Avenue–Ave. Boulevard–Blvd. Post Office Box–P.O. Box Road–Rd. Route–Rt. Street–St. Suite–Ste. Clergy Father–Fr. Reverend or Pastor–Rev. Elected Officials The Honorable–Hon. “The Honorable” is used sparingly as it is preferred to be more specific with the member’s actual job title. For example: Governor–Gov. Representative–Rep. Senator–Sen. Military Abbrevations and Ranks National Guard/Reserves–NG or RES United States Air Force–USAF United States Army–USA United States Coast Guard–USCG United States Marine Corps–USMC United States Navy–USN (Rank followed by usage before a name)
United States Air Force, United States Army, and United States Marine Corps general–Gen. lieutenant general–Lt. Gen. major general–Maj. Gen. brigadier general–Brig. Gen. colonel–Col. lieutenant colonel–Lt. Col. major–Maj. Captain–Capt. first lieutenant–1st Lt. second lieutenant–2nd Lt. United States Navy and United States Coast Guard admiral–Adm. vice admiral–Vice Adm. rear admiral upper half–Rear Adm. rear admiral lower half–Rear Adm. captain–Capt. commander–Cmdr. lieutenant commander–Lt. Cmdr. lieutenant–Lt. lieutenant junior grade–Lt. j.g. ensign–Ensign For Warrant Officers and enlisted personnel, please consult the AP Stylebook. Plurals: Add s to the principle element in the title: majs. John Jones and Robert Smith; Maj. Gens. John Jones and Robert Smith; Spcs. John Jones and Robert Smith. Retired: When it is absolutely crucial to denote a member as retired military, use the following: Abbreviated Rank Name (Chapter/School YYYY)– Retired, Branch: Lt. Gen. Henry P. Osman (Zeta Pi/Old Dominion 1969)– Retired, USMC. See special rules for use of retired within a donor list under Section VI.
State and Province Abbreviations Alabama–AL Alaska–AK Arizona–AZ Arkansas–AR California–CA Colorado–CO Connecticut–CT Delaware–DE Florida–FL Georgia–GA Hawaii–HI Idaho–ID Illinois–IL Indiana–IN Iowa–IA Kansas–KS Kentucky–KY Louisiana–LA Maine–ME Maryland–MD Massachusetts–MA Michigan–MI Minnesota–MN Mississippi–MS Missouri–MO Montana–MT Nebraska–NE
Nevada–NV New Hampshire–NH New Jersey–NJ New Mexico–NM New York–NY North Carolina–NC North Dakota–ND Ohio–OH Oklahoma–OK Oregon–OR Pennsylvania–PA Rhode Island–RI South Carolina–SC South Dakota–SD Tennessee–TN Texas–TX Utah–UT Vermont–VT Virginia–VA Washington–WA West Virginia–WV Wisconsin–WI Wyoming–WY District of Columbia–DC Puerto Rico–PR Alberta–AB
SECTION VIII: REGISTERED TRADEMARKS
The following are all registered trademarks under the auspices of Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc. Theta Chi (letters) Theta Chi Coat of Arms The Badge of Theta Chi Theta Chi Pledge Button The Rattle Norwich Housing Corporation The Foundation Chapter Theta Chi Combination Mark Sacred Purpose Combination Mark Theta Chi Fraternity Flag Theta Chi Fraternity Pennant
78 79
International Headquarters P.O. Box 503 Carmel, IN 46082
317-848-1856 ihq@thetachi.org