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Dartmouth College fraternities and sororities

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Dartmouth College is host to many Greek organizations, including:

Several of these are discussed below.

Fraternities

Alpha Chi Alpha

File:Axasketch.gif

Alpha Chi Alpha (AXA, Alpha Chi) is a college-owned (meaning that the brothers own neither the land nor the house) fraternity located at 13 Webster Avenue. This also means that Dartmouth College is paying for $1.3 Million in renovations (to be completed by Fall 2004), which includes the razing of the “Barn” structure that was used as social space by the brothers of Alpha Chi to make way for a new expanded basement and main floor area which will act as new social space for the fraternity.

AXA construction, view from rear of house.

Alpha Chi was originally affiliated with Alpha Chi Rho, a national fraternal organization, but the chapter broke away from the national group and became local to only Dartmouth in 1963 due to the fact that the national chapter had a "whites only" clause in its constitution at the time, with which the brothers at the Dartmouth chapter strongly disagreed. Alpha Chi Alpha has been in continual operation ever since.

The house is nicknamed the “Magic Green Cottage” and the “Cheese Lodge” by its members and has the unique location on fraternity row directly across from the President’s House. The green-shingled structure includes a sand volleyball court adjacent to the house.

Renovation on the Alpha Chi Alpha physical plant was completed in Fall 2004; the newest reincarnation of Alpha Chi Alpha is able to house 24 brothers and host hundreds of guests for both a 'Beach Party' that the brothers put on each Winter and a 'Pigstick BBQ' each Spring.

Bones Gate

Bones Gate (BG) was founded in 1901 as the Gamma Gamma Chapter of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. The fraternity remained a chapter of the Delta Tau Delta national until 1960 when the house seceded due to a disagreement over the acceptance of minority brothers (the national sought to bar the membership of minorities). The fraternity went unnamed until 1962 when the name was changed to Bones Gate after a tavern and boarding house in Chessington, England where a number of brothers spent most of their foreign study program. The house prides itself on its 100 year tradition of existence.

Bones Gate, or as it is better known, BG, is a fraternity of variety. The brothers have many disparities, but are united by their love for their fraternity. No BG is easily classified, nor does the fraternity want to be thought of as a place for only one kind of person. Bones Gates maintain their commitment to be leaders on campus by setting an example for all to follow. The house prides itself on its thirst for never ending fun. This Gate hangs high and hinders none. Refresh, enjoy, and travel on.

As of summer 2005 Bones Gate is undergoing significant structural renovations. Proposed changes include: an enclosed fire escape running from the basement to the third floor, a new bathroom on the ground floor (and the rehabilitation of all three existing bathrooms), and alterations to bedrooms (encompassing both alterations to existing rooms and creation of new rooms).

Chi Gamma Epsilon

Chi Gamma Epsilon (Chi Gam) was founded in 1987, after breaking away from the national fraternal organization Kappa Sigma. Chi Gam, as it is more widely known, split from Kappa Sigma due to a difference over the amount of loans the national organization could offer the fraternity.

For a period Chi Gamma Epsilon was known as Kappa Sigma Gamma, but the national fraternity took offense to the likeness of the names. After a period simply being known by its address, 7 Webster Avenue, the fraternity came upon the name it is now known by. The Gamma Epsilon is included as the fraternity was officially the Gamma Epsilon chapter of Kappa Sigma. The Chi is original.

The first president of Chi Gamma Epsilon was David Weiser.

Chi Heorot

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Chi Heorot (Heorot) is a fraternity at Dartmouth College. It sits near the center of Dartmouth's campus, just opposite the school gym, on East Wheelock Street. It has a brotherhood of approximately 66 Dartmouth students, with a roughly equal distribution of Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors. Like many of Dartmouth's other fraternitities, Chi Heorot, or Heorot as it is most often called, draws a good deal of its brotherhood from athletic teams. Most well represented at Heorot is the men's Hockey Team, while the men's Cross-Country, Rowing, and Ski teams also make up a good deal of the brotherhood.

Chi Heorot has gone by several names over the years. It was founded in 1897 as Alpha Alpha Omega, and in 1902 it became a chapter of Chi Phi, the oldest national fraternity in America. It was in 1903 that the fraternity moved to its present location, and in 1927 it sold off its eighteenth-century house and built the house that stands today. By the mid-1900s, the Dartmouth chapter of Chi Phi was having some issues with its national charter. In 1968, the house finally disbanded from the National because they wished to integrate their house, and official Chi Phi policy was against admitting black members. It was then that the house became Chi Phi Heorot, but after several suspensions in the early eighties, it re-joined the national in 1982. This was short-lived; in 1985, because of damage done to the house that the national refused to pay for, Heorot again disbanded from the national and became school-owned, as it remains today. Its official name is now Chi Heorot, derived from the medieval poem Beowulf, where Heorot is the great hall where warriors converge to tell their stories.

Kappa Kappa Kappa

Kappa Kappa Kappa (Tri-Kap) is a fraternal society founded in 1842. It is one of the oldest local Greek houses in the nation and the second permanent Greek-letter fraternal society established at Dartmouth. The fraternity is local to the college and is not a chapter of any national organization. Tri-Kap was originally founded as a reading society by three men, Philbrick, Hobart, and Nash. The pillars of the society include battling against the shams of aristocracy, promoting the interests of Democracy, and promoting the general interests of the college. Daniel Webster was made an honorary member of the society.

Currently, Kappa Kappa Kappa is best known on Dartmouth's campus as having a tight-knit and diverse brotherhood. The brothers come from a variety of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. The symbols of the society are the pillar and shield. The organization has no affiliation with the later Ku Klux Klan, which unfortunately adopted Roman-alphabet initials, “KKK,” similar to the Greek letters of Tri-Kap. According to legend, Kappa Kappa Kappa sued the Ku Klux Klan for defamation of name but lost because the judge ruled the similarity in initials of the organizations as sheer coincidence. In the mid 1990s, Tri-Kap changed its name to Kappa Chi Kappa ("Bi-Kap"), but under extreme protest from the alumni went back to the traditional name.

Phi Delta Alpha

Phi Delta Alpha (Phi Delt) was founded in 1884 as part of the national Phi Delta Theta organization. In 1960, the Dartmouth College chapter broke away from national because it would not allow minorities into the organization. The fraternity replaced its last letter with Alpha and from then on was known as Phi Delta Alpha.

The physical plant is located on 5 Webster Avenue in Hanover, New Hampshire. The construction was completed by Alexander Anderson McKenzie in 1902. It consists of three stories and a basement. Currently there are seven bedrooms that sleep a total of 22 people. The other areas of the house include the kitchen, Great Hall, composite room, library (known as the Phibrary), pool room. The infamous basement includes the main area, bar room and meetings room. The main area is known for pong playing (AKA Lob pong).

In March of 2000, the fraternity was derecognized for various reasons. Certainly one of the primary reasons for the punishment was that several members of the Phi Delta Alpha tried to burn down the Chi Gamma Epsilon physical plan next door. Needless to say the administration did not take too well to this attempt. In the Fall of 2002, Phi Delta Alpha applied for rerecognition. The first rush class was in following term, the Winter of 2003. After the Spring rush, the class of 2005 was rounded out at 25. The class of 2006 brought another 24 students ready to continue on the (good) traditions of Phi Delta Alpha.

A group of students at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia did begin a separate entity called Phi Delta Alpha not associated with the fraternity that began in 1884. They resided in the 1441-D area of the Hunters Ridge complex between 2001-2004. Most of their founding members have already graduated but some can still be found at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.

Psi Upsilon

The Zeta Chapter of Psi Upsilon (Psi U) was founded in 1842 as the first fraternity in Dartmouth College. Psi U has a house, built in 1907, next to the school's main dining hall. Scott Fitzgerald unfortunately spent time in the basement there during Carnival of 1938. Whereas Psi Upsilon chapters have faltered in various other Northeast liberal arts schools, the Zeta Chapter has thrived, partly because of its central location and partly because of its reputation as the "keg jumping fraternity". It also holds the reputation for having the school's toughest pledge term, over a grueling eight weeks in the dead of winter. The house has a reputation for attracting brothers from a variety of different sports teams, including swimming, lacrosse, sailing, squash, tennis, golf, and basketball.

Some of Psi U's best-regarded events include Mudbowl, Porchcrawlers, and the legendary Bahamas Party. Psi U remains one of the few houses that provides live music.

The most famous alumnus of Psi Upsilon Zeta Chapter is Vice President Nelson Rockefeller.

House image here and brothers messing around here and here

Sigma Alpha Epsilon

The New Hampshire Alpha Chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) was founded in 1903 as Chi Tau Kappa. In 1908 it associated itself with the Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Today, SAE, the inspiration for Omega in Animal House, is well-heeled, to say the least. They use their superfluous resources to throw champagne parties and sport egregiously preppy clothing. SAE’s winter beach party attracts hordes of scantily-clad youths to party on the tons of sand the fraternity imports for the event.

Sigma Nu

The Delta Beta Chapter of Sigma Nu (Sig Nu) was formed in 1907. It began in 1903 as the Pukwana Club, as a result of dissatisfaction regarding the perceived elitism of Greek organizations at the time. The eight founders of the Pukwana Club were Harry Chase '04, Reggie Frost '05, "Babe" Haskell '05, Dick Messer '05, John Dunlap '05, Don Gates '05, Charley Goodrich '05 and Leon Smith '05. The club’s concept was based on the love for the traditions of Dartmouth, faithful friendship, and honorable dealings.

In 1907 the Pukwana Club joined the national fraternity system after it received permission to become the Delta Beta chapter of Sigma Nu. The Sigma Nu’s “Way of Honor” principle was reflected in the Pukwana Club’s original charter so it seemed like the natural choice.

In 1911 the first house was purchased and refurbished to serve as the house of the fraternity. Known as the Green Castle it served as headquarters until the current house was built in 1925 at 12 Webster Ave.

In response to the National Fraternity’s membership policies the fraternity went local in 1961 becoming Sigma Nu Delta. In 1984 after the policies were changed, the fraternity reaffiliated with the national.

Sigma Nu's popular "Early 80s" party is continually one of the best attended events on campus during the big weekends. Still going strong, the brothers continue the spirit of “Love, Truth, and Honor” to this day.

Zeta Psi

The Psi Epsilon Chapter of Zeta Psi (Zete) was chartered in 1920, though chapters had existed at Dartmouth from 1853 to 1863 and from 1871 to 1873. In 2001 it was permanently derecognized by the College after finding that "the fraternity harassed specific fellow students and violated ethical standards that Dartmouth student organizations agree to uphold, by periodically creating and circulating among Zeta Psi members 'newsletters' that purported to describe exploits, many of them of a sexual nature, of various members of the fraternity and other students." [1] Zeta Psi, meanwhile, countered that "nothing could be further from the truth... Dartmouth College lacks jurisdiction to punish Psi Epsilon of Zeta Psi's for alleged violations of its own rules or regulations." [2] (Zete was, however, a College-recognized organization subject to the rules of the College. Now it does not have jurisdiction to punish Zeta Psi.)

For more information on the derecognition of Zeta Psi at Dartmouth and the fall thereout, see this collection of articles published in The Dartmouth.

Today, Zeta Psi continues to operate as Dartmouth College's only independent fraternity.

Sororities

Alpha Xi Delta

The Theta Psi chapter of Alpha Xi Delta (AZD) was founded as Delta Pi Omega in 1997. On January 6, 1997 it was officially recognized by the College as the seventh sorority, and on July 2, 1997 the sisters voted to affiliate with the Alpha Xi Delta national. On February 21, 1998 they were accepted by the national as a full chapter.

Epsilon Kappa Theta

Epsilon Kappa Theta (EKT, Theta) is a local sorority at Dartmouth College. It was founded in 1992, when the Epsilon Kappa colony of the Kappa Alpha Theta national sorority ((which had been founded in 1984 as part of the school's Committee to Organize a New Sorority) disaffiliated. The founding class of Epsilon Kappa Theta found the strict national rules and the primarily Christian readings and rituals of the organization to be antithetical to the spirit of feminism and inclusivity that the chapter maintained. The national organization was unhappy with the colony's decision to disobey these rules and failure to observe these rituals.

On May 4, 1992, Epsilon Kappa Theta notified Kappa Alpha Theta of its unanimous vote to disaffiliate and become a local sorority. The national organization revoked the charter of Epsilon Kappa.

Since then, Epsilon Kappa Theta has resided in a 108 year old Victorian house at 15 Webster Avenue. Its membership is over 100. The organization maintains communication with both its Epsilon Kappa Theta and Kappa Alpha Theta alumnae.

Kappa Delta Epsilon

Kappa Delta Epsilon (KDE) is a local sorority founded in 1993 by the Dartmouth Panhellenic Council and is the second-youngest sorority at Dartmouth. After the dissolution of the Xi Kappa Chi sorority in 1993, the Panhellenic Council decided that there was a need for a new sorority to replace it. Despite being a young sorority, KDE has a large membership and a number of traditions, several of which are detailed on their website (see External links).

The physical plant of KDE is located at 9 webster avenue, which was recently re-done by the college during the summer of 2003. The newly remodled building contains a main meetings room, kitchen, two bedrooms and a back porch on the first floor. The second and third floors contain all bedrooms which house about 13 more people. The basement consists of the main area, the "pub room" and the sisters pong room.

Kappa Kappa Gamma

The Epsilon Chi chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma (KKG, Kappa) is a sorority located on 24 East Wheelock Street in Hanover, New Hampshire. This chapter is affiliated with Dartmouth College’s Coed, Fraternity, and Sorority Administration (CFS). Kappa Kappa Gamma is a national women's fraternity with 131 chapters across the United States and Canada.

The Epsilon Chi chapter at Dartmouth presently consists of over 100 female undergraduates. In order to become a sister, women must wait until the fall or winter of their sophomore year to join. They undergo a traditional rush period in order to meet the sisters and learn about what KKG has to offer. Next, the women who are offered a bid and accept this bid spend one term as a pledge. During this time, the pledges interact with the sisters and participate in bonding activities. Each pledge is given a “big sister” who helps to guide them through the pledging process. At the end of the pledge term, each woman is initiated into the sorority. This is the same rush process that is used for placement in all other five sororities as well.

The sisters of KKG sponsor events for the campus, go on sister retreats, hold barbeques, and have formal and semi-formal dances. They have weekly meetings on Wednesdays in order to communicate news and issues about the house, to catch up on the week’s events, and to spend time with their fellow KKG sisters. Philanthropy is also an important part of the Epsilon Chi chapter’s activities. The sisters cook dinners on a regular basis for David’s House, an institution that supports and houses families of sick children at a local hospital. They also cook dinners and raise money for a teen pregnancy center, Hannah House.

Coeducational fraternities

Alpha Theta

Alpha Theta, a coeducational fraternity, was founded at Dartmouth College in 1952. Alpha Theta is noteworthy for being both one of the first collegiate fraternities in the United States to break from its national organization as a result of civil rights issues, and one of the first all-male fraternities to admit female members.

Early history

Alpha Theta was founded on 3 March 1920 by a group of seven Dartmouth students, and in 1921 became the Alpha Theta chapter of Theta Chi, a national college fraternity. The Theta Chi national constitution contained a clause limiting membership in fraternity to "Caucasians" only.

John Sloan Dickey, later President of the College, joined the fraternity in 1928 and was elected house president only two weeks later, while still a pledge.

Break from the national

In 1951, while Dickey served as President of the College, the student body passed a resolution calling on all fraternities to eliminate racial discrimination from their constitutions. On 24 April 1952, the members of Alpha Theta voted unanimously to stop recognizing the racial clause in Theta Chi's constitution. Upon learning that the Dartmouth delegation to Theta Chi's national convention later that year planned to raise questions about the clause, the Alpha Theta chapter was derecognized by the national organization on 25 July 1952.

In September 1952, the house was reincorporated as a local fraternity and adopted the name Alpha Theta.

Going coeducational

In 1972, Dartmouth admitted the first class of female students and officially became coeducational. Alpha Theta also voted to become coeducational, becoming one of the first formerly-all-male fraternities in the United States to admit female sisters as well as male brothers into the membership.

Phi Tau

Phi Tau is one of the three coeducational fraternities at Dartmouth College. It was founded as the Tau chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa in 1905 but became independent in 1956 due to the national's anti-semitic and racist policies. Phi Tau prides itself on its progressiveness; when the house constitution was rewritten in 1956 gender was deliberately excluded, making the house officially coed before Dartmouth. Phi Tau is the only coed at Dartmouth that has always had female members since first admitting them, and was the first fraternity to add gay rights to its non-descrimination clause. Rush is done on a rolling basis- students who are eligible can ask for a bid at any time and sink when they wish.

The house mottos are "Unitas in Diversitate" (Unity in Diversity) and "Malasinationes & Bellatore" (Hardcore and Battle-ready). Brothers at Phi Tau (all members are brothers) are known for their quarterly "Milque and Cookies" party, featuring 3000+ homemade cookies and their new building, which was built in 2002.

Individual houses

Fraternities

Sororities

Co-ed


National organizations

General information

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