Very interesting stuff. A quick look at Google produced a TNE chapter picture from Dickinson (caption below), a link to the Fraternity Collection at Illinois (I know both Stewart Howe and Bill Bingham donated their collections there), and a U. AL article exposing TNE.
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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Archives: Holdings Database
Campus Units > Student Affairs > Student Organizations-Residence Fraternities > Theta Nu Epsilon Records
Theta Nu Epsilon Records, 1910-1923
Record Series Number: 41/71/589
Volume: 0.8 cubic feet
Arrangement: Alpha
Description: Records of Theta Nu Epsilon social fraternity including constitutions (1910, 1913, 1920), correspondence, initiation forms, membership lists, minutes (1912), petitions (1911-12), photographs, reports (1915-17), and Theta Nu Epsilon Quarterly (1912-16, fraternity magazine) concerning Theta Nu Epsilon chapters, conventions, finances, government, and members. These were the records of Clarence J. Hand, the fraternity's historian from 1910-23. Founded at Wesleyan University in 1870, Theta Nu Epsilon was primarily a social fraternity for sophomores that accepted members of other fraternities. It fell into disrepute early and many of it's chapters were banned from campuses, but continued to exist sub rosa. See Baird's Manual (1991) for more details.
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The Pi Pi Chapter of the Theta Nu Epsilon Society was established at Dickinson College in 1887._ Theta Nu Epsilon selected its members from among those in fraternities at the college and the law school, and occasionally accepted non fraternity students as well._ The TNE adage, "Little is known and what is known is kept secret" aptly describes the Society whose chapter at Dickinson may have dissolved in 1905, the last year in which any mention appears in the college yearbook.
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IVA board claims proof of Machine
By Philip A. Sitton
Senior Staff Reporter
March 06, 2002
A bulletin board in the Ferguson Center now holds what Independent Voters Association Chairman John Beasley calls "proof that the Machine exists on our campus" for public display.
Beasley said the IVA-reserved bulletin board display bears paraphernalia claiming to be from the secretive greek organization Theta Nu Epsilon, locally known as the Machine. The Machine is a select coalition of traditionally white fraternities and sororities designed to influence campus politics.
The board, set up Monday night, displays an information sheet entitled "Theta Nu Epsilon, Alive and Well at UA," and a T-shirt bearing the greek letters.
The flier, which says it was published in 1989, makes several bold statements about Theta Nu Epsilon's prominence on campus.
"We are proud of our history at the University," it says. "Theta Nu Epsilon has elected an SGA president 68 times in the 75 years of the SGA's existence. This is because the SGA is ours. Our brethren formed it in 1914."
IVA Executive Director Jeff Jensen said this board helps to prove the Machine is present on the University campus.
"I think that [information] and the large bloc vote you see time after time proves their existence," he said.
Jensen said Theta Nu Epsilon shirts are not incredibly uncommon, and he has seen them before. Many of the shirts feature the organization's seal, a skull with crossed keys.
"There's a lot of shirts with the skull and keys. They're usually older shirts," he said. "You have to look for them."
Student reaction to the board seems mixed. Bradley Horton, a junior majoring in management information systems, did not seem to think much of the information.
"I truly wish the IVA would develop a platform that didn't primarily consist of anti-greek propaganda," he said.
Junior biology major Carson Bedingfield said she already knew the Machine existed.
"I didn't have any doubt that the Machine existed beforehand," Bedingfield said. "From experience, the independent candidates have never really stood a chance, because whoever the Machine supports is going to be elected."
Jensen said a lot of people who are currently in the Student Government Association walk by the display and laugh, but others find it interesting.
"A lot of people have told me they thought it was a good idea," Beasley said. "One person even called it a 'ball-buster.' It sure does open your eyes."
Jensen also pointed out
www.tne.org, which claims to be the official Web site of Theta Nu Epsilon. As of press time, the University is listed on its "chapter" page, and its home page features cryptic language strongly reminiscent of past situations at the University.
"In the 1990's a major Southern university's SGA was banned," it says. "Was this due to the 'devil's own?' When elections were held after the reinstatment (sic) of the SGA ... guess who won?!"
Asked the origin of the paraphernalia, Beasley said only that it came from an alumnus.
Hybrid Mode
