- Chi Psi
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Chi Psi Fraternity ΧΨ
Founded May 20, 1841
Union CollegeType Social Fraternity Scope National Colors Royal Purple and Gold Chapters 29 Headquarters Nashville, Tennessee, USA Homepage http://www.chipsi.org Chi Psi Fraternity is a fraternity and secret society consisting of 29 active chapters (known as "Alphas") at American colleges and universities. It was founded on Thursday May 20, 1841, by 10 students at Union College with the idea of emphasizing the fraternal and social principles of a brotherhood. It was the first Greek-letter organization to be founded on these grounds rather than the literary characteristics of the seven existing societies. In addition, Chi Psi was the first fraternity in the nation to establish a fraternity house, at the University of Michigan in 1845, originally called a "lodge" because of its resemblance to a hunting lodge, the name stuck and now all Chi Psi houses are referred to as Lodges.[1] Chi Psi Fraternity is the 8th fraternity to be founded in the USA. Founded in 1845, Alpha Phi at Hamilton College is the longest active Alpha in the United States.
Chi Psi's official colors are Royal Purple and Gold. Chi Psi's national headquarters, the Central Office, is in Nashville, Tennessee.
Contents
History
Chi Psi was founded on Thursday May 20, 1841, by 10 students at Union College with the idea of emphasizing the fraternal and social principles of a brotherhood. The 10 students' qualification for membership were simply embodied in one word: "gentleman". The 10 founding members were: Philip Spencer (later hanged on charges of mutiny aboard the brig USS Somers), Robert Heyward McFaddin, Jacob Henry Farrell, John Brush Jr., Samuel Titus Taber, James Lafayette Witherspoon (cousin of McFaddin), William Force Terhune, Alexander Peter Berthoud, James Chatham Duane, and Patrick Upshaw Major. Spencer designed the Chi Psi badge, while Terhune was considered the 'poet' writing the rites of initiation. [2]
Values and the Chi Psi Gentleman
Chi Psi is founded upon the fraternal aspects of brotherhood and embraces a number of values in its pursuit to establish this brotherhood. These values were first adopted at its founding in 1841, and later, a restatement of principles was given at the 122nd National Convention in 1963. Some of these values are as follows: Chi Psi is defined by the values which are collectively accepted by its members. The extent to which these values are practiced is the measure of our fraternity; Chi Psi is committed to the growth of the individual in a social environment which nurtures integrity, dignity and maturity while enjoying shared experiences and college sociability; and Chi Psi recognizing that academic achievement is fundamental to the development of the individual, stands for intellectual growth and the attainment of human potential. [3]
Chi Psi also embraces the idea of being a true gentleman, by following the definition of a gentleman as put forward by John Walter Wayland's 'The True Gentleman':
“ The True Gentleman is the man whose conduct proceeds from good will and an acute sense of propriety and whose self-control is equal to all emergencies; who does not make the poor man conscious of his poverty, the obscure man of his obscurity, or any man of his inferiority or deformity; who is himself humbled if necessity compels him to humble another; who does not flatter wealth, cringe before power, or boast of his own possessions or achievements; who speaks with frankness but always with sincerity and sympathy; whose deed follows his word; who thinks of the rights and feelings of others rather than his own; and who appears well in any company; a man with whom honor is sacred and virtue safe. ” Program for Excellence
In pursuit of the values the fraternity put forth and in order to make up for a lack of leadership opportunities available on college campuses, the Chi Psi Educational Trust has funded the Program for Excellence. Consisting of numerous sessions and workshops the Program for Excellence focuses on instilling the members of Chi Psi with a respect for themselves, the people they are around, and their community. [5] [6]
Purple & Gold
The Chi Psi newsletter, 'The Purple & Gold' was first published in November of 1883, and is currently received by all current brothers on a lifetime subscription. [7]
Chapters
Chi Psi has 29 chapters, which are known as Alphas, at American colleges and universities.
Active Alphas
Institution Date founded Alpha Active since Union College 1841 Pi 2008 Hamilton College 1845 Phi 1845 University of Michigan 1845 Epsilon 1845 University of North Carolina 1855 Sigma 1928 University of South Carolina 1858 Beta 1957 Amherst College 1864 Chi 1985 Cornell University 1869 Psi 1885 University of Minnesota 1874 Nu 1874 University of Wisconsin 1878 Iota 1878 Rutgers University 1879 Rho 2005 Stevens Institute of Technology 1883 Xi 1883 Lehigh University 1894 Beta Delta 1894 University of California-Berkeley 1895 Delta Delta 1895 Northwestern University 1892 Epsilon Delta 1947 University of Illinois 1912 Zeta Delta 1912 University of Colorado at Boulder 1920 Psi Delta 2011 University of Oregon 1921 Eta Delta 1921 University of Washington 1921 Theta Delta 1921 Georgia Tech 1923 Iota Delta 1923 University of the South 1964 Tau Delta 1964 Clemson University 1972 Chi Delta 1972 Washington and Lee University 1977 Omicron Delta 1977 Rollins College 1977 Mu Delta 1977 Texas Tech University 1983 Xi Delta 2000 Wake Forest University 1986 Upsilon Delta 1986 Duke University 1989 Sigma Delta 1989 North Carolina State University 2001 Pi Delta 2001 George Mason University 2003 Omega Delta 2003 Miami University 2005 Rho Delta 2005 Dormant Alphas
Institution Date founded Alpha Dormant since Williams College 1842 Theta 1963 Middlebury College 1843 Mu 1994 Wesleyan University 1844 Alpha 2000 Bowdoin College 1844 Eta 1993 Columbia University 1846 Zeta 1885 Princeton University 1851 Delta 1859 College of the City of New York 1857 Kappa 1873 Furman University 1858 Upsilon 1898 University of Mississippi 1858 Gamma 2007 Brown University 1860 Lambda 1870 University of Virginia 1860 Omicron 2008 Wofford College 1869 Tau 1906 University of Rochester 1884 Omega 1889 Stanford University 1895 Gamma Delta 1971 Yale University 1924 Kappa Delta 1963 UCLA/UC-Irvine 1949 Lambda Delta 1994 Penn State University 1997 Nu Delta 2004 University of Georgia 1890 Alpha Delta 1890 Notable alumni
Main article: List of Chi Psi brothersLinks and references
References
- ^ The Chi Psi Story, p70
- ^ The Chi Psi Story
- ^ http://www.chipsi.org/?page=Governance_Council
- ^ The Chi Psi Story, p19
- ^ The CHi Psi Story, p 36-39
- ^ http://www.chipsi.org/?page=P4Ea
- ^ The Chi Psi Story, p184
Categories:- Organizations established in 1841
- North-American Interfraternity Conference
- Student societies in the United States
- Chi Psi Fraternity
- Union College (New York)
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