The only international fraternity to choose a Greek word for its name rather than a series of Greek letters is making a comeback in Ames.

Two graduate students from Edmond, Okla., have arrived in Ames to begin their two-year process of building a new membership for Acacia fraternity, the Greek word for leadership, after getting the go-ahead from Iowa State.

Chad Jackson and Dalen McVae, Acacia fraternity expansion coordinators from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, came to Iowa State to attend classes and get an interest group started.

“It’s a great opportunity to see a different part of the country and to give back to Acacia. It’s given a lot to me, and this is a chance to give something back,” said Jackson, three-year member of Acacia.

Acacia was founded in 1904 at the University of Michigan, and it existed at Iowa State from 1909 to 1989. The ISU chapter closed due to low membership.

“Typically, a new fraternity breathes new life into our men’s fraternity community and provides new enthusiasm for being greek,” said Brian Tenclinger, coordinator of Greek Affairs. “A new fraternity will typically serve as a catalyst for struggling chapters to refocus and revitalize their own efforts.”

Tenclinger said the university reviewed a petition from the international fraternity requesting to colonize at Iowa State. The petition was approved by the Interfraternity Council Expansion Committee, and the University Committee on Fraternities and Sororities made the final decision.

“The ultimate goal is to build something everyone would want to be a part of and can be proud to be associated with,” said Patrick Farrimond, assistant executive director of Acacia Fraternity International Headquarters. He is in Ames this week to support Jackson and McVae, who was the house president in Edmond. “It’s a work in progress.”

The Acacia members stressed the importance of staying in Ames for two years to colonize.

“We’re going to take it slow and find guys to represent Acacia as it needs to be represented, who will make something of it,” Jackson said.

Jackson and McVae are looking for a diverse mix of men to join the fraternity. Acacia could appeal to students who didn’t find what they wanted in other fraternities, Farrimond said.

“They’ll be the refounding fathers; they can make it what they want,” McVae said.

For more information, contact Jackson and McVae at [email protected].