In 1986 the Emporia State University Alumni Relations office challenged fraternities and sororities and other student organizations to develop new traditions at Homecoming. Kansas Epsilon came up with the Pole-sit and 24 years later it is a tradition for the chapter, the university and the Emporia community.

For 23 of the 24 years money collected has benefited the S. O. S., Inc., an agency which serves a six county region in Kansas supporting and helping victims of domestic violence and abuse. The chapter has generated over $60,000 through the years for the agency.

In the first year the effort ran for 12 hours, then 24 and for the last many years it has been a 30-hour event beginning at 6 AM on Friday and running overnight through noon of ESU homecoming Saturday, an hour before the game. The homecoming parade terminates at the location of the pole on Saturday morning.

Of the events created by organizations in 1986, Kansas Epsilon’s is the only “tradition” to continue as a tradition through all these 24 years. Initiates are asked to invest 10 hours conducting the boot-drive. Phikeia are asked to participate as they can. All participate in this fun, bonding effort throughout the day, night, and following day. Alumni returning for homecoming know that the pole is a rally point as they arrive in town for the weekend. Alumni help with moral support and donations in this event in which they once participated.

The university created the pole and chair and built the in-ground sleeve that holds the pole safely in front of the ESU campus. The same original pole has served for 24 years.

The Pole-sit for S. O. S., Inc. is fun, tiring, a shared experience among generations of initiates and alumni, and a builder of brotherhood.

Through the years the brothers have experienced all types of weather…balmy warm and breezy cold, rain, sleet, snow and a lightning storm which shut down the Pole-sit until the storm-front move through.

At its 24th annual Pole-sit, Kansas Epsilon raised just under $3000 during this whacky effort inspired by the pole sitting on the 1920s.