The Story of Mark Outland
Mark Outland (L) and Yan Tseytlin at the 2005 Dance Marathon
First, some quick back story.
The early 2000's were a dark time for one of Theta Chi's proudest chapter and last single letter chapter: the Omega chapter at Penn State. The chapter that had been around since 1919 and had once produced members that were pivotal in the development of the fraternity went from being one of the best houses to just single member: the former president. For an entire semester, he had a multi-million dollar house to himself after the rest of his brotherhood had been kicked out for what we're going to call "choices that would disappoint Mr. Rogers". The very next semester, the president did what he could to start the brotherhood again but his efforts only yielded about 15 members. It would be the next semester, fall of 2004, that Mark Outland came to Penn State.
Mark was not the typical fratstar; he was in his late 30s with no family, no friends, overweight, bald and had a terrible heart condition. He went to every fraternity, asking if they would take him in. And every house he turned him down, except one. Theta Chi took him as their brother in the Fall of 2004. Unfortunately, Mark's heart condition worsened as he got older and soon he needed to go the hospital more frequently. Every time he left for the hospital, he would call the house and would talk to a brother and tell him where he was and how much the brotherhood was meaning to him. His visits to the hospital soon became a weekly occurrence as did his calls when he would get there. Every week a hospital visit, and every week a phone call. This went on for months.
Mark Outland (Middle Row 2nd from Right)
It was a Thursday in early November when Mark had to go the hospital, as if it had just become part of his routine. And as part of the rest of the routine, he called the house but this time received no answer. The brothers knew it was Mark and just assumed everything was fine as things always ended up for him. He would be back in the house the next day and they would see him then.
On Friday November 6, 2006, the biggest heart at the Omega chapter failed; Mark Outland had passed into Chapter Eternal.
We are privileged to call ourselves brothers our respective fraternities and to have brothers that will always be there for us, but sometimes we take them and our fraternity for granted. We can get blinded by the alcohol, the parties, the women and forget the true cornerstone of a true fraternity, brotherhood. I share Mark's story with you in the hopes that it will inspire you to reach out and be even closer to all your brothers.