How it began...

Lambda Chi Alpha began as a chapter at the University of North Dakota in 1927 when a then local-only fraternity (which had been founded in 1920), Pi Rho Chi, petitioned to Lambda Chi Alpha general fraternity to become a chapter.  At that time Lambda Chi Alpha, as a general fraternity, was nearly 20 years old and a fast-growing fraternity in the country.  The new chapter at North Dakota was given a charter in 1928 and the chapter ('zeta') designation of Epsilon-Zeta.

Oxford St. house...

Pi Rho Chi had a house at 303 Oxford Street and this was the first home for Epsilon-Zeta.  It was built in 1910's and was a wooden structure with stucco and brick trim.  It was a small house but worked well as our chapter's home for the early years.  In the mid and late 50's however, lots of issues were arising with the Oxford house including a complete rework of the house electrical system.  The house by its initial design was also not very fire safe.  There was need for an entirely new house, free of the aforementioned issues, and designed more for the purpose of housing members of the fraternity.  At that time the University was interested in the lot on which the Oxford house sat, for the construction of dorms.

Harvard house...

A deal was struck with UND whereby the Oxford St. property was transferred to the University and the chapter received loans for a new lot to design and build a new, larger chapter house at 515 Harvard St. Groundbreaking was in the spring of 1964 and in the fall of 1965 the brothers moved into the new house. The Harvard St. house has been home for Epsilon-Zeta ever since. In 1997, when Grand Forks endured the worst recorded flood in its history, the chapter house flooded and was significantly damaged. Through our recovery, due to the extraordinary resolve of active brothers and alumni, the chapter did not shut down, as the house was repaired and the dream of Lambda Chi Alpha at UND was kept alive.

91 consecutive years and counting...

In 2019, Epsilon-Zeta celebrates its 91st consecutive year as a chapter.  There are only a small number of chapters that have made it so long with consecutive, uninterrupted chapter operation.  Epsilon-Zeta is very proud of this and is looking forward to our centennial celebration in 2028.

General Fraternity Awards...

Academic Achievement Award from Lambda Chi Alpha general fraternity: 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956 and 2004.

Alumni Affairs - Overall Program Award from Lambda Chi Alpha general fraternity: 1979

Mentor Leadership Program Undergraduate Participation Award from Lambda Chi Alpha general fraternity: 2005

Mentor Leadership Program Alumni Participation Award from Lambda Chi Alpha general fraternity: 2005

Grand High Alpha Award - Sustained overall chapter performance aware from Lambda Chi Alpha general fraternity: 2018