Cleo of Alpha Chi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The CLEO Literary Society was founded at Trinity College (Hartford, Connecticut, United States) in 1877 when the college moved from its original campus on Trinity Street to its current location on Vernon Street. CLEO's Coat of Arms is engraved over the doorway of its original location, Jarvis Hall. On August 28, 1901, Cleo moved to a Georgian Colonial style structure, 3036 sq. ft., with three bedrooms, one bath house, and 4 fireplaces.
Contents |
[edit] Organization History
[edit] The CLIO Literary Society 1877-1879
Cleo was founded as an independent local literary society and as a social alternative to the other fraternity houses that existed at the time. The Cleo Literary Society was named after Clio, the muse of history and wisdom from Greek mythology.
[edit] Delta Kappa Epsilon Alpha Chi Chapter 1879-1991
In 1879 the founding members petitioned for and were granted a charter from the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, and CLEO became the Alpha Chi Chapter of DKE. From 1879 to 1882 the house activities included the Delta Kappa Epsilon Quartet, a musical group who performed popular and traditional songs. For many years, Alpha Chi Chapter members were known as athletes. Football was the most popular sport. This tradition continued into the 1950s. Besides sport, for more than 40 years, DKEs acted in the Jesters acting troupe. At one time or another DKEs were most represented in most clubs, sports, and campus organizations.
From 1942 until 1945 Trinity was part of the United States' war mobilization. Members of the house served in the both World War I and World War II. The US Navy established the V-12 program at Trinity, and at other select colleges and universities. Both the Alpha Chi Chapter, and Trinity College actively took part in the program. Traditional enrollment at Trinity dropped dramatically. Most men of college age who were not 4F or in a vital defense industry, were drafted or enlisted in the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, or Merchant Marines. Without the V-12 Program it is doubtful that the Alpha Chi Chapter or Trinity College could have financially survived through the war years. From 1943 to 1945 the house was technically closed and did not admit new members. However, people lived in the house.
After WWII, Trinity's enrollment grew quickly.
The 1960s brought many changes to Trinity and the DKE Alpha Chi Chapter. DKE Alpha Chi Chapter membership shifted from athletes to a more eclectic, liberal, laid back population. When Trinity became a co-ed institution, in 1969 the Alpha Chi Chapter of DKE became the first co-ed fraternity on Trinity campus and the only co-ed DKE Chapter worldwide.
Co-education became a source of conflict between the DKE National organization and the Alpha Chi Chapter. Finally, in 1991 after a long and sometimes bitter struggle, the Alpha Chi Chapter and the DKE organization parted company, by mutual agreement.
[edit] House
Starting in 1943, The Alpha Chi Chapter and other frats on campus voluntarily took part in the US Navy V-12 Program. During this time, all of the 400 dorm rooms on campus were used by V-12 Program. What the V-12 Program was designed to do, was to quickly give college level preparation in areas such as math and engineering, to men who could be commissioned as Ensigns in the Navy. These men were either were in the Merchant Marines (once commissioned they were known by the enlisted men as feather merchants) or had one or two years of college. Most of the V-12 participants stayed at Trinity for 4 to 8 months. After that, they attended a 90 day Officer Candidate School. The Alpha Chi Chapters participation in this program was to allow traditional non DKE Trinity students to live in the house. The last non DKE student left the house in 1946.
In 1946, a 416 sq. ft., addition was put on the house. This featured an enlargement of the fieldhouse and the addition of the bedroom known as Siberia. At this time, the basement was finished into a usable area. This brings the total usable space to 4970 sq. ft.
In 1965, a 1600 sq. ft. modern addition was added to the house, including the Budd Lounge. This addition dramatically modernized the house's appearance. The addition consisted of a dining room, a patio, 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, and a great room with a large fireplace. With a total size of 6570 sq. ft., the house officially qualifies as a mansion.
[edit] Cleo Today
In Fall 2007, Cleo nearly doubled its active membership, going from fourteen members to twenty-seven. The house continues to have a strong presence on the Trinity College (Connecticut) campus, its themed late nights on most Friday and Saturday nights providing an alternative to Frat parties.
