Gamma Nu Explained

Gamma Nu
Letters:Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΓΝ
Motto:"Know Thyself"
Colors: Red and White
Nickname:Nuers
Birthplace:Illinois College
Affiliation:Independent
Type:Literary
Chapters:1
Scope:Local
Address:Illinois College
Lower Baxter
1101 West College Avenue
City:Jacksonville
State:Illinois
Zip Code:62650
Country:United States
Free Label:Sisters
Free:Gamma Delta
Status:Active

Gamma Nu Literary Society (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΓΝ) is a collegiate literary society for male students at Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois, United States.

History

The Gamma Nu Literary Society was founded in the fall of 1897 at Illinois College.[1] [2] At the time, the college's two literary societies had membership limits that excluded many students. Freshman W. H. Cocking got the idea to start a new literary society from his former high school teacher, Virginia Graves, after he did not get into Sigma Pi or Phi Alpha. He shared his idea with friends W. P. Duncan, A. D. Duff, Arthur E. Sneeden, and Delbert F. Yocom.

After consulting the freshman advisor, Professor John M. Clapp, the five founders held an organizational meeting for their fellow freshmen in the old chapel hall of Sturtevant on October 17, 1897. There was unanimous agreement to form a new literary society. Cocking was appointed chairman of a committee to draft the society's constitution and bylaws.

On October 22, 1897, the group met to adopt the constitution and bylaws and to elect officers. Cocking and fifteen students signed the constitution as the charter members of Gamma Nu:

Duff was elected president and Sneeden was chosen as secretary. Cocking, Lucas, and Stacy were asked to find a appropriate name for the society. Gamma Nu held its first official meeting on November 5, 1897, in Phi Alpha Hall. The debated issue was "Resolved that Co-Education is Beneficial".

In February 1898, Gamma Nu began meeting on the second floor of Beecher Hall in a former library room. However, the two pre-existing literary societies did not include Gamma Nu in their debating schedule. Gamma Nu went dormant during the 1901-02 academic year when the college's enrollment dwindled.[3]

Gamma Nu was reorganized in April 1922.[4] Its sister organization is Gamma Delta.[5] It is housed in Lower Baxter Hall on the Illinois campus. In the early 2010s, the society struggled to recruit and retain members, being reduced to as few as four active members.[6]

Symbols

Gamma Nu's motto is "Gnothi Seauton" or "Know Thyself". Its colors are red and white. Its members are referred to as "Nuers".

Activities

The society combines fraternal, literary, and social activities.[7] It hosts literary productions, social events, and charitable activities.[8] Literary activities include compositions, debates, dramatic monologues, essays, oration, and readings.

Chapter misconduct

In 1995, the Illinois College dean of students raided the Gamma Nu hall and videotaped members drinking beer and hazing pledges.[9] [10] The society was banned from campus for four years.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Greek Lettered Organizations Illinois College . 2024-03-15 . www.ic.edu . en.
  2. Book: Rammelkamp, Charles Henry . Illinois College: A Centennial History, 1829-1929 . Yale University Press . 1928 . 404–408 . en . Google Books.
  3. Book: Rammelkamp, Charles Henry . Illinois College: A Centennial History, 1829-1929 . Yale University Press . 1928 . 441 . en . Google Books.
  4. Book: Rammelkamp, Charles Henry . Illinois College: A Centennial History, 1829-1929 . Yale University Press . 1928 . 485, 536 . en . Google Books.
  5. Web site: 2012-08-14 . The Illinois College Historic Literary Societies Student Life . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120814234909/https://www.ic.edu/RelId/614033/ISvars/default/Literary_Societies.htm . August 14, 2012 . 2024-03-15 . Illinois College . web.archive.org.
  6. Web site: Lewis . Dan . 2015-10-05 . New Leadership for Gamma Nu . 2024-03-15 . The Rambler . Illinois College . en.
  7. Web site: Dettro . Chris . January 31, 2021 . Illinois College stops literary society pledging after incidents . 2024-03-15 . Peoria Journal Star . en-US.
  8. December 2013 . Literary Societies . Illinois College Quarterly . 91 . 1 . 9 . issuu.
  9. May 26, 1995 . Illinois College Lit Society Banned for Mixing Beer and Books . The Chronicle of Higher Education.
  10. Web site: 1995-04-11 . The Party's Over . 2023-10-30 . Chicago Tribune.