Chapter Designations

[JonInKC]

TKE just uses the normal designations, Alpha thru Omega, then Alpha-Alpha, and so on...the only exception to the rule is our Sigma chapter is called Scorpion chapter because the chapter at Cornell was known as the Scorpions before they affiliated with TKE. There was some kind of special concession made, apparently.

Also, for some reason the Eta series is skipped completely. It goes from Zeta-Omega straight to Theta-Alpha.

[Drolefille]

Sigma Kappa uses the "standard" naming except there are no Eta ____ or Iota ____ chapters. My guess on the Eta is that there are too many er.."puns" that can be made with that designation... (who wants to be Eta Pi chapter after all...)

No odd chapter designations that I'm aware of except that our Alpha, Beta, and Gamma were all at the same school, then got folded into each other and then closed when Colby College banned Greek Life.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Sigma Kappa uses the "standard" naming except there are no Eta ____ or Iota ____ chapters. My guess on the Eta is that there are too many er.."puns" that can be made with that designation... (who wants to be Eta Pi chapter after all...)

No odd chapter designations that I'm aware of except that our Alpha, Beta, and Gamma were all at the same school, then got folded into each other and then closed when Colby College banned Greek Life.

Why did Colby close out Greeks there?

We had a chapter back when.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

Why did Colby close out Greeks there?

We had a chapter back when.

As far as I know the standard "greek life=bad" thing.

Not sure of the details. Just that we lost our Alpha (with Beta and Gamma coming along for the ride)

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

Why did Colby close out Greeks there?

We had a chapter back when.

1984

[DeltAlum]

Delt basically uses the "Greek alphabet in order, then double letters in order, etc." system.

There is a complication, however. In the early history of the Fraternity, when a chapter closed, other chapters could move "up" in the alphabet. By becoming the "main" or controlling chapter (before there was a Central Office) a chapter could gain the "Alpha" designation. Our original founding chapter at Bethany College closed and then recolonized later and is now known as the "Theta Founding Chapter." Our present "Alpha" was the fourth or so, and has closed and recolonized at least once to my knowledge. My chapter, "Beta" was not the second chapter founded, and missed becoming the "Alpha" chapter by a very small margin in the early years. Beta is the oldest continuoulsly operating chapter in the Fraternity, though, having been open since 1862.

But, the real answer to the threads question is that we go Alpha-Omega, then Alpha Alpha thru Alpha Omega, to Beta Alpha, etc.

[Buttonz]

SDT does Alpha to Omega

[ECUJacob]

The second Beta Constitution (1840) provided for names to be given to chapters. Following a practice prevalent at the time, chapters were named for their geographic location. For example, the University of Ohio, the Athens Chapter or Jefferson College, the Canonsburg Chapter.

By 1842, the Constitution was amended to provide that each chapter be given a Greek-letter name indicating it's priority of establishment. hence, Miami University (Ohio) became Alpha in 1839, Cincinnati became Beta in 1840, Western Reserve became Gamma in 1841, etc. While exceptions have occurred, for the most part this practice has been followed ever since.

Following that naming convention, we name our chapters in Greek-letter order (Alpha, Beta, Gamma ... Alpha Alpha, Alpha Beta, Alpha Gamma, etc.). That being said, If you look at the list of ALL of our chapters (active and closed), you'll notice that some letters (i.e. Chapter names) were skipped and then revisited in later years. We are currently in the Zeta range somewhere near Zeta Sigma I think.

[Drolefille]

Bumping cause I like this thread.

[BaylorBean]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Sigma Kappa uses the "standard" naming except there are no Eta ____ or Iota ____ chapters. My guess on the Eta is that there are too many er.."puns" that can be made with that designation... (who wants to be Eta Pi chapter after all...)

No odd chapter designations that I'm aware of except that our Alpha, Beta, and Gamma were all at the same school, then got folded into each other and then closed when Colby College banned Greek Life.

There are one set of specific chapter designations actually. When we merged with Pi Kappa Sigma, all those chapters were given the designation of Delta _____ for the Sigma Kappa Chapter names.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by BaylorBean

There are one set of specific chapter designations actually. When we merged with Pi Kappa Sigma, all those chapters were given the designation of Delta _____ for the Sigma Kappa Chapter names.

Cool didn't know that. (Do you have any more info on that merger btw? I'm interested in details of Pi Kappa Sigma, but don't know where to find info about it. )

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Cool didn't know that. (Do you have any more info on that merger btw? I'm interested in details of Pi Kappa Sigma, but don't know where to find info about it. )

For information about Pi Kappa Sigma's early years a good bet if you cn find it is the book "Golden Years with Pi Kappa Sigma 1894 - 1949," by Emma Newell Seaton (historian). It's hardcover, 529 pages plus index, but only take the sorority up to 1949, long before the merger. It might still be around in some college libraries or used bookstores, as well as possibly some of the SK chapters that were formerly Pi Kappa Sigma.

ETA: Back to the topic: Pi Kappa Sigma used the Alpha - to- Omega, then Alpha Alpha ans so on system, with very rare exceptions. For instance the Pi Kappa Sigma chapter at Southwest Missouri State *should* have been "Alpha Upsilon," but it was formed from a local, Theta Nu Theta. and

"So great was the attachment to the parent name that the petitioners asked permission of the Grand council of Pi Kappa Sigma to keep at least part of that name . . . ."

The result? The chapter designation was Theta Nu.

[notmanhattan]

I know earlier in the thread they talked about FIJI chapters being named after their towns or their schools. But what about the FIJI chapter at the University of Georgia-- Kappa Deuteron. Anyone know where this came from?

[banditone]

I think that Fiji naming scheme is pretty cool. Mostly because I know Fiji's who are awesome guys.

Question: So how do you determine your oldest chapters if you don't do it by a standard 1) letter, then 2) two letter form?

For instance, in Sigma Nu if I hear a chapter update from a single letter chapter, I KNOW it's some old-school chapter founded in the 1800's. (Beta is the oldest still active chapter. As our founding site, VMI, no longer allows fraternities)

How do you know?