Greek Trivia and Fun Facts

[magichat]

PKA and Kappa Sigma were founded across the quad from eachother.

PKA and Sigma Nu discussed a merger (I think pre-1900), obviously, it never happened.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by magichat

PKA and Kappa Sigma were founded across the quad from eachother.

Before someone from UVa comes on and has a hissy fit, it's the Lawn, not the quad.

And if I remember right (I've seen the rooms), they're not exactly across from each other. There are four ranks of buildings that run parallel to each other: West Range, West Lawn, East Lawn and East Range. The Lawn is between East and West Lawn, and there are gardens between West Range and West Lawn and between East Lawn and East Range. The Lawn rooms face the Lawn; the Range rooms face away from the Lawn (so that the gardens are in the back of all rooms).

Pike was founded at 47 West Range and Kappa Sig at 46 East Lawn, so West Lawn runs between them. Both rooms face west, not each other. But yes, very close together.

BTW, both rooms have markers commemorating the founding of the respective fraternities, and as I understand, each fraternity can choose a rising fourth year member (they don't have "seniors" at UVa) to live in the room fourth year, if that member has been otherwise selected to live on the Lawn.

[Smile_Awhile]

Alpha Chi Omega was founded because Kappa Alpha Theta wouldn't accept students from the School of Music.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Gamma Phi Beta's original colors were dark and light blue. They were changed to dark and light brown in 1875 in honor of Dr. JJ Brown, who allowed our founders to hold their first meetings in his office.

[CougarGrad]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Gamma Phi Beta's original colors were dark and light blue. They were changed to dark and light brown in 1875 in honor of Dr. JJ Brown, who allowed our founders to hold their first meetings in his office.

I never knew that! That's a cool piece of info to have.

[UVASquirrel]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Before someone from UVa comes on and has a hissy fit, it's the Lawn, not the quad.

And if I remember right (I've seen the rooms), they're not exactly across from each other. There are four ranks of buildings that run parallel to each other: West Range, West Lawn, East Lawn and East Range. The Lawn is between East and West Lawn, and there are gardens between West Range and West Lawn and between East Lawn and East Range. The Lawn rooms face the Lawn; the Range rooms face away from the Lawn (so that the gardens are in the back of all rooms).

Pike was founded at 47 West Range and Kappa Sig at 46 East Lawn, so West Lawn runs between them. Both rooms face west, not each other. But yes, very close together.

BTW, both rooms have markers commemorating the founding of the respective fraternities, and as I understand, each fraternity can choose a rising fourth year member (they don't have "seniors" at UVa) to live in the room fourth year, if that member has been otherwise selected to live on the Lawn.

LOL....I was about to be that "someone from UVa"

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AGDee

We have a helmet at the top of our coat of arms but our Canadian chapters are not allowed to utilize a helmet in the coat of arms because it depicts royalty and their history with Britain and the Queen prohibits it. So, our Canadian chapters have a slightly different version.

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

I think it's obvious, but to my knowledge that's the case with most fraternities/sororities in Canada.

Actually, it's not.

The issue is not use of a helmet per se, but the kind of helmet used. Traditionally, the style and position of the helmet on a coat-of-arms indicates the rank of the bearer of the arms. Alpha Gamma Delta's armorial bearings use a gold, barred helmet facing forward, which is traditionally reserved to the sovereign. (This is why it is seen in the arms of some American states, to indicate the state's sovereignty.) In Britain and Canada, no one but the queen and other royalty use this kind of helmet.

(Sigma Nu and Alpha Xi Delta also use barred or open helmets facing foward, but they are not gold. SAE and APO also use use royal helmets, but I don't think either has chapters in Canada, do they?)

By contrast, TKE. Lambda Chi, Theta Chi, Theta Xi, Pike and probably others that I'm not thinking of use a barred or closed helmet turned to the side, a sign of nobility but not sovereignty. These don't raise the same issue.

My guess is also that unless Alpha Gamma Delta's armorial bearing are registered with the Canadian Heraldic Authority, the decision not to use the helmet in Canada is one of propriety, not legality.