Sororities & fraternities at Big Ten Universities

[nyapbp]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I know I've picked this nit before, so my apologies, but . . . .

Sir Thomas More used the word "sorority" in his writings in the early 16th Century. But it was never a common word in English prior to the founding of Gamma Phi. Who knows whether the professor at Syracuse was drawing on a knowledge of More's writings in suggesting the word "sorority" or whether he was unaware of the previous use of the word and just followed the example of others before him, went back to the Latin sororitas and anglicized it in a manner consistent with the anglicization of fraternitas.

Nope, we will never know if the good professor was reaching into his memory or came up with it on his own. I've been trying to find a picture of Frank Smalley and am still holding out hope that there is one in the Syracuse Archives. I am not holding out much hope that we can find out what books he read or what was in his library. Smalley had a connection to the organization whereas we cannot draw any conclusions between Gamma Phi and Sir Thomas More. At least we know Honta Smalley Bredin, his sister, and his daughter were Gamma Phis.

I do appreciate your footnoting this.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by nyapbp

Nope, we will never know if the good professor was reaching into his memory or came up with it on his own. I've been trying to find a picture of Frank Smalley and am still holding out hope that there is one in the Syracuse Archives. I am not holding out much hope that we can find out what books he read or what was in his library.

Do you know what he was a professor of? I'm not sure I've ever seen anything that says.

[nyapbp]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Do you know what he was a professor of? I'm not sure I've ever seen anything that says.

In 1912 he was Dean of Liberal Arts (I found a letterhead with his name on it).

On page 20 of the 1921 Story of Gamma Phi Beta, he is recognized as "Professor Frank Smalley of the Latin department - now Vice Chancellor Emeritus."

[AGDee]

We have had chapters at 11 of the 12 with 6 currently open. Of those 11, 5 are single letter chapters. I'd love to see all of them re-colonized some day! Some are closer to reality than others.

[WhiteRose1912]

Considering that my fraternity is on the smaller side (the installation of Gamma Psi this weekend marked our 95th charter and 50th active chapter), I thought it was interesting how well-represented we were in the Big 10.

Our chapters:
Alpha - University of Michigan
Beta - University of Illinois
Gamma - The Ohio State University
Zeta - Indiana University
Mu - University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Nu - University of Wisconsin-Madison
Xi - University of Iowa
Rho - Penn State

No presence at Purdue, Michigan State, Northwestern, or Minnesota. That means we have chapter charters for 2/3 of the Big 10 schools and they're all single letter designations. Like AGDee, I'd be thrilled to get any of them back, but I'd be over the moon for our Alpha and Gamma chapters to come home (my #3 choice being Delta at Ohio University).

My secret wish was that we would recolonize our Alpha chapter for our centennial. Of course, if Michigan wanted to open for expansion before our 100th Founders' Day, I would still totally count it.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by WhiteRose1912

Considering that my fraternity is on the smaller side (the installation of Gamma Psi this weekend marked our 95th charter and 50th active chapter), I thought it was interesting how well-represented we were in the Big 10.

Our chapters:
Alpha - University of Michigan
Beta - University of Illinois
Gamma - The Ohio State University
Zeta - Indiana University
Mu - University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Nu - University of Wisconsin-Madison
Xi - University of Iowa
Rho - Penn State

No presence at Purdue, Michigan State, Northwestern, or Minnesota. That means we have chapter charters for 2/3 of the Big 10 schools and they're all single letter designations. Like AGDee, I'd be thrilled to get any of them back, but I'd be over the moon for our Alpha and Gamma chapters to come home (my #3 choice being Delta at Ohio University).

My secret wish was that we would recolonize our Alpha chapter for our centennial. Of course, if Michigan wanted to open for expansion before our 100th Founders' Day, I would still totally count it.

It's been an Alpha thing lately, so we'll keep our fingers crossed for you!

[amIblue?]

Go Alpha chapters!

[WhiteRose1912]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

It's been an Alpha thing lately, so we'll keep our fingers crossed for you!

Originally Posted by amIblue?

Go Alpha chapters!

[irishpipes]

Northwestern University
Alpha Phi Beta 1881
Delta Gamma Sigma 1882
Kappa Kappa Gamma Upsilon 1882
Kappa Alpha Theta Tau 1887
Gamma Phi Beta Epsilon 1888
Alpha Chi Omega Gamma 1890
Pi Beta Phi Illinois Epsilon 1894
Delta Delta Delta Upsilon 1895
Chi Omega Xi 1901
Kappa Delta Lambda 1907
Alpha Omicron Pi Rho 1909-1973
Phi Omega Pi Epsilon 1913-1943
Alpha Gamma Delta Lambda 1913-1995
Delta Zeta Alpha Alpha 1920
Zeta Tau Alpha Alpha Phi 1920-1969/2007
Alpha Epsilon Phi Omicron 1921-1988
Alpha Xi Delta Alpha Theta 1921-1972
Theta Upsilon Epsilon Alpha 1933-1940
Sigma Delta Tau Sigma 1938-1970
Alpha Delta Pi Gamma Beta 1945-1971/2002-2006

University of Illinois
Pi Beta Phi Illinois Zeta 1895
Kappa Alpha Theta Delta (New) 1895
Kappa Kappa Gamma Beta Lambda 1899
Alpha Chi Omega Iota 1899
Chi Omega Omicron 1900
Alpha Xi Delta Kappa 1905-?/1983-1995/2008
Delta Gamma Iota 1906
Sigma Kappa Theta 1906-1941/1946-1968/1975
Alpha Omicron Pi Iota 1911
Phi Omega Pi Gamma 1911-?
Alpha Delta Pi Sigma 1912
Gamma Phi Beta Omicron 1913
Alpha Gamma Delta Sigma 1918
Theta Phi Alpha Beta 1919-1953
Alpha Epsilon Phi Mu 1920
Delta Delta Delta Delta Pi 1920
Delta Zeta Alpha Beta 1921-?/1988
Zeta Tau Alpha Alpha Kappa 1921-1988
Kappa Delta Sigma Omicron 1921
Phi Mu Delta Beta 1921-1939?/1946-2011
Alpha Phi Beta Alpha 1922
Alpha Delta Theta Delta 1922-1939 National merger with Phi Mu
Phi Sigma Sigma Theta 1923-2011
Theta Upsilon Gamma 1923-1940/1946-1962 National absorbed by Delta Zeta
Beta Phi Alpha Beta 1923-1941 National absorbed by Delta Zeta
Sigma Delta Tau Kappa 1926
Delta Phi Epsilon Rho 1927-1933/1945-1990
Iota Alpha Pi Phi 1954-?
Pi Kappa Sigma Alpha Psi 1954-1958
Sigma Sigma Sigma Gamma Alpha 1957-1965/1979-1987
Alpha Sigma Alpha Epsilon Beta 1982-1992

Indiana University
Kappa Alpha Theta Beta 1870
Kappa Kappa Gamma Delta 1873
Pi Beta Phi Indiana Beta 1893
Delta Gamma Theta 1898
Delta Zeta Epsilon 1909
Alpha Omicron Pi Beta Phi 1916-1996/1999
Delta Delta Delta Delta Omicron 1917
Sigma Kappa Tau 1918-1994
Theta Phi Alpha Zeta 1920-1959/Colony Fall 2011
Phi Mu Delta Alpha 1920
Phi Omega Pi Xi 1922-?
Alpha Chi Omega Alpha Mu 1922
Zeta Tau Alpha Alpha Xi 1922
Chi Omega Theta Beta 1922
Kappa Delta Sigma Upsilon 1923-1941/1955
Alpha Delta Pi Beta Alpha 1926-1952/1984
Sigma Delta Tau Upsilon 1940
Alpha Xi Delta Beta Pi 1946-1970/1987
Delta Phi Epsilon Delta Delta 1946-1952
Alpha Gamma Delta Beta Delta 1947
Alpha Phi Beta Tau 1947
Gamma Phi Beta Beta Phi 1957
Alpha Epsilon Phi Epsilon Epsilon 1958
Sigma Sigma Sigma Epsilon Xi 1989-1994
Alpha Sigma Alpha Epsilon Phi 1990?-1994/Colony Fall 2012

Purdue University
Kappa Alpha Theta Alpha Chi 1915
Alpha Chi Omega Alpha Beta 1918
Kappa Kappa Gamma Gamma Delta 1919
Chi Omega Chi Beta 1919
Alpha Xi Delta Alpha Eta 1921-?/2001
Zeta Tau Alpha Alpha Theta 1921-1934/1947
Pi Beta Phi Indiana Delta 1921
Phi Mu Delta Epsilon 1929
Beta Phi Alpha Phi 1929-1934
Delta Gamma Beta Iota 1940
Alpha Delta Pi Gamma Epsilon 1947-1993
Alpha Epsilon Phi Alpha Upsilon 1948-1951/1968-1976
Sigma Delta Tau Alpha Epsilon 1948-1953/2000
Sigma Kappa Beta Sigma 1948
Alpha Omicron Pi Phi Upsilon 1963-2003/Colony Fall 2012 September 7-23, 2012
Alpha Phi Alpha Mu 1963
Alpha Gamma Delta Beta Xi 1968
Gamma Phi Beta Delta Iota 1975
Delta Delta Delta Gamma Iota 1988
Delta Zeta Xi Omega 1988
Kappa Delta Colony Fall 2014

University of Iowa
Kappa Kappa Gamma Beta Zeta 1882
Pi Beta Phi Iowa Zeta 1882
Delta Gamma Tau 1887
Delta Delta Delta Phi 1904
Phi Omega Pi Beta 1910-1934
Alpha Chi Omega Sigma 1911
Alpha Xi Delta Sigma 1912
Delta Zeta Iota 1913
Alpha Delta Pi Alpha Beta 1915
Gamma Phi Beta Rho 1915
Chi Omega Psi Beta 1919
Zeta Tau Alpha Alpha Omicron 1922
Kappa Delta Sigma Rho 1923-1933
Sigma Kappa Alpha Xi 1924-1934/1981-?
Phi Mu Zeta Theta 1925-1941
Theta Phi Alpha Xi 1926-1934
Kappa Alpha Theta Beta Omicron 1926
Sigma Delta Tau Pi 1933-1971/1982-1988
Alpha Phi Delta Epsilon 1961
Alpha Gamma Delta Beta Kappa 1964-1977/1985-1994
Alpha Epsilon Phi Epsilon Phi 1968-1974/?

Michigan State University
Alpha Gamma Delta Chi 1921-2002
Alpha Phi Beta Beta 1922
Kappa Delta Alpha Alpha 1924
Kappa Alpha Theta Beta Pi 1926
Chi Omega Xi Gamma 1926
Sigma Kappa Alpha Tau 1927
Alpha Chi Omega Beta Epsilon 1928
Kappa Kappa Gamma Delta Gamma 1930
Zeta Tau Alpha Beta Phi 1931
Alpha Xi Delta Beta Theta 1934-2001/Colony Fall 2013
Alpha Omicron Pi Beta Gamma 1934-1969/1989
Delta Zeta Beta Rho 1941-1979
Gamma Phi Beta Beta Delta 1944
Pi Beta Phi Michigan Gamma 1945
Delta Gamma Beta Xi 1946
Delta Delta Delta Phi Gamma 1948-1992
Alpha Epsilon Phi Epsilon Alpha 1952-1973
Phi Mu Delta Nu 1955-2002
Alpha Delta Pi Gamma Omega 1956-1978
Sigma Delta Tau Beta Beta 1964-1972/1984 Did not participate in FR

University of Michigan
Kappa Alpha Theta Eta 1879-1886/1893
Gamma Phi Beta Beta 1882-2005 or 2006?
Delta Gamma Xi 1885
Pi Beta Phi Michigan Beta 1888
Kappa Kappa Gamma Beta Delta 1890
Alpha Phi Theta 1892
Delta Delta Delta Iota 1894-1900/1915
Alpha Chi Omega Theta 1898
Chi Omega Eta 1905
Theta Phi Alpha Alpha (Founding Chapter) 1912-1944
Alpha Xi Delta Alpha Epsilon 1920-2000
Zeta Tau Alpha Alpha Gamma 1920-1951/1956-?/2010
Alpha Epsilon Phi Pi 1921-2005/2008
Alpha Omicron Pi Omicron Pi 1921-196?/1978-1993
Kappa Delta Sigma Zeta 1921-1969
Alpha Gamma Delta Alpha Beta 1922-2000/2000
Delta Zeta Alpha Eta 1922-?
Phi Sigma Sigma Eta 1922-?
Sigma Kappa Alpha Mu 1924-1934/1955-1971/1984
Alpha Delta Pi Beta Eta 1929
Sigma Delta Tau Chi 1944
Delta Phi Epsilon Delta Eta 1954-1971/1985
Phi Mu Delta Xi 1957-1967

University of Minnesota
Kappa Kappa Gamma Chi 1880
Delta Gamma Lambda 1882
Delta Delta Delta Theta 1894-2004
Kappa Alpha Theta Upsilon 1889-1891/1892
Alpha Phi Epsilon 1890
Pi Beta Phi Minnesota Alpha 1890-1897/1905
Gamma Phi Beta Kappa 1903
Alpha Xi Delta Mu 1907-1960/1983-1986
Alpha Gamma Delta Delta 1908
Alpha Omicron Pi Tau 1912
Phi Omega Pi Kappa 1916-?
Kappa Delta Sigma Beta 1918-1972
Alpha Chi Omega Alpha Lambda 1921
Sigma Kappa Alpha Eta 1921-1961
Chi Omega Pi Beta 1921-1989
Delta Zeta Gamma 1923-1965
Zeta Tau Alpha Alpha Tau 1923-1959
Phi Mu Zeta Eta 1925-1935/1946-1970
Beta Phi Alpha Kappa 1926-1939
Alpha Delta Pi Alpha Rho 1928-1987
Delta Phi Epsilon Tau 1929-1932
Sigma Delta Tau Nu 1929-200?
Alpha Delta Theta Tau 1931-1939 National merger with Phi Mu
Alpha Epsilon Phi Alpha Iota 1938-1978/Colony 2009

University of Nebraska
Kappa Kappa Gamma Sigma 1884
Kappa Alpha Theta Rho 1887-1891/1896
Delta Gamma Kappa 1888
Delta Delta Delta Kappa 1894
Pi Beta Phi Nebraska Beta 1895
Alpha Omicron Pi Zeta 1903
Chi Omega Kappa 1903
Alpha Phi Nu 1906
Alpha Chi Omega Xi 1907
Delta Zeta Zeta 1910-1971
Phi Omega Pi Alpha (Founding chapter) 1910-1935 National absorbed by Delta Zeta
Alpha Xi Delta Rho 1912
Gamma Phi Beta Pi 1914
Alpha Delta Pi Alpha Epsilon 1915-1932/1963
Kappa Delta Pi 1920-1943/1947
Phi Mu Zeta Gamma 1921-?/?
Zeta Tau Alpha Beta Eta 1922-1937/1956-1980
Alpha Delta Theta Zeta 1923-1939 National merger with Phi Mu
Sigma Kappa Alpha Kappa 1923-1972
Theta Phi Alpha Mu 1924-1937/2011
Sigma Delta Tau Theta 1925-1970

The Ohio State University
Kappa Kappa Gamma Beta Nu 1888
Kappa Alpha Theta Alpha Gamma 1892
Pi Beta Phi Ohio Beta 1894
Delta Delta Delta Nu 1896
Delta Gamma Epsilon 1911
Delta Zeta Theta 1911
Alpha Phi Rho 1912
Phi Mu Upsilon 1913-1998
Alpha Xi Delta Psi 1916
Theta Phi Alpha Gamma 1919-1944
Sigma Kappa Chi 1919-1940/1991-1998
Chi Omega Zeta Alpha 1919
Phi Omega Pi Mu 1920-?/1933-1940
Alpha Delta Pi Alpha Xi 1921-2002
Alpha Epsilon Phi Rho 1921-1973/1977
Sigma Delta Tau Gamma 1921-2000
Zeta Tau Alpha Alpha Zeta 1921-1989
Alpha Sigma Alpha Lambda Lambda 1922-1934
Kappa Delta Sigma Kappa 1922-1984/1985
Alpha Chi Omega Alpha Omicron 1923
Theta Upsilon Delta 1923-1940/1946-1952
Alpha Delta Theta Eta 1924-1939 National merger with Phi Mu
Beta Phi Alpha Xi 1927-1932
Delta Phi Epsilon Sigma 1928-?/1948-1987/1990-2001
Phi Sigma Sigma Rho 1928-1938/1947-1952/1952-1958/1974-1977
Alpha Gamma Delta Alpha Lambda 1946-1972/1979
Gamma Phi Beta Beta Xi 1951-1967
Alpha Omicron Pi Chi Epsilon 1993

Pennsylvania State University
Chi Omega Nu Gamma 1926
Alpha Omicron Pi Epsilon Alpha 1929-1973/1982
Theta Phi Alpha Rho 1929-1969
Phi Mu Beta Mu 1929-?/?
Delta Gamma Alpha Chi 1930
Kappa Kappa Gamma Delta Alpha 1930
Kappa Alpha Theta Beta Phi 1931
Alpha Chi Omega Beta Mu 1932
Gamma Phi Beta Alpha Upsilon 1932
Alpha Epsilon Phi Alpha Zeta 1937-1978
Zeta Tau Alpha Gamma Epsilon 1939
Kappa Delta Beta Theta 1939
Alpha Xi Delta Beta Lambda 1942
Sigma Delta Tau Phi 1943-1971/1978
Delta Zeta Gamma Delta 1946
Phi Sigma Sigma Beta Eta 1946-1970
Alpha Gamma Delta Alpha Mu 1947-2000
Delta Delta Delta Alpha Phi 1947-2009
Pi Beta Phi Pennsylvania Epsilon 1953
Sigma Sigma Sigma Beta Upsilon 1954-1969/1989
Alpha Delta Pi Delta Kappa 1958-1975/1991
Alpha Phi Gamma Rho 1958
Delta Phi Epsilon Delta Pi 1960-1966
Iota Alpha Pi Beta Alpha 1962-?
Alpha Sigma Alpha Gamma Eta 1962
Sigma Kappa Theta Psi 1992

University of Wisconsin
Kappa Kappa Gamma Eta 1875
Delta Gamma Omega 1881
Gamma Phi Beta Gamma 1885
Kappa Alpha Theta Psi 1890
Pi Beta Phi Wisconsin Alpha 1894-1970/1986
Alpha Phi Iota 1896
Delta Delta Delta Mu 1898
Chi Omega Nu 1902
Alpha Chi Omega Kappa 1903
Alpha Gamma Delta Beta 1905-1987
Alpha Xi Delta Theta 1905-1972/1980-199?
Phi Omega Pi Theta 1915-?
Alpha Omicron Pi Eta 1917-1942
Delta Zeta Tau 1918-1971
Sigma Kappa Psi 1919-1958
Phi Mu Zeta Beta 1919-1941
Alpha Delta Pi Alpha Mu 1920-1934
Kappa Delta Tau 1920-1972/1990-1993
Alpha Epsilon Phi Sigma 1921-1972/1983
Beta Phi Alpha Iota 1925-1933
Theta Phi Alpha Nu 1926-1955
Phi Sigma Sigma Phi 1930-1969
Sigma Delta Tau Alpha Nu 1958-1971/1982

[DeltaBetaBaby]

I don't think I realized just how many single letters are in the Big Ten, especially places like Wisconsin; that's really surprising.

[AZTheta]

DBB, I'm not surprised. It's COLD there for MONTHS and MONTHS (like snow and ice and stuff like that), so our sisters needed to get busy indoors, because they couldn't be outdoors hiking, picnicking, climbing, swimming, sunbathing...

*ducks and runs back out into the Arizona sunshine, wearing shorts and a tank top after going swimming at 7:00 a.m. in an outdoor pool*

[oldu]

For more than a half century chapters & alumni of Big Ten schools were very dominate in the affairs of almost every national F/S. It was the place to be for young fledging nationals on the rise. There are few groups who have not, at one time or another, had chapters at a vast majority of B10 schools, more so than any other conference of schools. Unfortunately, today many have more inactive chapters there than anywhere else. (Except for a bloc of eastern schools with some fraternities.)

[TriDeltaSallie]

I hadn't heard that Alpha Xi Delta was recolonizing at MSU in 2013. I remember reading somewhere they had first rights to come back to MSU so I guess they are exercising it.

I totally get the frown face when it comes to the Big Ten Greek systems as a whole. Yes, there are some really strong Greek systems in the Big Ten. But given the strength of the Big Ten academically and athletically, it's really sad to see the Greek systems not thrive.

The MSU administration was never very friendly and supportive of the Greek system. I'm not surprised it has struggled. IIRC, we didn't even have a full time Greek adviser when I was there in the late 1980's and we had 17 sororities and over a thousand women going through rush (and a zillion fraternities). I remember having conversations with national officers and field reps at the time (we got a LOT of help trying to turn our chapter around) and not fully grasping how bad the campus Greek situation was compared to other big Greek schools. It was all I knew since I did not come from a Greek background and there was nothing like Greek Chat. I thought every Greek system was full of snarky tiers and a campus culture where the administration basically ignored the Greeks.

I sincerely hope it works out well for Alpha Xi Delta. I'm sure some of the other groups that left (DDD, AGD, Phi Mu) will be watching with interest.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by oldu

For more than a half century chapters & alumni of Big Ten schools were very dominant in the affairs of almost every NIC/NPC F/S.

Fixed your post for you.

[oldu]

Thanks. You could probably include the NPHC groups too, as most of them had chapters early at several B10 schols.