List of student social organizations at the College of Wooster

The College of Wooster, an Ohio school, has 4 active, chartered fraternities, known at Wooster as Sections, and 5 active, chartered sororities, known as Clubs, as of Summer 2006. Wooster also has 6 national fraternities and 4 national sororities, all of which became inactive between 1914 and 1917.

History

The College of Wooster opened in 1866 with no dining facility, so groups of men began to form dining groups to help share the costs and responsibilities of meals. These groups, beginning in 1870, eventually took on Greek letters and integrated themselves into the fraternity system that was sweeping through Ohio's colleges. These men's groups were quickly joined by sororities.

In 1913, the school embarked on a campaign to raise $1.2 million to build three academic and residential buildings, now known as Ebert Art Center, Severance Hall and Kenarden Lodge. The College's president at the time went to Cleveland philanthropist Louis Severance (of Severance Hall fame) to request money. Severance, according to the book Wooster of the Middle West, felt that a Presbyterian school like Wooster was allowing its moral character to be broken down by fraternities. He strongly impressed upon the President that he did not want to see fraternities at the school. He also offered the school hundreds of thousands of dollars for their buildings. At the February 1913 meeting of Wooster's Board of Trustees, the President asked for and received an order preventing Wooster's fraternities and sororoties from pledging new members. Knowing that the ban was imminent, the fraternities and sororities worked through the night for weeks pledging as many new members as they could. The last few national Greek members graduated in 1918.

Many of the national groups continued to function as fraternities and sororities of sorts, only without letters. Upon moving into Kenarden Lodge in 1918, the groups began to call themselves by numbers. Eventually these groups took on new Greek letters as well. As each fraternity lived in a section of Kenarden, the groups began to call themselves Sections. The sororities eventually called themselves Clubs.

This college has also had experience with secret societies such as Theta Nu Epsilon(ΘΝΕ) who established Tau Chapter at Wooster in 1891 from the Alpha Chapter at Wesleyan University. The Alpha Chapter at Wesleyan University was first established by the Skull & Bones, a secret society at Yale University, but later "left" the group in order to establish its' own chapters elsewhere. However, the charter was revoked by the national organization in 1923 because of a "class society purge" and is thought to be inactive on-campus.

By the 1940's, each of Kenarden's 7 sections had a group of their own, and there were at least 9 sections on campus by the 1950's, as well as several clubs. To cope with this expansion, which according to the Wooster Voice included 99% of men on campus from 1953-1957, the college built three new dorms, Armington Hall, which housed sections I-III, Stevenson Hall, which housed sections IV-V, and Bissman Hall, which housed sections VI-VIII.

On March 3, 1983, hazing became a crime in the state of Ohio. In response to the state ban on hazing, the school's longstanding policy of don't ask-don't tell evolved into a crackdown of hazing activities.

In 1991, in response to pressure from the faculty to "decide the Greek issue once and for all", the Board of Trustees issued a statement reaffirming the ban on national groups but offering support for the clubs and sections, officially allowing them to refer to themselves by their Greek letters. The Board also clarified that the ban could be recinded by vote of either the Trustees or, due to a quirk in the college's Campus Council agreement of 1968, the faculty.

In 1993, according to the Wooster Voice, the school told the fraternity Omega Alpha Tau and the sorority Pi Kappa that they could not take pledges due to alleged hazing. In both cases, the decisions were later reversed by the Judicial Board due to lack of evidence. In 1999 the school received national attention when four Kappa Chi members were arrested for hazing pledges by beating them and urinating on them, leading to the ban of the fraternity.

On January 26th, 2006, Dean of Students Kurt Holmes proposed bringing in national fraternaties again to alleveiate many perceived problems with the local model.

Active, Chartered Fraternities

Beta Kappa Phi (ΒΚΦ)

I (First) Section
Founded: 1914
Short Name: Betas
Motto: "First and Finest"
Original Letters/National affiliation: Beginnings traced back to the Alpha Lambda chapter of Beta Theta Pi (ΒΘΠ) on May 18, 1872. This group was the second fraternity to be installed at the College of Wooster (the first national fraternity at Wooster is no longer active in any form on the campus). On February 13, 1913, the College Board of Trustees voted to prohibit initiation of additional members into fratenities and sororities. The local brotherhood, Beta Kappa Phi, was formed in the first section of Kenarden Lodge in 1914, and modeled after the original Alpha Lambda chapter of Beta Theta Pi (BΘΠ).
Membership: General Interest
Colors: Green and White
Mascot: Dragon, same as the one on the Beta Theta Pi Crest
Housing: 2005-6: Bissman Hall VII Section 4th Floor. Formerly Armington and Kenarden First Section.
Hazing Tradition: When hazing was legal, the Beta Kappa Phi pledges were tarred and feathered using molasses on the College's Quad.

Xi Chi Psi (ΞΧΨ)

Never lived in Section in Kenarden, so no official number. Sometimes unofficially referred to as VIII or III, based on the Armington and Bissman sections in which the group has lived.
Founded: February 1991
Short Name: Xi Chis, Thugs is sometimes used in reference to the group's original letters. Also sometimes called the Hot Buttered Elves.
Motto: Rari Inventu Sunt
Original Letters/National affiliation: Used Theta Upsilon Gamma (THUG; ΘΥΓ), for less then a semester before asked by school to change in 1991.
Membership: General Interest
Colors: Black, Royal Blue
Mascot: The unofficial mascot is the WB character 'Taz' which appeared in the group's lounge in Armington Hall and currently appears in the group's lounge in Bissman Hall.
Housing, 2005-6: Bissman Hall VIII Section 2nd/3rd Floor.
Other: The Xi Chis sponsor three to four Red Cross Blood Drives on the College of Wooster campus each year. The group's "pillars" are Trust, Unity, and Generosity.

Phi Sigma Alpha (ΦΣΑ)

VI (Sixth) Section
Founded: 1937
Short Name: Sigs
Fraternity, Sportsmanship, Leadership
Motto: "Fast cars and fast women"--Anthony Natale '97
Original Letters/National affiliation: The Sigs claim that they are the group that can trace its roots back the farthest, to 1870. This can not be independently verified. They bear no affiliation to the Phi Sigma Alpha group at the University of Puerto Rico.
Membership: Mainly football players
Colors: Blue and Gold
Mascot: Sammy the Sig
Housing, 2005-6: Bissman Hall VI Section 3rd Floor
Hazing Tradition: When hazing was legal, the Sigs were famous for holding egg fights - pledges versus actives - on the Kenarden patio.
Philanthropy: 1994 - 1998, On call 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, to move heavy objects and other physical tasks for the Salvation Army in Wooster, Ohio.

Phi Omega Sigma (ΦΩΣ)

IV (Fourth) Section
Founded: October 24, 1913. Room 425 Kenarden Lodge.
Short Name: Omegas / Zards
Motto: Brotherhood, Unity, Respect, Trust, & Exclusivity
Original Letters/National affiliation: rho chapter of Delta Tau Delta (ΔΤΔ) in 1877 until ban in 1913, prior to colonizing by Delta Tau Delta the group was recognized as an underground organization called the 'Ozarks' who can be traced back to 1868, This makes Phi Omega Sigma the section with the oldest verifiable roots. Phi Omega Sigma was also the first section to declare itself a local fraternity following the 1913 ban on national fraternities, and was chartered by the college a year later.
Membership: In the 1980s began to consist of mainly lacrosse players and does to this day.
Colors: Crimson and White
Mascot: Osprey
Housing, 2005-6: Bissman Hall Basement.
This group bears no affiliation with Phi Omega Sigma christian fraternity, at Missouri State University, which began 91 years after Wooster's Phi Omega Sigma
Hazing Tradition: When hazing was legal, the Omega pledges wore hangman's nooses around campus all week.

Men of Harambee

Name change from what was originally VIII Section
Though the group did not start out as a minority-based group, in 1969, with a dwindling membership, the group took ten African-American pledges, and over time became the Men of Harambee. It is unknown if the group still practices the traditions of the VIII section it was created from. There is no evidence that they do. They do hold a formal pledge period just as the other Greek groups do but are not subject to the same college policies.
Housing, 2005-6: On-Campus house.

Active, Unchartered Fraternity

Omega Alpha Tau (ΩΑΤ)

The result of a split among VII Section (Kappa Chi) members
Founded: 1976
Short Name: OATs
Motto: None
Original Letters/National affiliation: Kappa Chi. This was the first Wooster group to openly refer to itself as a fraternity rather than a section.
Membership: Mainly soccer and baseball players
Colors: Gold and Brown
Mascot: Chance Meadows: An indigenous dog of the Wooster area
Housing: No official housing as of 2006. An off-campus house in town is often used by the OATs for activities.
Reasons for unchartered status: Pulled own charter

National Fraternities

Phi Kappa Psi (ΦΚΨ)

Established at Wooster: June 1871
Wooster's first National Fraternity
No longer exists in any form at the College of Wooster (ceased to operate at the College before the new initiate ban)

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ)

Established at Wooster: 1872
Wooster's third national Fraternity
No longer exists in any form at the College of Wooster (ceased to operate at the College before the new initiate ban)

Beta Theta Pi (ΒΘΠ)

Established at Wooster: April 1872
Chapter: Alpha Lambda
Wooster's second national fraternity
Colors during last active year at Wooster: Light pink and Light Blue
Flower during last active year at Wooster: American Beauty
Currently inactive following 1913 order of Board of Trustees

Sigma Chi (ΣΧ)

Established at Wooster: March 1873
Chapter: Beta
Wooster's fourth national fraternity
Colors during last active year at Wooster: Blue and Gold
Flower during last active year at Wooster: White Tea Rose
Currently inactive following 1913 order of Board of Trustees

Delta Tau Delta (ΔΤΔ)

Established at Wooster: 1877
Chapter: Psi
Wooster's fifth national fraternity
Colors during last active year at Wooster: Purple, White and Gold
Flower during last active year at Wooster: Pansy
Currently inactive following 1913 order of Board of Trustees

Phi Gamma Delta (ΦΓΔ)

Established at Wooster: 1882
Chapter: Rho Deutron
Wooster's sixth national fraternity
Colors during last active year at Wooster: Royal purple
Flower during last active year at Wooster: Heliotrope
Currently inactive following 1913 order of Board of Trustees

Alpha Tau Omega (ΑΤΩ)

Established at Wooster: 1888
Chapter: Beta Mu
Wooster's seventh national fraternity
Colors during last active year at Wooster: Blue and Gold
Flower during last active year at Wooster: White Tea Rose
Currently inactive following 1913 order of Board of Trustees

Sigma Phi Epsilon (ΣΦΕ)

Established at Wooster: 1912
Chapter: Ohio Delta
Wooster's eighth national fraternity
Colors during last active year at Wooster: Purple and Red
Flower during last active year at Wooster: American Beauty; Violet
Currently inactive following 1913 order of Board of Trustees

Inactive Local Fraternities

Phi Delta Sigma (ΦΔΣ)

V (Fifth) Section
Founded: "A long, long time ago" - 1991 Delt President in The Wooster Voice 9/13/1991
Short Name: Delts
Motto: Carpe Diem
Original Letters/National affiliation: Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ)
Colors: Red and Grey
Mascot: Viking
Last Active at Wooster: 2005
Over the past 4 years, the Delts lost a pledge class, had most members graduate, and over the last 2 years their remaining members were kicked out of the college, graduated or transferred. The group allowed its charter to expire in May, 2005.
Hazing Tradition: When hazing was legal, the Delts made their pledges wear burlap underwear.

Kappa Chi (ΚΧ)

The result of a split among VII Section (Kappa Kappa Kappa) members, Kappa Chi got to keep the Section number and therefore the history
Founded: The group claims 1875. This has not been found to be independently verifible.
Short Name: Krappers
Motto: Pride of the Hill (referring to the hill on which the baseball team plays its home games.)
Original Letters/National affiliation: Kappa Kappa Kappa (ΚΚΚ)
Colors: Blue and Red
Symbol: Winning
Flower: Beeble Flower
Reasons for unchartered status: Permanently banned following 1999 "no contest" pleas of four members to hazing charges.
Hazing Tradition: When hazing was legal, the Kappa Kappa Kappas would write "KKK" on pledges foreheads in lipstick and parade them in front of The Shack.
Last Active at Wooster: Officially 1999, unoffically 2005
Membership: In the years before expulsion, the Krappers were mainly comprised of Baseball and Basketball athletes

Kappa Phi Sigma (ΚΦΣ)

II (Second) Section
Founded: "When the angel Gabriel descended and anointed the living Bacchus Leader of the House"
Short Name: Crandall House (members lived there for quite a number of years), Crandalls
Motto: "Where Rumor Meets Reality"
Original Letters/National affiliation: None.
Colors: Scarlet and Grey
Symbol: Steal your Face (Grateful Dead Logo)
Flower: Begonia
Mascot: Jim "The Freak" Clark
Housing: No official housing
Reasons for unchartered status: Pulled own charter
Hazing Tradition: When hazing was legal, every pledge was crammed into a Kenarden phone booth and told to exchange underwear.
Last Active at Wooster: 2005

Original Third Section

III (Third) Section
Founded between 1913-1930
Pre-minstral students.
Short Name: Rabbis
Last Active at Wooster: likely in the 1970's, under research
Hazing Tradition: When hazing was legal, the Rabbi's "baptized" their pledges by cutting their bangs in a straight line across their forehead.

Ninth Section

IX (Ninth) Section
Founded between 1913 and 1948
Short name: The Ninth
Hazing Tradition: When hazing was legal, ninth section pledges held a shoe shining service in the student union (now the Rubbermaid center).

Active, Chartered Sororities

When local sororities were founded, the groups did not go by Greek letter names. Instead, the groups took on names that were mythical, spiritual, or otherwise fit the era. Greek letters were added around the 1940s or 1950s. The Peanuts, Echoes, and Imps became Pi Kappa, Epsilon Kappa Omikron, and Zeta Phi Gamma, and are the only three groups which predate the Greek letters which still exist.

Pi Kappa (ΠΚ)

Founded: 1918
Short Name: Peanuts
Motto: We've come a long way
Original Letters/National affiliation: Kappa Kappa Gamma (ΚΚΓ) National Sorority (about 1870-1918)
Colors: Purple and Gold
Mascot: Mr. Peanut
Flower: Yellow Rose
Housing, 2005-6: Bissman Hall VII Section 3rd Floor
Hazing Tradition: When hazing was legal, the Pi Kappa pledges had to take their worst jeans and write "Peanut" on the butt in Yellow. The Section men would then be instructed that the way to say hi to these girls, who were not allowed to talk with boys during pledging, was to "Slap their peanut"

Epsilon Kappa Omicron (ΕΚΟ)

Founded: 1943
Short Name: EKOs
Motto: Excellence, Kindness, Oneness
Original Letters/National affiliation: Kappa Kappa Gamma (ΚΚΓ) National Sorority (about 1870-1918), EKO broke off from Pi Kappa in 1943. Called Echoes before taking Greek letters.
Colors: Green and Gold
Flower: Narcissus
Housing, 2005-6: Bissman Hall VII Section 2nd Floor

Zeta Phi Gamma (ΖΦΓ)

Founded: At least before 1937; Reinstatement: December 5th 1988
Short Name: Zetas; Original Group was the Imps
Motto: "Seek The High Call of Friendship"
Original Letters/National affiliation: Unknown
Colors: Red, Black, and White
Mascot: Imp
Flower: Red Rose
Housing, 2005-6: Bissman Hall VIII Section 4th Floor
Hazing Tradition: The Zeta Pledge Class President had to carry a pitchfork with her at all times while she is on campus.
Philanthropy: Each year the Zetas raise money and participate in Race for the Cure

Alpha Gamma Phi (ΑΓΦ)

Founded: February 28, 1983
Short Name: Alpha Gamms
Motto: "Always Good Friends, Always Good Times"
Original Letters/National affiliation: None
Colors: Blue and Gray
Symbols: Diamond Ring, Champagne Flute
Flower: White Gardenia
Housing, 2005-06: None

Delta Theta Psi (ΔΘΨ)

Founded: March 1992
Short Name: Thetas
Motto: Strength,Unity, and Grace. Also Change Through Knowledge.
Original Letters/National affiliation: None
Colors: Emerald Green and Amethyst
Mascot: Dolphin
Flowers: Iris; bluebells
Housing, 2005-6: Bissman Hall VI Section
Philanthropy: Members volunteer 4 hours monthly at the Humane Society or Learn 'N Play Day Care Center. They also participate in Relay for Life.

Inactive Local Sororities

Delta Delta Gamma (ΔΔΓ) (?)

Founded: About 1914
Died out: Sometime between 1965 and 1991, likely earlier.
Short Name: Pyramids
Original Letters/National affiliation: There is evidence that this sorority emerged from the remnants of a national sorority, but no proof.

Sphinx (ΛΑΣ)

Founded: About 1914
Lambda Alpha Sigma (ΛΑΣ)
Died out: Sometime between 1965 and 1991, likely earlier.

Keys (ΚΕΖ)

Founded: Between 1913 and 1945
Kappa Epsilon Zeta (ΚΕΖ)
Died out: Sometime between 1976-1980.

Chi Omega Psi (ΧΩΨ)

Founded: 1976
Short Name: Chi Ohs
Motto: Honesty, Friendship and Understanding
Original Letters/National affiliation: None
Colors: Red and White
Flower: Red Carnation
Last mentioned in September 11, 1992 issue of The Wooster Voice.

Delta Phi Alpha (ΔΦΑ)

Founded: 1989
Short Name: D Phi A's
Motto: ???
Original Letters/National affiliation: Unknown. The college had a national history honorarium by the same name chartered in 1939, although this appears to be coincidence. They also appear to be unrelated to the DPAs at Miami International University (Fla.)
Colors: Pink, Purple and Grey
Mascot: Unicorn
Flower: African Violet
Graduated last three members in 2006.

Kappa Phi Sigma (ΚΦΣ)

II (Second) Section
Founded: "When the angel Gabriel descended and anointed the living Bacchus Leader of the House"
Short Name: Crandall House (members lived there for quite a number of years), Crandalls
Motto: "Where Rumor Meets Reality"
Original Letters/National affiliation: None.
Colors: Scarlet and Grey
Symbol: Steal your Face (Grateful Dead Logo)
Flower: Begonia
Mascot: Jim "The Freak" Clark
Housing: No official housing
Reasons for unchartered status: Pulled own charter
Hazing Tradition: When hazing was legal, every pledge was crammed into a Kenarden phone booth and told to exchange underwear.
Last Active at Wooster: 2005

Other early clubs

The following groups were likely founded between 1913 and 1945. Many likely died out quickly following the end of World War II and the return of a significant portion of the male population to campus.

The Dominoes
The Arrows
The Spuds
The Trumps
The Darts

National Sororities

Many national sororities such as Kappa Kappa Gamma used to exist at the college, including at least 4 who are officially still recognized as inactive by their national organizations.

References

1991-2005, Feb 9 1973 issues of The Wooster Voice [1] available on microfiche at the College of Wooster Library
Wooster of the Middle West by Lucy Lilian Notestein, particularly vol. 2 (book)
"A Troubled Past: Greek Letter Organizations and The College of Wooster" - the 1997 Senior History Independent Study by James Morse on the Greeks at the College of Wooster
1912-1917, 1948 issues of the Wooster Index (school yearbook).
The Men of Beta Kappa Phi
The Men of Xi Chi Psi
The Women of Epsilon Kappa Omicron
The Women of Delta Theta Psi
An Alumnus of Kappa Phi Sigma
Minutes of Campus Council, 1/26/05 - The College of Wooster

External links