History of Xi-Xi

       The Kappa Sigma Fraternity began in 1400, when a Greek scholar, Manuel Chrysoloras, created a secret order for members of the University of Bologna in order to gain mutual protection against the tyrant Baldassare Cossa, who later usurped the papacy as an anti-pope under the name Pope John XXIII (not currently recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as a lawful Pope). The society flourished throughout the universities of Europe, but faded drastically by the middle of the 19th century. In 1869, when the five friends and brothers gathered at the University of Virginia, the order was reborn, and the traditions of Kappa Sigma were brought to America.

        The Xi-Xi Chapter of Kappa Sigma is close to celebrating it's 10 year anniversary. The history of the Marquette University Colony of Kappa Sigma began after Mr. Anthony Epp made a brief stop on Marquette's campus while on his way to another Wisconsin chapter. In speaking with Kelly Miller, Mr. Epp found that the University was looking to expand its Greek system. Mr. Epp then gave Miller information on Kappa Sigma.

        Kappa Sigma was one of seventeen different fraternities that Marquette University considered inviting to campus. A Greek Expansion Committee was formed with a variety of different students, including Danny Thomas and Eric Koester. The committee then selected ten fraternities of whom they wanted to know more about. Letters were sent to them, asking them to come to Marquette and present themselves before this committee.

       Mr. Epp, along with Rob Warren, Matt Miller, and other Kappa Sigma representatives, gave a compelling presentation to the committee. The committee then narrowed their choices from the original seventeen to two. They considered Kappa Sigma and Pi Kappa Phi. The committee elected to invite both fraternities to Marquette University. Kappa Sigma, however, would come first because the committee believed that this fraternity would be able to initiate the needed changes in the current Greek system. Kappa Sigma left a lasting impression with the faculty and administration, and especially with two of the original committee members.

        Danny Thomas and Eric Koester, both members of the Greek Expansion Committe, decided that they would like to get involved with the Kappa Sigma colonization process. Upon the return of Mr. Epp and his new chapter consultant, Jason See, Thomas and Koester looked at recommendations for new members by looking at the New Student Orientation Staff. Mr. Epp and See set up tables in the Student Union to ptomote the ideals of Kappa Sigma and were present at Marquette's annual Organization Fest (O-Fest). It was through these events that the rushing process began. Other interested members came from the residence hall where Mr. Epp and See were staying as guests. All interested parties came together at many of the different rush events that Mr. Epp and See held, ranging from dinners at the Union Sports Annex, to a Milwaukee Brewers baseball game.

        The culmination of the preliminary selection process, the presentation, and the final invitation, planted the seed for the Kappa Sigma Colony at Marquette University. Through the diligence, perseverance, and hard work of Mr. Epp, See, Thomas, and Koester, nineteen members were formally pledged on September 19, 1998.

        Over the next several months, the original nineteen members continued the hard work and expanded the colony. The colony stunned the school as well as other Kappa Sigma chapters by fulfilling all the requirements to gain their charter in an unprecedented 6 months. The road to the charter was challenging, but the rewards were eventually reaped. On April 10, 1999, the 36 Founding Fathers of the X-Xi Chapter of Kappa Sigma were initiated. Because of its wealth of leaders and a strong sense of Brotherhood, high expectations have been placed on the Xi-Xi Chapter by not only the University and the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, but also by the Brothers themselves.

Sources: Thanks to Brothers Noah Snyder, Jim Stamatakos, David Keyes, Michael Binder, Peter Kawalek, Michael
               Norton, Joe Ross-Corbett, and others who helped contribute to the documents of the Xi-Xi Chapter.