Rho Psi
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The Rho Psi (ΡΨ) Fraternity was founded in 1916 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Rho Psi was the first Greek letter collegiate fraternity founded for Asian-American men (all the founders were of Chinese descent) in the United States.
The original founders of Rho Psi were Chih Ping, L. N. Lau, Y. C. Yang, K. C. Lay, and C. K. Cheng. The Greek letters "Rho Psi" were adopted from the beginning. Given the racially restrictive climate that existed among the fraternities at the time the founders of Rho Psi might have taken note of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity's lead as the first African-American fraternity, founded at Cornell University ten years earlier. Rho Psi existed on the Cornell campus until 1931.
Rho Psi became national in 1925 with the establishment of the Beta chapter in New York City, and international in 1929 with a chapter in Shanghai. In 1976, the Rho Psi Society was formally adopted, and female members allowed in.
In its present form, Rho Psi draws its membership primarily from professionals. As such, Rho Psi is not currently represented on a collegiate level. The objectives of the Society are: to promote and perpetuate friendship among members; to develop congeniality and brotherhood in the fraternal life; and to cultivate the spirit of cooperation and self-sacrifice.
The Rho Psi Fraternity made its first published appearance in Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities page 704, 9th edition, 1920. Also, page 687, 10th edition, 1923; page 509, 11th edition, 1927; page 305, 16th edition, 1957.
There are now a large number of collegiate Asian-American fraternities and sororities.
