Interesting FACTS That Some May Not Know About Your Organization

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

Oh, no, I meant NIC. I figure most people know that the NPHC groups (with the exception of Alpha, Kappa and SGRho, right?) were founded at Howard. I actually suspect it might be the only major GLO founded at an Ivy, which is pretty special.

NICs founded at an Ivy

Columbia
Delta Psi (1847)
Zeta Beta Tau (1898) - Formed at several New York City universities including Columbia
Tau Epsilon Phi (1910)

Cornell
Delta Chi (1890)
Alpha Phi Alpha (1906)

Pennsylvania
Phi Kappa Sigma (1850)

Princeton
Chi Phi (1824)

Yale
Delta Kappa Epsilon (1844)
Alpha Sigma Phi (1845)
Pi Lambda Phi (1895)

NPCs founded at an Ivy

Barnard College at Columbia
Alpha Omicron Pi (1897)
Alpha Epsilon Phi (1909)

Cornell
Sigma Delta Tau (1917)

[summer_gphib]

On to my organization, does anyone remember that the original Doublemint chewing gum twins were both Pi Phi's from the University of Kentucky Chapter?

I thought Joan and Jayne Boyd were the original Doublemint twins, from the fifties? I was also thinking they were Gamma Phis.... someone correct me, because I could eaisly be wrong.

[SWTXBelle]

Sis - I think you are right - I'll have to double check. It may be both Gamma Phi and Pi Phi claim Doublemint Twins - but - who was first???

[tld221]

Originally Posted by nwu43

hmm.. not that much to say yet since we're kinda young org

i guess one interesting thing that people may not know is that our greek letters represent the kanji (in the middle) and chinese characters



Those characters "man, center, king" put together mean "leaders among men". and coincidentally that is also our motto

that's interesting! the one Lambda i know has that as a tattoo on his arm. i am surprised that your founders chose Epsilon over Xi, as it looks more like the "king" symbol.

Originally Posted by ladygreek

The vast majority of our members are in education, too, as were all but 2-3 of our Founders. And Howard started as a Teacher's College. That is because back then that was almost the only field that women could go into. My guess is the same could be said of AKA and ZPhiB, but I'll let them confirm that.

The Omegas are considered Delta's brothers, because they helped us fill out the necessary paperwork for the school and then one of them ran across the campus to file our application for us before the deadline.

Delta's colors are crimson and cream, because of two reasons. The Kappas called one of their fraters who then worked in administration at Howard and asked him to pull strings for us to get Founded on the campus. The other reason is if you separate the colors that make up pink, you get red and white.

well if you separate the colors that make up green, you get blue and yellow...

[rhoyaltempest]

Sigma Gamma Rho's official mascot is the poodle; chosen for its elegance, grace, and high intelligence.

[nwu43]

Originally Posted by tld221

that's interesting! the one Lambda i know has that as a tattoo on his arm. i am surprised that your founders chose Epsilon over Xi, as it looks more like the "king" symbol.

Haha you're right! I never thought about that. Lambda phi xi.. for some reason just doesn't sound as good though

Do founders really get to actually choose their letters? I thought they're given to them.

Btw, the lambda that you know, how old is he? Is he alumni? The reason I ask is that not many lambdas nowadays have those tatoos. In my chapter, me and my linebro were the last to get them (I chose to get the letters instead of the kanji though, and some people tell me it's not as cool)

I also get the impression that all D9 members get tatoos as well (at least the fraternities). Every alpha that I've seen on campus has the letters tatooed, and every omega I see has gotten branded. I don't want to pry, but is it something that all members choose on their own to get? Please tell me if I'm getting too nosy

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by nwu43

Do founders really get to actually choose their letters? I thought they're given to them.

By whom?

[nwu43]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

By whom?

by....whoever's in charge of that type of stuff I guess

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

By whom?

I know that our founders chose our letters after doing research to make sure that they were not already being used by another organization. I think that many (if not all) organizations chose their letters specifically for various reasons, although I would assume that when you formally submit your letters in the process to become a legit organization, there are checks in place to ensure that they are not already taken...atleast I think now this is the case.

[12dn94dst]

Originally Posted by nwu43

I also get the impression that all D9 members get tatoos as well (at least the fraternities).

You've been spying on super secret underground post-initiation rites, haven't you?


Seriously, branding/tattooing is a personal choice, not something that's mandated by any national body. I know several members of both sides of the issue. There are, however, organizations that prohibit their members from getting organizational tattoos, particularly using the greek letters.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by nwu43

Haha you're right! I never thought about that. Lambda phi xi.. for some reason just doesn't sound as good though

There actually is a multicultural sorority named Lambda Phi Xi and at least one of its founders is a member of GC. (although she doesnt frequent very often)

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by epchick

There actually is a multicultural sorority named Lambda Phi Xi and at least one of its founders is a member of GC. (although she doesnt frequent very often)

There is a pharmaceutical fraternity named Delta Sigma Theta.

[SnuKnight172]

Originally Posted by nwu43

Do founders really get to actually choose their letters? I thought they're given to them.

In IFC Fraternities the letters of the Fraternity name usually represent something special. Why would you assume they are assigned? Look at some of the IFC Fraternity web sites and you will find out how and why they were formed. Of course there is private things that you will not find.

I visited your national website and your founders are probably still alive and I am sure they would be more than happy to talk with you about the meaning of your letters.

The differences between IFC, NPHC and newer organizations is amazing. Do us all a favor try to contact some of your founders and let us know a little more about your story (not your ritual but your history). The more we know about one another the more similarities we will find.

[sageofages]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

Sis - I think you are right - I'll have to double check. It may be both Gamma Phi and Pi Phi claim Doublemint Twins - but - who was first???

From Wikipedia:

The original "Doublemint Twins" were Jayne and Joan Boyd of Hammond, Indiana, who appeared in advertisements for Doublemint until Joan became pregnant in 1963. The company however continued sporadically to promote the campaign; later "Doublemint Twins" included Patricia and Cyb Barnstable, Cynthia and Brittany Daniel, Tia and Tamera Mowry, Heidi and Alissa Kramer, and Jean (née Barbara) and Elizabeth Sagal (daughters of TV director Boris Sagal and sisters of Married... with Children's Katey Sagal). Wrigley began running Doublemint Twin commercials again in 2005 with a new set of twins, Natalie Garza & Nicole Garza dressed in old-fashioned clothes

[DEVODUDE]

ZBT was founded at Columbia University in 1898 as the first secret society for Jewish men. It operated as the universal organization under a "city" charter from New York City from 1898 to 1903. In April of 1903 it was voted by the membership to change the organization to the First Greek-Letter Fraternity for Jewish men. ZBT was also the first Jewish fraternity to establish a Canadian Chapter in 1910 and the first Jewish Fraternity to receive full recognition by the NIC in 1912.

__________________________________________________ _____________

ZBT: "Inspiring today's college men to become leaders of tomorrow."