The Gamma Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Chi has had a long and illustrious career, even as Sigma Chi chapters go. The beginnings of Gamma Epsilon are rooted around the year 1918. At that time a group of men had formed, and lived in a place called the Commons. Fraternities at Whitman in that day served the additional role of being the primary means for housing men; however, not all men were accepted into fraternities. The Commoners was formed by a group of men not selected by the current fraternities. The Commoners was almost an "anti-fraternity;" the emphasis was on easy-going college life. The house did not go far - after all, even paying dues was optional. A group of men emerged from the ruins of the Commoners, and decided to form a fraternity of their own. They designed it to have the qualities they found lacking in the houses that were currently on campus. Keeping ever in mind the lessons they had learned from the Commoners, they formed Tau Delta Sigma. Tau Delta Sigma petitioned Sigma Chi Internationals to become a Sigma Chi chapter. The process began in 1921 and took nearly two years to complete. Chester "Chet" Lesh was instrumental in completing the work necessary to qualify Tau Delta Sigma as a Sigma Chi chapter, and the support of the first Grand Consul John S. McMillan made it all possible. Finally, on October 13, 1923, Gamma Epsilon was formally installed as a chapter of Sigma Chi, with brother McMillan as the installing officer. Waldo Carlson was elected the first Consul of Gamma Epsilon. Since its founding, Gamma Epsilon has swung between good years and bad. The Peterson Significant Chapter Award (the highest honor given a Sigma Chi chapter) has been presented to Gamma Epsilon twelve times, among other awards. In 1939, the original chapter house was torn down, and the old section of the current house was built. Twenty years later the newer section of the house was added. In the late 60s, controversy on a national scale erupted within the Fraternity over the issue of racial prejudice. A stipulation within Sigma Chi in the past was that no man could become a Sigma Chi who was not, among other things, "a bona-fide white male." The Whitman chapter was among the many chapters that led the fight to remove this policy. Gamma Epsilon needed to go so far as to place its charter in the keeping of alumni, so that Sigma Chi would not repossess it. A splinter group, Nu Sigma Chi, broke off from Gamma Epsilon and made an unsuccessful go at forming their own fraternity. The racial clause was finally dropped in the face of this nationwide pressure. Gamma Epsilon, however, did not return to good favor with nationals. Around the years 1974-75 the Sigma Chi house became a major clearing house for drug trade in the Walla Walla area. During that time, a WSU Sig named Harlan Jones transferred to Whitman and affiliated with Gamma Epsilon. Harlan was elected Consul, and set about putting the house back on track, taking drastic measures. Members were expelled, some left, and the house membership dwindled to about six. House finances were a disaster (they did not even have enough money to heat the house in the dead of winter) and it was only the perseverance of the members of Gamma Epsilon in the mid to late 70s that allowed this house to survive. Since that time, Gamma Epsilon has led a relatively "normal" life. Active membership has varied from the 20s to the high 50s. Controversies have come and gone, house improvements have been made, and the attitudes and image of the house have fluctuated as well. Recently, anti-fraternity and anti-alcohol trends have challenged Gamma Epsilon and Whitman's Greek system as a whole. After having an excellent 1994-95, a year in which Gamma Epsilon not only garnered a Peterson Award and the Legion of Honor for excellence in scholarship, but also obtained the highest grades of any men's group on campus, tragedy struck Gamma Epsilon. On August 23, Bradley Bruce Stenger, a sophomore, was killed in a van accident while coming back from a freshman orientation outing that he, along with two other brothers, had helped lead in Yellowstone Park. Brothers at Gamma Epsilon received the news only days before the beginning of school, and only hours before they were to initiate two new members. The horrible news made it difficult to begin the year focused on classes and rush. The brothers of Gamma Epsilon rallied together, however, and in the wake of Brad's death, brothers were inspired to rush the largest class to initiate in four years.