Dartmouth College Greek organizations

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Dartmouth College is host to many Greek organizations and a significant percentage of the undergraduate student body is active in Greek life. In 2005, the school stated that 1,785 students were members of a fraternity, sorority, or coeducational Greek house, about 60 percent of the eligible student body.^[1] Greek organizations at Dartmouth provide both social and residential opportunities for students, and are the only single-sex residential option on campus. Greek organizations at Dartmouth do not provide dining options, as regular meals service has been banned in Greek houses since 1921.

Social fraternities at Dartmouth College grew out of a tradition of student literary societies that began in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The first social fraternities were founded in 1842 and rapidly expanded to include the active participation of over half of the student body. Fraternities at Dartmouth built dedicated residence and meeting halls in the 1920s, and then struggled to survive the lean years of the 1930s. Dartmouth College was among the first institutions of higher education to desegregate fraternity houses in the 1950s, and was involved in the movement to create coeducational Greek houses in the 1970s. Sororities were introduced to campus in 1977. In the early 2000s, campus-wide debate focused on whether or not the Greek system at Dartmouth would become "substantially coeducational", but most houses retain single-sex membership policies.

Currently, Dartmouth College extends official recognition to sixteen all-male fraternities, nine all-female sororities, and three coeducational fraternities. The Greek houses are largely governed through three independent councils, the Interfraternity Council, the Panhellenic Council, and the Coed Council. Dartmouth College has two cultural interest fraternities, and two cultural interest sororities, which do not participate in the major governing councils, but are member organizations of national associations.

Contents History 1.1  Expansion of the fraternity system 1.2  Coeducation to the present Fraternities: ΑΔ, ΑΦΑ, ΑΧΑ, BG, ΓΔΧ, ΖΨ, ΘΔΧ, ΚΚΚ, ΛΥΛ, ΣΑΕ, ΣΝ, ΣΦΕ, ΦΔΑ, ΧΓΕ, ΧH, ΥΨ Sororities: ΑΞΔ, ΑΠΩ, ΑΦ, ΔΔΔ, ΕΚΘ, ΚΔΕ, ΚΚΓ, ΣΔ, ΣΛΥ Coeds: ΑΘ, Tabard, ΦΤ Defunct: Acacia, ΑΚΑ, ΑΣΦ, ΑΤΩ, ΒΘΠ, ΔΚΕ, ΔΣΘ, ΔΥ, ΔΦΕ, ΔΨΔ, ΖΒΧ, ΚΑΨ, ΛΧΑ, ΞΚΧ, ΠΛΦ, ΣΑΜ, FIJI, ΦΣΨ References External links

[edit] History

Social fraternities at Dartmouth College grew out of a tradition of student literary societies that began in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The first such society at Dartmouth, the Social Friends, was formed in 1783. A rival organization, called the United Fraternity, was founded in 1786. A chapter of Phi Beta Kappa was established at Dartmouth in 1787. These organizations were, in large part, the only social life available to students at the College. The organizations hosted debates on a variety of topics not encountered in the curriculum of the day, and amassed large libraries of titles not found in the official College library. Both the Social Friends and the United Fraternity created libraries in Dartmouth Hall, and met in a room called Society Hall inside Dartmouth Hall. In 1815, the College decided to intervene in the hotly contested recruitment battle between the Social Friends and the United Fraternity by restricting each society to recruit only from separate halves of the new student class. In 1825, the College began simply assigning new students to one society or the other. Interest in the literary societies declined in the 1830s and 1840s. The College library and instructional curriculum had expanded to include much of what the literary societies had supported, and new Greek letter societies began to appear on campus.^[2]

In 1841, two factions of the United Fraternity split off from the literary society. One of the new societies called itself Omega Phi and on May 10, 1842 obtained a charter as the Zeta chapter of Psi Upsilon. The other faction to split from the United Fraternity organized itself on July 13, 1842 as Kappa Kappa Kappa, a local fraternity. More Greek organizations were founded, and by 1855, 64% of students, mostly upperclassmen, were members of the Greek letter societies on campus.^[2] Initially, the original Greek letter societies would not extend invitations of membership to first year students. Two separate Greek letter organizations were created exclusively for freshmen: Kappa Sigma Epsilon and Delta Kappa. These societies would dissolve in 1883, when the fraternities of the upper classes began to pledge freshmen.^[3] The new Greek organizations distinguished themselves from the previous literary societies in several ways. The new fraternities were self-selective and exclusive. Each organization developed its own secret rituals and procedures. Most of the societies began to invest in creating their own meeting halls, either upstairs rooms in buildings on Main Street, or free-standing structures near campus. There were 11 active Greek organizations at Dartmouth College in 1900.

[edit] Expansion of the fraternity system

The fortunes of the fraternity system at Dartmouth followed a boom and bust pattern in the early twentieth century. The economic expansion of the 1920s created a boom in the fortunes of the fraternities at Dartmouth. Many of the fraternities built new residence and meeting halls near campus during this decade, including Zeta Psi, Kappa Kappa Kappa, Phi Sigma Kappa, Sigma Nu, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Chi Phi, Theta Delta Chi, Phi Gamma Delta, Sigma Chi, Gamma Delta Chi, and Delta Tau Delta. It was during this time period that Webster Avenue developed as "fraternity row".^[2] The new residential facilities were built without significant dining facilities, as the Trustees of the College had banned fraternities from serving regular meals in their chapter houses beginning in 1921. College administrators also challenged the fraternities to become more engaged in College life during this time. College President Ernest Martin Hopkins personally decided to abolish freshman rush in 1924.^[3]

As with the fortunes of the nation as a whole, fraternities at Dartmouth went through difficult times during the Great Depression. The decade of the 1930s saw no building projects at all in the fraternity system, and many houses could no longer afford regular maintenance. One of the great tragedies at Dartmouth College occurred on a cold winter night in 1934. Eight members of Theta Chi died from carbon monoxide poisoning when a metal chimney on a dilapidated coal furnace in the basement of the chapter house burst in the night. The fraternity had been unable to afford a replacement furnace.^[4] In 1935, Dartmouth historian and professor Leon Burr Richardson challenged in a survey that the fraternity chapters should ask themselves if they had "any excuse for existence."^[3] Four fraternities dissolved during the Great Depression (Alpha Sigma Phi, Alpha Tau Omega, Lambda Chi Alpha, and Sigma Alpha Mu), and two (Phi Kappa Sigma and Alpha Chi Rho) were forced to merge together to pool scarce financial resources in order to survive. All of the surviving fraternities closed for the duration of World War II, as the campus at large was used to educate, train, and house soldiers being prepared for combat.

Despite a relatively small number of minority students on campus, the fraternities of Dartmouth College were directly involved in the African-American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s. In 1952, the Dartmouth chapter of Theta Chi was derecognized by its national over a dispute regarding minority membership. The Dartmouth chapter reorganized as a local fraternity named Alpha Theta. A campus-wide referendum held in 1954 on the issue of desegregation of fraternities resulted in a majority in favor of requiring fraternities on campus to eliminate racially discriminatory membership policies by the year 1960, and to secede from national groups that retained such policies in their charters.^[5] This became a binding obligation imposed on the fraternities by the college administration, and several fraternities at Dartmouth dissociated from their national organizations, including the chapters of Phi Sigma Kappa (1956), Delta Tau Delta (1960), Phi Delta Theta (1960), Sigma Chi (1960), and Sigma Nu (1963).

Social changes in American society also affected Greek society life at Dartmouth in the 1960s and 1970s. Many began to question the value, if not of the fraternity system as a whole, of being a member of a national fraternal organizations. The Dartmouth chapters of Chi Alpha Rho, Chi Phi, Delta Upsilon, Phi Gamma Delta, Phi Kappa Psi, and Sigma Phi Epsilon all disaffiliated from their national fraternities in the 1960s. As political activism amongst students increased on college campuses across the United States, fraternities were increasingly seen as anachronistic. This opinion could be found on the Dartmouth College campus as well, and in 1967, the faculty of Arts and Sciences voted 67-16 to adopt a proposal to abolish fraternities at Dartmouth. The proposal was rejected by the Board of Trustees.^[6]

[edit] Coeducation to the present

Coeducation would dramatically change all social life at Dartmouth College, including the fraternity system. The College first began admitting women as full-time students in 1972. By the fall of 1973, six local fraternities (Alpha Theta, Foley House, the Parmington Foundation, The Tabard, Phi Tau, and Phi Sigma Psi) had all decided to adopt a coeducational membership policy and admit women as full members. The first sorority on campus, Sigma Kappa, was founded in 1977. Many alumni expressed strong concerns that the need for housing for new sororities would inevitably lead to financial pressure and the possible dissolution of existing fraternities at the College. In response, the Trustees imposed a moratorium limiting the campus to no more than six recognized sororities.^[7]

During the 1980s and 1990s, College administrators introduced new initiatives to hold the Greek organizations on campus more accountable for their actions and to offer more social alternatives to the predominantly single-sex Greek system. In 1982, the administration announced that Greek organizations would have to comply with a set of "minimum standards", enforced through annual reviews, in order to remain in good standing with the College. These standards included not only health and safety regulations regarding the conditions of the Greek houses, but requirements for Greek-sponsored activities deemed beneficial to the College community at large.^[6] The College introduced Undergraduate Societies to campus in 1993, as a residential and social alternative to Greek organizations. Similar to the Greek houses in many respects, Undergraduate Societies were required to have open, coeducational membership policies. Panarchy voted to change its status to an undergraduate society and was joined the following year by a newly-formed society, called Amarna.^[8] In the fall of 1993, Student Assembly President Andrew Beebe, class of 1993, argued in favor of the coeducation of the entire Greek system in his remarks at fall Convocation.^[9] During that same academic term, College President James O. Freedman predicted that the Greek system at Dartmouth would be coeducational within 10 years.^[7]

In 1999, the college administration announced a "Residential and Social Life Initiative" to improve campus life. Speculation that all single-sex fraternities and sororities would be required to adopt coeducational membership policies led to intense campus debate. In a survey conducted by The Dartmouth newspaper, 49% of the student body responded, and 83% of those respondents were in favor of retaining a single-sex Greek system at Dartmouth.^[10] In a December, 2006 interview, College President Jim Wright admitted that it had been "a serious mistake" to announce the Student Life Initiative in the manner in which it was presented to the campus, but expressed that in his opinion, "the Greek system at Dartmouth now is stronger than it's ever been."^[11]

[edit] Fraternities

The single-sex male-only fraternities at Dartmouth College are largely organized and represented to the College through the Interfraternity Council (IFC). The Interfraternity Council is a student-led governance organization that assists the member Greek organizations with finances, public relations, programming, judicial administration, recruitment, and academic achievement. Alpha Phi Alpha is not a member of the IFC, but is a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Lambda Upsilon Lambda is also not a member of the IFC, but is a member of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations.^[12]

[edit] Alpha Delta (ΑΔ)

Alpha Delta ("AD") was founded by members of the Gamma Sigma Society. In 1847, the society became the Dartmouth chapter of Alpha Delta Phi, a national fraternity.^[6] The third fraternity founded at Dartmouth College, Alpha Delta has never had a discrimination clause in its charter or constitution. The house dissociated from the national in 1969 and renamed itself Alpha Delta Fraternity. Alpha Delta is well known for being part of the inspiration behind the movie National Lampoon's Animal House. The movie script, written by Chris Miller, class of 1961, was inspired by a series of short stories Miller wrote in the Dartmouth Jack-O-Lantern about his experiences as a member of Alpha Delta Phi.^[13] In November 2006, Miller published a 336 page memoir of his experiences in the fraternity under the title The Real Animal House: The Awesomely Depraved Saga of the Fraternity That Inspired the Movie.^[14]

[edit] Alpha Phi Alpha (ΑΦΑ)

The Theta Zeta chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha was founded as the first historically African-American fraternity at Dartmouth College in 1972. The first members of the fraternity traveled to Boston, Massachusetts on the weekends of the 1971 spring academic term to attend pledge events at the Sigma chapter. The Dartmouth chapter was chartered as the 381st chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha on May 12, 1972. Early chapter meetings on campus were held in both the Choates dormitories and Cutter/Shabazz Hall. The fraternity secured their own house in 1982, a duplex structure that, since renovated, today houses the Delta Delta Delta sorority. Facing smaller membership, the fraternity decided to relocate to a smaller house near the western end of Webster Avenue in the late 1980s, and in 1992, the fraternity again relocated to College-owned apartment housing. The Dartmouth chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha sponsors an annual dance performance known as the Step Show.^[15]

[edit] Alpha Chi Alpha (ΑΧΑ)

Alpha Chi Alpha ("Alpha Chi") was founded in 1956 as the Phi Nu chapter of Alpha Chi Rho, a national fraternal organization. A previous Phi Nu chapter of Alpha Chi Rho at Dartmouth had merged with the Kappa chapter of Phi Kappa Sigma in 1935 to become Gamma Delta Chi, a local fraternity still in existence at Dartmouth. The second Phi Nu chapter of Alpha Chi Rho is unrelated to the first chapter. The men of Alpha Chi Rho again broke away from the national group in 1963 and became a local fraternity named Alpha Chi Alpha.^[16] The Dartmouth chapter objected to a clause in the national fraternity organization's constitution that required all Alpha Chi Rho brothers to "accept Jesus as their lord and savior." The land and house used by the Alpha Chi Alpha fraternity are owned by the college. Dartmouth invested $1.3 Million in renovations completed in the fall of 2004, which included the razing of the “Barn” structure that was used as social space by the brothers of Alpha Chi Alpha to make way for a new expanded basement and main floor area.^[17] Renovations on the Alpha Chi Alpha physical plant were completed in fall, 2004; the new Alpha Chi Alpha building is able to house twenty-four resident brothers.

[edit] Bones Gate (BG)

Bones Gate ("BG") was founded in 1901 as the Gamma Gamma chapter of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. In 1960 the Gamma Gamma chapter dissociated from Delta Tau Delta when the national organization continued to have an official policy barring membership of minorities. The new local fraternity at Dartmouth went unnamed until 1962, when the brothers adopted the name "Bones Gate", a tribute to a tavern and boarding house in Chessington, England where a number of brothers spent most of their foreign study program.^[18] In the summer of 2005, the Bones Gate residence underwent significant structural renovations to bring the building up to the College's Minimum Standards. Improvements included an enclosed fire escape running from the basement to the third floor, a new bathroom on the ground floor, the rehabilitation of all other bathrooms, and alterations to bedrooms.^[19] The brothers of Bones Gate strive to live by their credo of welcoming friends to their house - "This Gate Hangs High and Hinders None. Refresh, Enjoy and Travel On."

[edit] Gamma Delta Chi (ΓΔΧ)

Gamma Delta Chi ("GDX") can trace its history to two fraternities on the Dartmouth College campus, Phi Kappa Sigma and Alpha Chi Rho. Gamma Delta Epsilon, a local fraternity, was founded in 1908, disbanded in 1912, but was reformed in 1921. In 1928, the Gamma Delta Epsilon house sought to establish itself as a chapter of a national fraternity and obtained a charter from the Phi Kappa Sigma national fraternity, becoming its Kappa Chapter. Epsilon Kappa Alpha, was established as a local fraternity on the Dartmouth campus in 1915. As with Gamma Delta Epsilon, Epsilon Kappa Alpha sought to become a chapter of a national fraternity and was granted a charter as the Phi Nu chapter of Alpha Chi Rho in 1918.^[6] The Dartmouth chapters of Alpha Chi Rho and Phi Kappa Sigma found themselves in similar financial situations in 1934. Both chapters owned prime lots near campus that lacked adequate residential structures. The two fraternities decided to share their resources and in 1935 merged to become a new local fraternity, Gamma Delta Chi. The lot formerly owned by Alpha Chi Rho was sold to the Church of Christ at Dartmouth where a new church building was constructed, and the revenue from the land sale supported the construction of a new house at Gamma Delta Chi's current location. (The Alpha Chi Rho national fraternity would later re-establish a Phi Nu chapter at Dartmouth in 1956 as a separate fraternity from Gamma Delta Chi. This second Phi Nu chapter would dissociated from the Alpha Chi Rho national in 1963 to become a local fraternity named Alpha Chi Alpha.)

[edit] Zeta Psi (ΖΨ)

Zeta Psi ("Zete") at Dartmouth College was founded in 1853 as the Psi chapter of the national fraternity, and was the fifth fraternity founded at the College. The fraternity became inactive in 1863, but was revived from 1871 through 1873 after which it again became inactive. The current Psi Epsilon Chapter of Zeta Psi at Dartmouth was established in 1920. In 2001, the Dartmouth chapter was derecognized by the College because "the fraternity harassed specific fellow students and violated ethical standards that Dartmouth student organizations agree to uphold, by periodically creating and circulating among Zeta Psi members 'newsletters' that purported to describe situations, some of them of a sexual nature, of various members of the fraternity and other students."^[20] Zeta Psi, meanwhile, countered that "nothing could be further from the truth... Dartmouth College lacks jurisdiction to punish Psi Epsilon of Zeta Psi's for alleged violations of its own rules or regulations."^[21] From 2001 to 2006, Zeta Psi continued to operate as an independent fraternity, not officially recognized by Dartmouth College. In January 2007, Dartmouth College announced an agreement that would allow Zeta Psi to reorganize on campus as early as 2009. Part of the agreement dictated that the organization "go dark", with no activities or recruiting, for a period of two years.^[22]

[edit] Theta Delta Chi (ΘΔΧ)

Theta Delta Chi ("Theta Delt") was founded at Dartmouth College in 1869 as the Omicron Deuteron chapter of the national fraternity, and was the eighth fraternity founded at Dartmouth.^[6] Theta Delta Chi was the scene of a famous murder in June, 1920. Henry Maroney, class of 1920, was shot to death in his room at Theta Delta Chi by Robert Meads, class of 1919. Meads was reportedly the central figure in a large-scale bootlegging operation at the College during the early years of Prohibition. An already intoxicated Maroney reportedly stole a quart of Canadian whisky from Meads. Later that same night, Meads found Maroney in his room at the fraternity and shot him through the heart. Meads was convicted of a lesser charge of manslaughter and given a sentence of 15 to 20 years hard labor.^[23] The sensational murder is reportedly the source of the nickname given to the Theta Delta Chi residence: the "Boom Boom Lodge".^[24] Theta Delta Chi has several distinguished alumni, including Robert Frost, who attended Dartmouth for a time in 1892.

[edit] Kappa Kappa Kappa (ΚΚΚ)

Kappa Kappa Kappa ("Tri-Kap") is a local fraternity founded on July 13, 1842.^[25] It is one of the oldest local Greek houses in the nation and the second permanent Greek-letter fraternal society established at Dartmouth College. The organization has no affiliation with the Ku Klux Klan, which was founded after Kappa Kappa Kappa and unfortunately adopted Roman-alphabet initials, “KKK,” similar to the Greek letters of Kappa Kappa Kappa. According to legend, Kappa Kappa Kappa sued the Ku Klux Klan for defamation of name but lost because the judge ruled that the similarity in the initials of the organizations was sheer coincidence. In 1984, the brothers of Kappa Kappa Kappa modified the organization's constitution to prohibit "overt homosexual activities" and forced their Social Chair, Joel Thayer, class of 1985, to depledge. Five brothers chose to leave the fraternity with Thayer.^[26] In 1992, Kappa Kappa Kappa changed its name to Kappa Chi Kappa ("Bi-Kap"), but under extreme protest from the alumni. It returned to the traditional name in 1995. In the fall of 1995, the house was block rushed by the Korean-American Students Association, and by June, 1996, 90% of the organization's membership was Asian-American.^[27]

[edit] Lambda Upsilon Lambda (ΛΥΛ)

Lambda Upsilon Lambda, known more formally as La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. was established at Dartmouth in 1997.^[28] The Psi Chapter of Lambda Upsilon Lambda is the College's first historically Latino fraternity. The fraternity has no physical plant. Lambda Upsilon Lambda sponsors Noche Dorada, an annual semi-formal dinner that features a guest speaker invited to the campus to address issues of Latino culture. The fraternity also supports the Brazil Project, in conjunction with the Sigma chapter at Wesleyan University, which supports thirteen families in Brazil.^[29]

[edit] Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ)

Sigma Alpha Epsilon ("SAE") at Dartmouth College was founded in 1903 as a local fraternity named Chi Tau Kappa. In 1908, the fraternity sought to associate itself with a national fraternity and was granted a charter from Sigma Alpha Epsilon to became the New Hampshire Alpha chapter.^[6] With funding support from the national organization , the fraternity acquired a house on School Street that had previously been the residence of a College professor. By 1916, the fraternity had moved to a wood house on College Street north of the Green. The fraternity would replace the structure entirely with a new brick residence built between 1928 and 1931, one of the final fraternity building projects started on campus before the Great Depression.^[2] Sigma Alpha Epsilon members are encouraged to emulate the tenets of The True Gentleman, a statement written by John Walter Wayland.^[30] Notable alumni of the chapter include Henry M. Paulson, Jr., the United States Secretary of the Treasury and Barry McLean, benefactor to Dartmouth College.

[edit] Sigma Nu (ΣΝ)

Sigma Nu ("Sig Nu") at Dartmouth College was originally formed in 1903 as the Pukwana Club, an organization that was created as a reaction to the perceived elitism of Greek organizations at the time. The club’s concept was based on the love for the traditions of Dartmouth, faithful friendship, and honorable dealings. In 1907, the Pukwana Club joined the national fraternity system after it received a charter to become the Delta Beta chapter of Sigma Nu. Sigma Nu’s “Way of Honor” principle was very similar to the principles expressed in the Pukwana Club’s original charter. The first residence for Sigma Nu at Dartmouth was purchased and refurbished in 1911. Known as the Green Castle, it served as chapter headquarters until the current house was built in 1925. In response to the national fraternity’s segregationist membership policies, the fraternity went local in 1963, becoming Sigma Nu Delta. In 1984, after the national fraternity's policies were changed, the fraternity reaffiliated with the national.^[31]

[edit] Sigma Phi Epsilon (ΣΦΕ)

Sigma Phi Epsilon ("Sig Ep") at Dartmouth College was founded on April 22, 1908 as the local fraternity Omicron Pi Sigma. In 1909, the local fraternity became New Hampshire Alpha Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon. By the late 1960s, the house had become disenchanted with the national organization and felt that the Dartmouth membership would be better served as a local fraternity. The brothers voted to dissociate from the national organization on January 18, 1967. A vote of the alumni of the New Hampshire Alpha chapter on February 1, 1967 supported the decision. The new local fraternity adopted the name Sigma Theta Epsilon. The Sigma Phi Epsilon national continued to communicate with Sigma Theta Epsilon, and by 1981 was willing to offer significant financial support for building renovations to the Dartmouth organization in exchange for reaffiliation. Convinced that the national organization had reformed in its commitment to the individual chapters, the local fraternity voted to rejoin Sigma Phi Epsilon on February 18, 1981.^[32] Sigma Phi Epsilon is known for its Balanced Man Project, an ongoing program of development that pushes brothers to challenge themselves and to use their different talents and backgrounds to strengthen the house and contribute positively to the College and the Upper Valley community. Members of Sigma Phi Epsilon become brothers the moment they sink their bids, without having to endure a traditional pledge period. A prominent alumnus of the New Hampshire Alpha chapter is Theodore S. Geisel, class of 1925, better known as "Dr. Seuss".

[edit] Phi Delta Alpha (ΦΔΑ)

Phi Delta Alpha ("Phi Delt") was founded in 1884 as the New Hampshire Alpha chapter of Phi Delta Theta, a national fraternity. Early meetings of the fraternity were held in the Tontine Building on Main Street. The meeting location moved to the Currier building in 1887 when the Totine building burned down. Phi Delta Theta began construction on a new house in 1898, and the building was completed in 1902. In 1960, the Dartmouth chapter broke away from the national because the national would not allow minorities to pledge the house. The new, local fraternity replaced the last letter in its name with Alpha.^[33] In March 2000, the fraternity was derecognized by the College. One of the primary reasons for the punishment was that four members of Phi Delta Alpha started a fire in the Chi Gamma Epsilon basement next door. The fraternity was also cited for rushing ineligible students, alcohol and illegal drug violations, coercive pledge practices, and providing the College with false information.^[34] Under the leadership of Gig Faux, class of 1984, Phi Delta Alpha applied to the College for rerecognition in fall, 2002. The first rush class was formed in the winter of 2003.^[35] Current General Electric Chief Executive Officer, Jeffrey Immelt, class of 1978, was a former president of Phi Delta Alpha.

[edit] Chi Gamma Epsilon (ΧΓΕ)

Chi Gamma Epsilon ("Chi Gam") was founded in 1905 as the Gamma Epsilon chapter of Kappa Sigma, a national fraternity. The Dartmouth chapter dissociated from the national fraternity in 1987.^[6] The disputes with the national organization were primarily over the amount of loans the national organization could offer the local chapter. Initially, the new local fraternity adopted the name Kappa Sigma Gamma, but the national fraternity took offense to the likeness of the names. After a period simply being known by its address, 7 Webster Avenue, the fraternity came upon the name by which it is now known. Chi Gamma Epsilon made national headlines in 1998 for cosponsoring a "ghetto" theme party with the sisters of Alpha Xi Delta that many found to be offensive for its racial stereotypes of African-Americans.^[36]

[edit] Chi Heorot (ΧH)

Chi Heorot ("Heorot", "XH") was founded in 1897 as a local fraternity named Alpha Alpha Omega, and in 1902 was granted a charter as the Chi chapter of Chi Phi. In 1903, the fraternity moved to its present location, and in 1927 it sold off its eighteenth-century house and built the house that stands today. In 1968, the house dissociated from the national fraternity, and adopted the name Chi Phi Heorot.^[6] The "Heorot" in Chi Phi Heorot comes from the medieval poem Beowulf, in which Heorot is the great hall where warriors converge to tell their stories. After several suspensions by the College in the early 1980s, it re-joined the national in 1982. This was short-lived; in 1985, because of damage done to the house that the national refused to help pay for, the brotherhood again opted to become a local fraternity. In exchange for financing renovations to the structure, the College assumed ownership of the property and house. The fraternity chose the name Chi Heorot.

[edit] Psi Upsilon (ΥΨ)

The Zeta Chapter of Psi Upsilon International Fraternity for Men ("Psi U") was founded at Dartmouth in 1842, the first fraternity at Dartmouth College. In 1907, Psi Upsilon built the wood frame house it still occupies. Several additions during the past fifty years greatly improved the structure to its present condition, housing twenty or more resident brothers each year. The house most recently underwent substantial renovations during the spring of 2006. F. Scott Fitzgerald famously enjoyed the 1938 Winter Carnival in the Psi Upsilon chapter house.^[37] The Zeta chapter creates an ice pond in its yard every winter and is known as the "keg jumping fraternity" for its most-popular Winter Carnival activity. The house has a reputation for attracting brothers from a variety of different sports teams. The most famous alumnus of the Zeta chapter of Psi Upsilon is former United States Vice President Nelson Rockefeller.^[38]

[edit] Sororities

The single-sex female-only sororities at Dartmouth College are largely organized and represented to the College through the Panhellenic Council. The Panhellenic Council is a student-led governance organization that assists the member Greek organizations by promoting values, education, leadership, friendships, cooperation and citizenship. Alpha Pi Omega and Sigma Lambda Upsilon are not members of the Panhellenic Council, but are members of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations. None of the sororities at Dartmouth College own the residence halls or land they occupy.

[edit] Alpha Xi Delta (ΑΞΔ)

The Theta Psi chapter of Alpha Xi Delta ("AZD") was founded as Delta Pi Omega in 1997. On January 6, 1997, the local sorority was officially recognized by the College, and on July 2, 1997, the sisters voted to affiliate with the Alpha Xi Delta national sorority. On February 21, 1998, the local organization's petition was approved by the national with a charter as the Theta Psi chapter.^[39] Alpha Xi Delta occupies the house once home to Beta Theta Pi. Alpha Xi Delta made national headlines in 1998 for cosponsoring a "ghetto" party with the brothers of Chi Gamma Epsilon that many found to be offensive.^[36] In its short time at Dartmouth, Alpha Xi Delta has graduated a Rhodes Scholar and two Fulbright Scholars. Alpha Xi Delta embraces its national affiliation for its progressive ideals, strong sisterhood, and promotion of achievement through the "Realize Your Potential" campaign.

[edit] Alpha Pi Omega (ΑΠΩ)

Alpha Pi Omega was established by women at Dartmouth College in May, 2005. The organization was granted a charter as the Epsilon chapter of the national, historically Native American sorority, and was officially recognized by the College as a full chapter beginning with the fall academic term of 2006. The sorority does not have a physical plant or dedicated housing on campus. The sorority has a six-week long pledge period known as the Honey Process.^[29] Because no national association currently exists for Native American cultural interest fraternities or sororities, Alpha Pi Omega associates with the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations.

[edit] Alpha Phi (ΑΦ)

After much debate about the addition of an eighth sorority to the Dartmouth campus, Alpha Phi was selected and approved by the Dartmouth Panhellenic Council and the Office of Residential Life. Alpha Phi was recognized on March 3, 2006, as the Dartmouth College colony of the international sorority.^[40] The colony officially became a chapter during the fall of 2006.

[edit] Delta Delta Delta (ΔΔΔ)

Delta Delta Delta ("Tri-Delt") at Dartmouth College was founded as the Gamma Gamma chapter of the national sorority in 1984. The house was the first Greek organization to secede from the Co-ed Fraternity Sorority Council in the spring of 2000,^[41] a move that eventually precipitated the dissolution of that organizing body as other Greek organization on campus followed suit. Delta Delta Delta remains a member of the Panhellenic Council, which represents the interests of the sororities on campus.

[edit] Epsilon Kappa Theta (ΕΚΘ)

Epsilon Kappa Theta ("EKT", "Theta") at Dartmouth College was founded in January, 1982 as the Epsilon Kappa colony of the Kappa Alpha Theta national sorority. Epsilon Kappa was the 100th colony of the sorority. The sorority initially met in a wide variety of locations, including the basement of the college president's house. In 1984, the sorority moved into the former Brewster Hall, a College-owned house that had previously been used as an International House and later as temporary housing for the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. In 1992, the sisters of Kappa Alpha Theta found the strict national rules and the primarily Christian religious readings and rituals of the organization to be antithetical to the spirit of feminism and inclusivity that the chapter desired. The national organization was unhappy with the colony's decision to disobey their rules and their failure to follow the sorority's rituals. On May 4, 1992, the Dartmouth chapter notified the Kappa Alpha Theta national organization of its unanimous vote to disaffiliate and become a local sorority. The national organization revoked the charter of Epsilon Kappa. The Dartmouth women chose the new name Epsilon Kappa Theta.^[42] The Epsilon Kappa Theta residence is a Victorian house over 100 years old. The organization maintains communication with both its Epsilon Kappa Theta and Kappa Alpha Theta alumnae.

[edit] Kappa Delta Epsilon (ΚΔΕ)

Kappa Delta Epsilon ("KDE") is a local sorority founded in the fall of 1993 by the Dartmouth Panhellenic Council at Dartmouth. After the dissolution of the Xi Kappa Chi local sorority in the spring of 1993, the Panhellenic Council decided that there was a need for a new sorority to replace it. Fifty women joined the new sorority in the first rush in the fall of 2003.^[43] The Kappa Delta Epsilon physical plant was extensively remodeled by the college during the summer of 2003. The newly remodeled building contains a main meetings room, kitchen, two bedrooms and a back porch on the first floor. The second and third floors contain all bedrooms which house about thirteen more resident sisters. The basement consists of the "pub room", the bar room, the fireplace room, and the sisters-only room.^[44] Despite being a young sorority, Kappa Delta Epsilon has a large membership and a number of traditions.

[edit] Kappa Kappa Gamma (ΚΚΓ)

The Epsilon Chi chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma ("KKG", "Kappa") was founded at Dartmouth in 1978, and was the second sorority at Dartmouth College.^[6] The sisters of Kappa Kappa Gamma sponsor events for the campus, go on sister retreats, hold barbecues, and have formal and semi-formal dances. They have weekly house meetings in order to communicate news and issues about the house, to catch up on the week’s events, and to spend time with their fellow sisters. Philanthropy is an important part of the Epsilon Chi chapter’s activities. The sisters cook dinners on a regular basis for David’s House, an institution that supports and houses families of sick children at a local hospital, in a joint effort with the brothers of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. They also cook dinners and raise money for a teen pregnancy center, the Hannah House.

[edit] Sigma Delta (ΣΔ)

Sigma Delta ("Sigma Delt") was the first sorority at Dartmouth College, founded in May, 1977 as a chapter of the national sorority Sigma Kappa. In April 1981, Sigma Kappa moved into a residence formerly inhabited by Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. By 1998, the sisters and alumni of Sigma Kappa at Dartmouth felt there were irreconcilable differences between the Dartmouth chapter and Sigma Kappa national organization, specifically concerning religion in rituals and an emphasis on men in both national songs and overall attitudes. The Dartmouth chapter dissociated from the national organization in the fall of 1988, becoming Sigma Delta. The classes of 1989, 1990, and 1991 created a new philosophy based on strength, friendship, and acceptance of difference. Since then, Sigma Delta has continued to strive to offer a welcoming environment by hosting a party open to the campus once a term in addition to various programming events.^[45]

[edit] Sigma Lambda Upsilon (ΣΛΥ)

Sigma Lambda Upsilon, more formally known as Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Senoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc., was established by five women at Dartmouth in 2003, as the Alpha Beta chapter of the national, historically-Latino sorority. The sorority has no physical plant or designated College-owned housing. The Dartmouth chapter supports several activities including philanthropic events, formal dinners, and a Summer Book Club. The organization cosponsors Love Your Body Day with Delta Delta Delta.^[29]

[edit] Coeducational fraternities

The three coeducational fraternities at Dartmouth College are organized and represented to the College through the Coed Council. The Coed Council is a student-led governance organization that assists the member Greek organizations with public relations, programming, recruitment, and academic achievement.^[12] All three coeducational fraternities at Dartmouth own the land and residence buildings they occupy.

[edit] Alpha Theta (ΑΘ)

Alpha Theta was founded as a local fraternity named Iota Sigma Epsilon on March 3, 1920, by a group of seven students. In 1921 the fraternity received a charter as the Alpha Theta chapter of Theta Chi. John Sloan Dickey, later President of the College, joined the fraternity in 1928 and was elected house president only two weeks later, while still a pledge. Eight brothers of Theta Chi died in a tragic accident on the morning of February 25, 1934, when the metal chimney of the building's old coal furnace blew out in the night and the residence filled with poisonous carbon monoxide gas.^[4] Alpha Theta was one of the first collegiate fraternities in the United States to break from its national organization over civil rights issues. In 1951, while Dickey served as President of the College, the student body passed a resolution calling on all fraternities to eliminate racial discrimination from their constitutions. The Theta Chi national organization's constitution contained a clause limiting membership in fraternity to "Caucasians" only. On April 24, 1952, the members of the Dartmouth chapter voted unanimously to stop recognizing the racial clause in Theta Chi's constitution. Upon learning that the Dartmouth delegation to Theta Chi's national convention later that year planned to raise questions about the clause, the Alpha Theta chapter was derecognized by the national organization on July 25, 1952. The house reincorporated as a local fraternity and adopted the name Alpha Theta. Alpha Theta was also one of the first all-male fraternities to admit female members. In 1972, Dartmouth admitted the first class of female students and officially became a coeducational institution. Alpha Theta also voted to become coeducational. After a few years, most of the women in the fraternity had become inactive and the house voted to become single-sex male-only again on November 10, 1976. The house returned to a coeducational membership policy in 1980.^[46]

[edit] The Tabard

The Tabard at Dartmouth College was founded in 1857 as a local fraternity named Phi Zeta Mu. In 1893, the house sought to associate itself with a national fraternity and was granted a charter as the Eta Eta chapter of Sigma Chi national fraternity. The Dartmouth chapter dissociated from the national organization in 1960 when the Sigma Chi membership policies continued to discriminate against minorities. The new local fraternity briefly used the name Sigma Epsilon Chi, and included those Greek letter in a wrought iron railing on their residence. The fraternity later chose to use the name The Tabard. The new name was inspired by The Tabard, a fictitious London inn described in the General Prologue of the The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.^[47] The Tabard was one of six Greek organizations at Dartmouth to become coeducational and admit women pledges when the College began admitting women students in 1972. In 1997, the Tabard approved new membership policies that affirmed their policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, gender, or sexual orientation and further removed self-selection from the pledging process. The Tabard has been the subject of multiple anti-narcotic police raids over the past decade.^[48][49]

[edit] Phi Tau (ΦΤ)

Phi Tau was founded at Dartmouth College in 1905 as the Tau chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa, but dissociated from the national fraternity in 1956 due to the national fraternity's anti-semitic and racist membership policies.^[5] Phi Tau prides itself on its progressiveness; when the house constitution was rewritten in 1956, references to gender were deliberately excluded, making the house officially coeducational even before Dartmouth College accepted women as students. Phi Tau is the only coeducational Greek organization at Dartmouth that has always had female members since first admitting them, and was the first Greek house at Dartmouth to add sexual preference to its non-discrimination clause. Members of Phi Tau refer to one another as "brothers" regardless of gender. The fraternity is known for its quarterly "Milque and Cookies" party, featuring thousands of homemade cookies and milkshakes.^[50] Phi Tau completely replaced their residence hall in 2002, at a cost of $1.8 million, funded in part by the sale of 1,675 square meters (0.4 acres) of land to the College.^[51]

[edit] Defunct Greek organizations

Greek organizations at Dartmouth College that have been forced to dissolve have largely done so as a result of serious financial difficulties or critically low membership and interest.

[edit] Acacia

The Dartmouth chapter of Acacia, a national fraternity was founded in 1906. The Dartmouth chapter dissolved in 1908.^[6] Acacia was the first local fraternity or fraternity chapter at Dartmouth to dissolve.

[edit] Alpha Kappa Alpha (ΑΚΑ)

Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) at Dartmouth College was founded in 1983 as the Xi Lambda chapter of the national sorority. Alpha Kappa Alpha was the first historically African-American sorority at Dartmouth College. The College supported the sorority with dedicated apartment housing until it became defunct in the spring of 2003. The sorority had no members of the class of 2004 and was unable to recruit new members for subsequent classes because of a national moratorium on recruitment related to a hazing incident at another chapter.^[52]

[edit] Alpha Sigma Phi (ΑΣΦ)

Alpha Sigma Phi at Dartmouth College was originally founded in 1925, as a local fraternity named Sigma Alpha, The local fraternity became the Alpha Eta chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi, a national fraternity, in 1928. Faced with financial difficulties during the Great Depression, the Dartmouth chapter dissolved in 1936.^[6] C. Everett Koop, class of 1938 and Surgeon General of the United States from 1982 to 1989, was a member of one of the final Alpha Sigma Phi pledge classes at Dartmouth.

[edit] Alpha Tau Omega (ΑΤΩ)

Alpha Tau Omega was founded at Dartmouth College in 1915 as the local fraternity Sigma Tau Omega. In 1924, the local fraternity was granted a charter to become the Delta Sigma chapter of national fraternity Alpha Tau Omega. The Dartmouth chapter dissolved in 1936, at the height of the Great Depression.^[6]

[edit] Beta Theta Pi (ΒΘπ)

Beta Theta Pi ("Beta") was founded in 1858 as a local fraternity at Dartmouth College named Sigma Delta Pi. Sigma Delta Pi was the seventh fraternity founded at the College. The fraternity changed its name to Vitruvian in 1871. In 1889, the local brotherhood decided to join a nation fraternity and the organization soon became the Alpha Omega chapter of Beta Theta Pi. Beta Theta Pi was suspended by the College on three occasions in the 1990s. An incident of hazing in 1994 led to a year-long period of derecognition.^[53] In the summer of 1995, a member of Beta Theta Pi read a poem aloud during a house meeting that was deemed to be racist and sexist, and resulted in many calling for derecognition of the fraternity.^[54] In 1996, a Coed Fraternity Sorority Council judiciary committee found Beta Theta Pi guilty of six violations of College and fraternity policies.^[53] The College derecognized Beta Theta Pi permanently on December 6, 1996.^[55] The Hanover Police Department reported that the brothers of Beta Theta Pi did an estimated $15,000 in damage to the property soon after hearing of the permanent derecognition decision.^[56]

[edit] Delta Kappa Epsilon (ΔΚΕ)

The Pi Chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon ("Deke") was founded in 1853. It was the fourth social fraternity at Dartmouth College. Eight brothers of Delta Kappa Epsilon were famously involved in a 1949 murder of a fellow Dartmouth student. The men, after heavy drinking at three different fraternities, sought out a former member of the freshman football team. Finding him asleep in his dormitory room, but wearing a letter sweater that the eight men felt he did not deserve to be wearing, they beat him and he soon thereafter died of the injuries. Two Delta Kappa Epsilon brothers were brought to trial, fined, and given suspended jail sentences for the death. In response to the murder, College President John Sloan Dickey announced that he felt it was important to reduce the influence of the fraternity system on campus.^[57] The organization was renamed Storrs House in 1970 before dissolving entirely.

[edit] Delta Sigma Theta (ΔΣΘ)

Delta Sigma Theta is an historically African-American sorority at Dartmouth College that was founded in 1982 as the Che-Ase Interest Group. At the time, the College had imposed a moratorium on the founding on new sororities, but when the moratorium was lifted, the group was recognized by the college as a sorority in the fall of 1984. The women contacted the Delta Sigma Theta national sorority and were granted a charter as the Pi Theta chapter in the spring of 1985.^[58] Delta Sigma Theta provided an extensive array of public service through the Five-Point Thrust Program.^[59] Until the chapter's dissolution, the sister of Delta Sigma Theta had cosponsored the Step Show, an annual cultural dance performance, with the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha. The sorority had occupied dedicated College-owned apartment housing until June, 2004, when all but one member of the Dartmouth chapter graduated. An attempt was made to recruit new members in the summer, but the chapter became inactive in the fall semester of 2004.^[52]

[edit] Delta Upsilon (ΔΥ)

Delta Upsilon was originally founded as Epsilon Kappa Phi, a local fraternity, at Dartmouth College in 1920. In 1926, the local fraternity became the Dartmouth chapter of Delta Upsilon, a national fraternity. The fraternity dissociated from the national in 1966, and adopted the name Foley House. Foley House was one of the six local Greek organizations that became coeducational in 1972. In 1981, the organization decided to drop its association with the Greek system entirely and became one of the Affinity Housing programs offered by the College, available to any student interested in cooperative housing.^[6]

[edit] Delta Phi Epsilon (ΔΦΕ)

Delta Phi Epsilon was founded at Dartmouth College in 1984 as the Epsilon Alpha chapter the national sorority. The sorority was derecognized by the College in June, 1989, when it failed to maintain an active membership of at least 35 students.^[60] The Dartmouth chapter made an effort to revive itself by separating from the national in 1990 to became Pi Sigma Psi, a local sorority, but dissolved soon thereafter.^[6]

[edit] Delta Psi Delta (ΔΨΔ)

Delta Psi Delta was established at Dartmouth College in 1950 as the Dartmouth chapter of Tau Epsilon Phi, a national fraternity. The Dartmouth chapter dissociated from the national in 1969, and voted to call itself the Harold Parmington Foundation. The organization was one of the six local fraternities at Dartmouth that became coeducational after women were admitted as students in 1972. The fraternity adopted a more traditional Greek letter name in 1981, becoming Delta Psi Delta. Faced with critically low enrollment, the organization dissolved in 1991.^[6]

[edit] Zeta Beta Chi (ΖΒΧ)

Zeta Beta Chi was founded in 1984 as a local sorority named Alpha Beta. In 1986, the sorority gained a charter as the Dartmouth chapter of Delta Gamma, a national sorority. In 1997, the sorority voted to go local again, and reformed as Zeta Beta Chi. Plagued with low membership, the sorority was already on a marginal financial footing in 1998, when a College inspection during the summer discovered mercury contamination in the sorority's basement. The College closed the building for the remainder of the year, negatively impacting fall rush. The sorority announced its dissolution in December 1998.^[57]

[edit] Kappa Alpha Psi (ΚΑΨ)

Kappa Alpha Psi at Dartmouth College was founded in 1987 as the Mu Chi chapter of the national fraternity. Kappa Alpha Psi was the second historically African-American fraternity at Dartmouth College. It's membership was active through at least the end of the 1990s. The Kappa Alpha Psi national currently lists the Mu Chi chapter as inactive.^[61]

[edit] Lambda Chi Alpha (ΛΧΑ)

Lambda Chi Alpha was founded at Dartmouth College in 1914 as the Theta Zeta chapter of the national fraternity. Faced with insurmountable financial stress during the Great Depression, the Dartmouth chapter dissolved in 1932.^[6]

[edit] Xi Kappa Chi (ΞΚΧ)

Xi Kappa Chi was originally established at Dartmouth in 1980 as the Zeta Mu chapter of Alpha Chi Omega, a national sorority. The sorority dissociated from the national organization in 1990 and became a local sorority named Xi Kappa Chi. Faced with low membership in 1993, the local sorority considered an affiliation with Phi Mu, a national sorority, as a possibility of attracting more new members hesitant to rush a small local sorority. The Phi Mu national organization sent representatives to Dartmouth in April, 1993, but based on their report, the Phi Mu national council voted against a Dartmouth chapter. Xi Kappa Chi was dissolved by the Dartmouth Panhellenic Council in 1993.^[62]

[edit] Pi Lambda Phi (ΠΛΦ)

The Pi chapter of the national fraternity Pi Lambda Phi was established at Dartmouth College in 1924. The membership of the Dartmouth chapter was predominantly Jewish. About half of the College's fraternities at the time had national constitutions that explicitly forbade membership to Jews, and for many of the other chapters, it was an informal policy to exclude membership to Jewish students. The national constitution of Pi Lambda Phi expressly accepted members of all religious faiths. Pi Lambda Phi was not initially accepted by the Dartmouth Greek community, and efforts in 1924 and 1925 to gain formal admission into the Interfraternity Council failed. The fraternity was finally recognized in the spring of 1927.^[63] The fraternity's first residence hall, purchased in 1924, was a building on South Street formerly occupied by a Roman Catholic church. The fraternity would reside there until 1961, when they moved to a house north of Webster Avenue on Occum Road. The chapter dissolved in 1971.^[2]

[edit] Sigma Alpha Mu (ΣΑΜ)

Sigma Alpha Mu was established at Dartmouth College in 1930 as the Sigma Upsilon chapter of the national fraternity. At the time, the Sigma Alpha Mu national limited membership in the organization to Jewish men. Sigma Alpha Mu placed more emphasis on the observances of Judaism than did the other predominantly Jewish fraternity on campus, Pi Lambda Phi, and had difficulty attracting the interest of most mainstream Jewish students on campus.^[63] The Dartmouth chapter dissolved in 1935, during the Great Depression.^[6]

[edit] Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI)

Phi Gamma Delta was founded at Dartmouth College as the Delta Upsilon chapter of the national fraternity in 1901. The Dartmouth chapter seceded from the national fraternity in 1965, and adopted the new name of Phoenix. The new local fraternity dissolved in 1971.^[6] The fraternity has no association with the Phoenix all-female senior society founded at Dartmouth in 1984.

[edit] Phi Sigma Psi (ΦΣΨ)

Phi Sigma Psi ("Phi Psi") traces its heritage at Dartmouth College to the Beta Psi local fraternity, founded in 1895. Beta Psi became the New Hampshire Alpha chapter of Phi Kappa Psi in 1896. The Dartmouth chapter dissociated from the national in 1967, adopting the new name Phi Sigma Psi. Phi Sigma Psi was one of the six fraternities that adopted a formal coeducational membership policy in 1972. In the late 1980s, the membership began referring to the organization as "Phi Psi/Panarchy". The fraternity changed its name to The Panarchy in 1991.^[64] In 1993, the College began a program for "undergraduate societies" as open-membership alternatives to the Greek system. In September 1993, the members of Panarchy voted to disaffiliate from the Greek system and became the first of two Undergraduate Societies.^[65]

[edit] References

Cited references

[edit] External links

• Dartmouth College
• Coed, Fraternity, and Sorority Administration
• Dartmo.: The Buildings of Dartmouth College