The Greeks of Troy More Than 160 Years of Fraternity & Sorority History at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

The Greeks of Troy More Than 160 Years of Fraternity & Sorority History at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

The Greeks of Troy America s first sororities began at Troy Institute for women, which later became the Emma Willard School. Officially, the first sororities in the U.S. began at Syracuse University.

The Greeks of Troy The Rensselaer School is founded through the patronage of Stephen Van Rensselaer. Amos Eaton becomes Senior Professor (equivalent of Provost). Becomes The Rensselaer Institute in 1835.

The Greeks of Troy Delta Phi Fraternity (1827), along with Kappa Alpha Society (1825) and Sigma Phi Society (1827), all founded at Union College in Schenectady, NY, comprise the hallowed Union Triad - the first three social college fraternities. From these three fraternities at Union College (regarded as the "Mother of Fraternities") can be traced the extensive Greek system seen on college campuses today.

The Greeks of Troy First 90 years Year Chapter 1821 Sororities at Troy Institute (Emma Willard) 1824 The Rennselaer School Founded 1827 The Union Triad at Union College 1835 New Name: The Rensselaer Institute 1853 First Fraternity at RPI Theta Delta Chi 1859 Sigma Delta forms 1861 New Name: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1864 Theta Xi first founding (from Sigma Delta) 1864 Delta Phi 1865 Zeta Psi 1866 Rensselaer Society of Engineers founding 1868 Delta Kappa Epsilon (1966-2015 missing) 1878 Chi Phi 1879 Delta Tau Delta 1890 Union Hispano Americana (became FIA in 1931) Year Chapter 1908 Theta Chi 1912 First Fraternity Houses, RPI had no dorms 1922 Phi Kappa Tau 1923 Phi Kappa Theta 1929 Phi Mu Delta 1931 Phi Iota Alpha founded with 3 Latino Fraternities in Troy 1931 Pi Kappa Phi 1935 Pi Kappa Alpha 1938 Lambda Chi Alpha 1938 Sigma Phi Epsilon

The Greeks of Troy Next 65 years Year Chapter 1940 Alpha Sigma Phi 1945 RPI helps build 4 fraternity houses 1948 Alpha Chi Rho 1949 Acacia 1949 Tau Kappa Epsilon (missing 2006-2016) 1950 Phi Sigma Kappa 1950 Sigma Chi 1951 Alpha Epsilon Pi (Founded at RPI) 1951 Sigma Alpha Epsilon 1954 Tau Epsilon Phi 1954 Pi Lambda Phi 1962 Independent Council formed to balance IFC 1962 Zeta Beta Tau (missing since 2008) 1976 Phi Sigma Sigma, first sorority (missing now) 1979 Alpha Gamma Delta Year Chapter 1982 Psi Upsilon formed from TEF breakaway 1983 Alpha Phi Alpha 1984 Pi Beta Phi 1984 Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) 1991 Relationship Statement is created 1993 Byron Pipes (Sigma Nu) named president 1995 Alpha Phi 1995 RPI helps LCA with build of new house 1996 Sigma Delta 1998 J. Barton (Delta Phi) Acting Pres. of RPI 1998 Tau Epsilon Phi reformed 1998 Lambda Upsilon Lambda 2000 Greek L.I.F.E Forum to revise the Rel. Stat. 2003 Pi Delta Psi 2005 Kappa Alpha Psi & Alpha Omega Epsilon

The Greeks of Troy WWII Expansion Rensselaer builds four Auxiliary Dormitories for fraternities that raise 40% of the cost: Delta Kappa Epsilon (now Admissions), Delta Phi (now Pi Beta Phi), Delta Tau Delta, and Alpha Tau Omega (now owned by Acacia).

The Greeks of Troy Into 21 st Century Year Chapter 2005 New Revision of Relationship Statement Signed and Docketed in December 2006 Greek Life New Directions announcement by RPI and resultant upheaval 2008 New Revision of Relationship Statement was nearly all signed, but dropped in Dec. 2008 Dean of Greek Life Jessica Wickiewicz laid off as part of large RPI layoffs in Dec. 2009 Cluster Learning, Advocacy, and Support of Students Initiated Creation of Greek Life Commons as part of move to Resident Life Sophomore housing requirement announced 2010 Creation of Greek Life Commons Agreement to allow sophomores to get a waiver to live in signatory Greek chapter houses 2010 New Associate Dean of Greek Life, Matt Hunt comes after no Dean for 2 yrs 2014 Dean Matt Hunt leaves for SMU during the summer, no plan for replacement 2015 Greek Dean named and is fired 3 months after being hired 2016 Meredith Bielaska on board as Assoc. Dean of Greek Life after none for 2 yrs 2017 Review and Revise GLCA and Relationship Statement

Some of the Greek Buildings of RPI 1. Barton Hall Cornelius James Barton (Delta Phi) 2. Caldwell Dormitory (Quad) John Christie Caldwell (Delta Phi) 3. All six Church Dorms in the Quad (Church I Church VI) Townsend Vail Church (Delta Phi) 4. Darrin Communications Center - David Darrin (Theta Xi) 5. Darrin Freshwater Institute - David Darrin (Theta Xi) 6. 28 Greek Life Commons Chapter Houses owned and maintained by House Corporations (950 available beds) 7. Hearne Dormitory (E-Dorms) Frank James Hearne (Delta Phi) 8. Heffner Alumni House Samuel Heffner (Delta Kappa Epsilon) 9. Houston Field House Livingston Waddell Houston (Delta Phi) 10. Jonsson Engineering Center J. Erik Jonsson (Alpha Tau Omega) 11. Jonsson-Rowland Science Center J. Erik Jonsson (Alpha Tau Omega) 12. George M. Low Center for Industrial Innovation George Low (Delta Phi) 13. Nason Hall Henry Bradford Nason (Delta Phi) 14. Ricketts Building Palmer Ricketts (Theta Xi) {who, while President, also rebuilt RPI after the big fire} 15. Tillinghast Gate (the gate between the 87 Gym and the Ricketts Building) Theodore Voorhess Tillinghast and Charles Whitney Tillinghast (Delta Phi) 16. Waite Dormitory (part of E-Dorms) Christopher Champlain Waite (Theta Xi) 17. Walker Laboratory William Weightman Walker (Delta Phi) 18. Mason Hall (no longer standing) William Pitt Mason (Delta Phi) 19. Proudfit Laboratory (no longer standing) Williams Proudfit (Delta Phi)

More Alike Than Different: The Changing Shape of Successful Fraternity and Sorority Life RPI Presidents who are Greek Palmer C. Ricketts George M. Low R. Byron Pipes Cornelius J. Barton Shirley Ann Jackson (Theta Xi) (Delta Phi) (Sigma Nu) (Delta Phi) (Delta Sigma Theta) Outgoing of Board of Trustee President: Arthur J. Gajarsa 62 (Zeta Psi)