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Lambda Zeta Chapter HistoryLambda Chi Alpha was founded at Boston University on November 9, 1909. In 1912, Lambda Chi Alpha began national expansion by installing chapters at MIT, Penn, Brown, Penn State, and U Mass. Today, Lambda Chi Alpha International Fraternity is one of the largest men's general fraternities in North America with more than 227,000 initiated members. The Fraternity has chapters at more than 300 universities. Our Lambda Zeta chapter at MIT is the oldest chapter with continuing operations on the Fraternity's roster. We will celebrate our 100th anniversary in 2012. Over 1,000 MIT men have been initiated into our chapter since the founding of our brotherhood. Our chapter is often associated with the "Smoots" --markings along the Harvard Bridge connecting Boston and Cambridge. To learn about how a fraternity prank in 1962 became a longstanding Boston tradition, please visit the SMOOTS link below. In the summer of 2004, dozens of alumni from many generations contributed stories and photos for a "living history" of the chapter. We encourage you to visit the links, read their stories, and learn about the evolution of our brotherhood over the ages. Living History1940 - 1949 FeaturesLambda Chi and Sports Illustrated
SMOOTS - A Boston Tradition
If you have walked along the Harvard Bridge that connects Boston and Cambridge, no doubt you have encountered the Smoot markings along the way. These markings have helped millions of area residents and tourists measure their progress along the bridge as they walk or bike to their destination. Question: How long is the bridge in Smoots? Answer: 364.4 Smoots plus 1 ear Each year, the collegiate members of Lambda Chi keep the Boston legend of the Smoots alive by applying a fresh coat of paint on all of the markings along the bridge. The story of the origination of the Smoots is best told by Oliver Smoot, ^454, Class of 1962: As all who walked the bridge in those days will remember, it was difficult, especially in the rain, sleet, snow, and fog of which Boston gets its share, to know how much further you had to go to get to the Institute. So in October 1958, [Tom] O'Connor [Lambda Chi pledgemaster] ... devised the idea of marking off the bridge in pledge lengths. Scanning the assembled pledge class, he determined that I had the short end of the stick. As with many pledge tasks, there was an easy way out if a little ingenuity was exercised -- namely use a string. In any case, Pete, Gordon, Nate and Bill agreed to help us and we set off with the paint, chalk, etc. Unfortunately, a brother in the class of '61 thought this task was so hilarious that he accompanied us. With him there, we had no choice but to do the actual measurements. I can tell you that even then I could not do the equivalent of 365 push-ups, so much of the way I was carried or dragged. Luckily for the five of us, we were cold sober; in any case, when an MDC [Metropolitan District Commission] black [police] van appeared at about the 300 mark, we cut for the dark recesses of the Great Court and waited for them to leave. from The Journal of the Institute for Hacks, Tomfoolery & Pranks at MIT Alumni Reminisce about the Smoots"I was there on the bridge helping to carry Ollie from point to point. We marked it with chalk and then painted the lines. That was when we were pledges, and measuring the bridge in Smoot lengths was on order from Bro. Tom O'Connor. That was when we were in 441 Beacon St. We were in the active fraternity when 99 Bay State was purchased, and we were seniors when we moved in." -Claron Anderson ^449 If anyone ever gets curious about who thought up that stunt, here is the story: "To my recollection I was High Alpha at the time (but I swear - I didn't know what was going on!!) Also it's not important. What's important is that a guy named Tom O'Connor was the "pledge whip" when that caper was pulled off, at his direction. For years I gave him credit for the brainstorm, but when I talked to him about it in 1999 he told me it was really the inspiration of one of our more colorful characters - a guy named John Rainey (a.k.a. the "Blind Eagle"). Unfortunately, John passed away some years ago. Tom, however, is still alive and kicking and running a construction company that bears his name somewhere in the greater Boston area. So, if anyone ever gets curious about the origin of those (apparently) historic landmarks, they should look up Tom O'Connor and get it from the "horse's . . . well, mouth", I guess" -Richard Silby "I was class of '65 so Ollie was a senior my freshman year and was quite a role model - he took me to Harvard Square to learn where and how to shop for "Ivy League" clothes at J Press and the old Harvard Coop... Besides being a sharp dresser, a pipe smoker-he was a great senior to look up to. We were told Ollie Smoot was laid on a board and tied and then they moved him 354.4 times and his ear.... later the story came out as "he was stiff as a board' from earlier festivities at the bar!" -Channing Stowell, ^490 People Magazine CoverageIn the1980s, the Harvard Bridge was rebuilt. Naturally, the tradition was renewed by the Lambda Chi chapter. Coverage of the reappearance of the Smoots in People Magazine in 1987: Cover Page Lambda Chi and Sports IllustratedThroughout most of the chapter's history, Lambda Chi has attracted members interested in athletics. In any given Lambda Chi class, the membership usually includes a majority of men who played varsity sports at MIT and/or in high school. Intramural athletics have played a key role in chapter programming as well. Lambda Chi spirit and pride is in full force whenever the chapter's members take the field together for the honor of the fraternity. Lambda Chi chapter members were featured in a Sports Illustrated article in 1975, contained in the files below. Cover Page |
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