List of College of Wooster fraternities and sororities explained

This article provides a list of College of Wooster fraternities and sororities. Greek letter organizations have had a long history at the College of Wooster, dating to 1871, five years after the founding of the school. These emerged as chapters of national fraternities until their ban in 1913, at which time they adjusted into local chapters, sometimes called "sections" or "clubs" which were Greek in all but name. At times they have included the majority of the student body, while at present, social chapters represent about fifteen percent of students, with many additional students being admitted to various honor societies.

Social, professional and honor societies are listed below, after a short historical summary.

Formation

The pioneer chapters of the national fraternities were established at what was then called the University of Wooster, now the College of Wooster in 1871 and 1872, only five years after the establishment of the school. Formed originally as dining groups which shared the cost and responsibility of meals, beginning in 1870 they began to coalesce into a system of nearly a dozen fraternities and sororities by the turn of the century.[1] [2] As an example of the age of the Wooster Greek system, national fraternity Sigma Chi had placed its Beta chapter at the College of Wooster.[3]

Fraternal connections were not limited to just undergraduates: Early professors and administrators deemed their undergraduate fraternity membership(s) significant enough to list in their short biographies in the annual Wooster Index yearbooks. In the 1897 yearbook, fully half of the professors and instructors listed their affiliation, including Dr. Sylvester F. Scovel, third president of the college, and a member of Beta Theta Pi, College Vice President Dr. Samuel J Kirkwood, also a member of Beta Theta Pi, and Mrs. Minne Carrothers McDonald, a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Of 21 faculty members with biographies, thirteen were listed with Greek affiliation. During this era, sponsorship by prominent local alumni or professors was a common spark to the establishment of new undergraduate chapters.[4] Other yearbook pages, naming members of each chapter would list these separately, sometimes under Latin headings as either "Fraters in Facultate" (Faculty) or "Fraters in Urbe" (Town) for local alumni. In the 1897 yearbook Kappa Kappa Gamma alone listed fifteen alumnae in the local Wooster area. "Fraters in Universitate" (Undergraduates) were listed by class year.

Similar expansion of fraternal groups was sweeping through other Ohio institutions, as old-line Eastern fraternities gazed westward. But about the time Wooster was established a juncture had been reached where a burst of anti-secret society fervor[5] had trimmed somewhat what until then had been full-throated support of such civic groups at both the adult[6] and collegiate level.[7] In this era, all fraternities were affected by increased scrutiny. Thus, this was the backdrop philosophical tussle when the college was established.

Following the trend at other institutions, and with administrative approval, several of the fraternities at Wooster had bought property and embarked on building their first houses within a decade of formation.

Fraternities were engaged in campus improvement. They aided in the construction of the school's tennis courts in 1888, and in 1890 "contributed in a small way to the construction of wings on Old Main."[8] A crisis for the Wooster Greeks occurred in 1893, where a "large proportion" of the student body left the school, never to return, over a fractious conflict where the faculty wished to deemphasize athletics. This led to the closure of four fraternities due to low manpower.[9] Three of these chapters were re-established within a few years. As early as 1899 faculty and administration began to object to fraternities as "excuses for smoking, drinking, and dancing." Some objection in those early days came on the complaint of non-aligned students, a majority of the campus, who felt they could not get elected to any campus office without belonging to a strong fraternity.

What became an upperclassman dorm, Kenarden Lodge, was built in 1911.[10] Its gabled "Sections" would become, by 1918, the perennial homes of many of the school's Greek chapters.

1913 ban

A larger, existential crisis for the Wooster Greeks ensued when, in the fall of 1912, the Trustees were lobbied to close its then 40-year old Greek system.

L. H. Severance, then-President of the Board of Trustees and namesake of academic building Severance Hall, was considered to be "an important donor" during his tenure. He was approached to support a building campaign, but rebuffed the attempt. Severance was virulently anti-Greek, and asserted he "would give no more to Wooster while fraternities remained because he was convinced that they [were] inimical to the best interests of the college." The Trustees at the time, on a narrow, contested vote, elected to disband the fraternities as of ; three of the trustees resigned to express their disapproval over the decision. News spread quickly among the chapters that no further initiations were to be allowed from that point. Two sororities organized an overnight ceremony prior to "officially" hearing the news the following morning. One fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega, noted a year later in an edition of The Palm, "[...But,] shortly after the passage of the resolution abolishing fraternities Mr. Severance died. He left no will and had not entered into any legal obligation binding upon his heirs or estate."—Thus in spite of the closure of all campus Greek chapters, no donation from Severance for Wooster's capital campaign was ever received. Some hoped that "the odious ruling" would be rescinded, but that did not occur. The discouraged national chapters devolved into local organizations or disbanded, with the last few national Greek members graduating in 1918.[11] [12]

Response to the ban

College yearbooks, called the Wooster Index, now available online, printed multiple pages for each Greek organization from the 1870s through 1914. In the 1915 yearbook these pages abruptly disappeared, with that same edition eulogizing Severance. By 1916 and '17 the only mention of Greeks in the yearbooks were graduating seniors who listed their affiliation. It would be decades before Greek affiliations were once again noted in these books, although many of the now-local chapters survived through this period, continuing 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, usually in Roman numeral fashion. Soon these groups took on new Greek letters as well. As each fraternity lived in a section of Kenarden, the groups adopted this terminology and began to call themselves Sections. The sororities opted to call themselves Clubs. Thus the transition into local chapters was not immediate, but there was legacy continuity:

National fraternities → Numbered groups → Numbered "Sections" at Kenarden → Adoption of Greek letters, as locals → Expansion beyond Kenarden

At the same time the General, or Social chapters were adjusting to their new names, a number of Honor societies began to appear on campus, the earliest of these tapping their first members in the 1920s.

By the 1940s, each of Kenarden's 7 men's sections had a perennial group of its own, and there were at least 9 sections on campus by the 1950s, as well as several clubs. To cope with this expansion, which according to the Wooster Voice included 99% of men on campus from 1953 to 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. The traditional Section names stuck with each group regardless of their residence. Yearbooks remain the best source to trace whether specific local chapters are the direct descendants of these original national chapters.

While the fraternal impetus continued into the modern era, student organizers experienced occasional waves of suppression bracketed by other times of a more liberal, hands-off approach. There was little anti-Greek pressure during the immediate post-WWII period, where the majority of men were participants. During other times Greek-related information was suppressed, but apparently the de facto Greek nature of the various Sections remained widely known.[13] [14] It is clear that five long-tenured fraternity chapters, at least, had their origin in earlier groups. The fraternity Beta Theta Pi's local Alpha Lambda chapter quickly evolved into a men's local called Beta Kappa Phi in the First (I) Section of Kenarden Lodge in 1914. It was also the first of the sections of Kenarden to wear and affiliate themselves with Greek letters, despite the college's objections. Recently disbanded fraternity, Phi Omega Sigma (1913-2017) drew its members from the original Delta Tau Delta chapter, and re-formed as a local, traditionally the Fourth (VI) Section. Recently disbanded fraternity Phi Delta Sigma (2013-2005) drew its members from the original Phi Delta Theta, also known as the Fifth (V) Section. Phi Sigma Alpha formed in 1916 as the Sixth (VI) Section, but it is unclear whether it had a previous affiliation. Dormant Kappa Chi fraternity (1965-2005) was renamed from an earlier local called Kappa Kappa Kappa,[15] which itself originated in the Beta chapter of Sigma Chi national fraternity. It was known as the Seventh (VII) Section. Dormant Omega Alpha Tau (1976-1995) can also claim roots in Sigma Chi and the Seventh (VII) Section, having split from Kappa Chi.[16]

Three of today's campus sororities can claim their provenance in the earlier chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Local Pi Kappa is the first direct descendant of this group, at one point called Eighth (VIII) Section, but more commonly a Club. In 1943 the founders of Epsilon Kappa Omicron broke away from Pi Kappa to form their own sorority. Finally, six Pi Kappa pledges broke away in 1983 to form Alpha Gamma Phi sorority. The successors of the first national sorority on campus, Kappa Alpha Theta, formed local sorority the Imps (1913-1938), which in 1938 became Zeta Phi Gamma. The successors of Delta Delta Delta formed local sorority Delta Delta Rho, informally known as the Pyramids.[17] The most common residence for sororities has been Bissman Hall.

Continuation as local organizations

Thus during subsequent years, fraternities and sororities have remained popular with students. Some thrived in spite of occasional efforts by faculty to limit them or ban their existence. Others have failed, due to unchecked behavioral excesses. The "local model" by its nature inserted the faculty and Trustees as overseers of the chapters, sometimes with heightened levels of concern: While the requirement that chapters abandon national identities allowed exclusive administrative control (i.e.: by collegiate administrators), the benefits touted by national organizations become therefore inaccessible: leadership and peer training from outside the college, broader (nationalized) risk management training, reduced group insurance costs, centrally managed communication with chapter alumni, national career networking and additional layers of alumni and national oversight. Even so, the local model has continued since 1913.

The State of Ohio increased its scrutiny over hazing allegations at state institutions when hazing was first made a state crime in 1983. During the following decade "the school's longstanding policy of don't ask-don't tell evolved into a crackdown of hazing activities."

In 1991, two Wooster chapters were cited for hazing, in decisions that were later reversed by the Judicial Board due to lack of evidence, but heightened scrutiny remained, and some closures were forced.[18] A 1991 Trustees statement reaffirmed the ban on national groups, but offered support for the clubs and sections, officially allowing them to refer to themselves with Greek letters. In early 2006, Dean of Students Kurt Holmes proposed bringing in national fraternities again to alleviate many perceived problems with the local model, but this proposal was never acted upon.[19]

Through these challenges, the organizations have survived, with approximately 15% of the student body as members as of 2019, per the Inter-Greek Council.

General, academic and social fraternities and sororities

There are presently twelve active social/academic Greek groups at the College of Wooster. These include six sororities (sometimes called clubs), five fraternities (sometimes called sections) and one co-educational group. The clubs and sections terminology resulted in the adjustment from national affiliation; these groups now use the terms 'fraternity' and 'sorority' interchangeably, as well as Greek letters. These groups remain unaffiliated with national Greek organizations. Approximately fifteen percent of the student body participates in these groups. Wooster's Greek chapters are self-governed under an Inter-Greek Council. Active chapters listed in bold, inactive chapters listed in italics.[20] Noted by date of founding, chapters include:

  (NIC) indicates members of the North American Interfraternity Conference.
  (PFA) indicates members of the Professional Fraternity Association.
  (FFC) indicates members of the Fraternity Forward Coalition.
  (NPC) indicates members of the National Panhellenic Conference.

Men's Fraternities

Active academic and social fraternities

Fraternities whose names changed

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΒΘΠ - Beta Theta Pi, 1872-1895, 1896-1913 (NIC), became Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΒΚΦ[28]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΔΘ - Phi Delta Theta, 1872-1899 (FFC), became Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΔΣ[29]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΣΧ - Sigma Chi, 1872-1893, 1899-1913 (NIC), became Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΚΚ (see Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΧ, Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΩΑΤ)[30]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΤΔ - Delta Tau Delta, 1880-1894, 1910-1913 (NIC), became Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΩΣ[31]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΨΔΥ - Psi Delta Upsilon (local), 1908-1911, became Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΤΔ[32]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΔΣ - Theta Delta Sigma (local), 1910-1912, became Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΣΦΕ[33]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΚΚ - Kappa Kappa Kappa (local), Seventh (VII) Section, 1913-~1965, became Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΧ[34]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΧ - Kappa Chi (local), Seventh (VII) Section, ~1965-2005, dormant; (later faction split to become Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΩΑΤ)[35] Dormant academic and social fraternities

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΚΨ - Phi Kappa Psi, 1871-1892 (NIC), dormant[36] [37]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΓΔ - Phi Gamma Delta, 1882-1913 (NIC), dormant[38]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΣΔΠ - Sigma Delta Pi (Vitruvian), 1873-1877, dormant[39]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΑΤΩ - Alpha Tau Omega, 1888-1914 (NIC and FFC), dormant[40]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΝΕ - Theta Nu Epsilon, 1891-1923, dormant[41]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΣΦΕ - Sigma Phi Epsilon, 1912-1914 (formerly NIC), dormant[42]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΩΣ - Phi Omega Sigma (local), 1913-2017, Fourth (IV) Section, dormant[43] [44]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΔΣ - Phi Delta Sigma (local), 1913-2005, Fifth (V) Section, dormant[45]

Rabbis (local), ~1913-1970s?, Third (III) Section, dormant[46]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΙΧ - Iota Chi (local), ~1913-1950, Ninth (IX) Section, dormant[47]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΞΕΤ - Xi Epsilon Tau (local), pre-1937-19xx?, dormant[48]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΑΓΕ - Alpha Gamma Epsilon (local), Original Eighth (VIII) Section, 1937-19xx, dormant[49]

Inky (local), Eleventh (XI) Section, 1940-19xx, dormant[50]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΩΑΤ - Omega Alpha Tau (local), 1976-1995?, Seventh (VII) Section, dormant

Co-ed general fraternities

Dormant co-ed general fraternities

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΦΣ - Kappa Phi Sigma (local), 1922-2005, Second (II) Section, dormant[52]

Women's Sororities

Active academic and social sororities

Sororities whose names changed

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΑΘ - Kappa Alpha Theta, 1875-1913 (NPC), became Imps (see Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΖΦΓ)[62]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΚΓ - Kappa Kappa Gamma, 1876-1914 (NPC), became Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΠΚ, Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΕΚΟ, and Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΑΓΦ[63]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΑΔΨ - Alpha Delta Psi (local), 1908-1910, became Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΠΒΦ[64]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΣΝ - Delta Sigma Nu (local), 1910-1912, became Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΔΔ[65]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΔΔ - Delta Delta Delta, 1912-1913 (NPC), became Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΔΡ[66]

Imps (local), 1913-1928, became Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΖΦΓ[67]

Darts (local), 1943-1949, became Keys (see Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΕΖ)[68]

Arrows (local), 1943-1949, became Keys (see Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΕΖ)[69] Dormant academic and social sororities

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΠΒΦ - Pi Beta Phi, 1910-1913 (NPC), dormant[70]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΔΓ - Delta Delta Gamma (local), (typo; see Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΔΡ)[71] [72]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΛΑΣ - Lambda Alpha Sigma, "Sphinx" (local), ~1914-1975?, dormant[73]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΔΡ - Delta Delta Rho, "Pyramids" (local), 1924-1975?, dormant[74] [75]

Natives (local), pre-1935-19xx, dormant[76]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΧΑΧ - Chi Alpha Chi, "Trumps" (local), 1940-1950+, dormant[77]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΕΑ - Phi Epsilon Alpha, "Dominoes" (local), 1940-19xx, dormant[78]

Jacks (local), 1943-1944, dormant

Pipers (local), 1943-1944, dormant

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΣΦΔ - Sigma Phi Delta, "Spuds" (local), 1943-1950+, dormant[79]

Jinx (local), 1944-1947, dormant

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΧΩΨ - Chi Omega Psi (local), 1976-1993+?, dormant[80]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΦΑ - Delta Phi Alpha (local), 1989-2006, 2008-2014+, dormant?[81]

Honor and professional fraternities

The emergence and continuation of honor societies on the campus has proceeded without similar interruption nor controversary. Wooster's first honor societies were formed in the early 1920s, when in quick succession a chapter of Delta Sigma Rho was placed at the school to recognize top students in debate, followed by the Spanish language and culture honorary, Sigma Delta Pi. These were soon joined by the oldest of the honor societies, venerable Phi Beta Kappa, which placed its Kappa of Ohio chapter at the campus in 1926. Most of these societies continue operation.

Unlike the general fraternities, an honor society requires a faculty sponsor; those that go dormant are easily re-established with the support of an engaged advisor. In the modern era, Honor societies are co-educational. Students who are elected to membership in an honor society may wear the society's colors with their graduation regalia.

Seizing a middle ground between honor societies and general fraternities, professional fraternities exist to promote scholarship and networking among students of a particular field. The sole professional fraternity on the campus is now dormant. On other campuses these may be residential. Professional fraternities are generally co-educational, limiting their membership to specific fields, or a small inter-related group of fields, like STEM, or "medical fields" or all types of engineering. They are self-governing. Chapter information for honor and professional fraternities from Baird's Manual, the Wooster website's list of student organizations, or departmental websites.

Active chapters listed in bold, inactive chapters listed in italics.
  (ACHS) indicates members of the Association of College Honor Societies.
  (PFA) indicates members of the Professional Fraternity Association.

Honor societies

Dormant honor societies

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΑΒΦ - Alpha Beta Phi (local), 1894-1896, men's honors, interfraternal, became Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΒΔΒ[102]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΒΔΒ - Beta Delta Beta, 1896-1913+, men's honors, interfraternal, dormant[103]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΜΑΦ - Mu Alpha Phi (local), 1896-1902?, women's honors, interfraternal, dormant[104]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΑΔΧ - Alpha Delta Chi (local), 1901-1904?, men's honors, interfraternal, dormant[105]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΑΔΩ - Alpha Delta Omega (local), 1916-1928+, honors, collegiate honor and friendship[106]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΘΓ - Kappa Theta Gamma (local), 1929-1950+, honors, drama, dormant[107]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΧΔ - Theta Chi Delta, 1920-1950+, honors, chemistry, dormant[108]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΣΠΣ - Sigma Pi Sigma, 1930-1943 (ACHS), honors, physics, dormant[109]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΜΕ - Kappa Mu Epsilon, 1941-1954 (ACHS), honors, math, dormant[110]

Professional fraternities (all dormant)

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΦΚ - Kappa Phi Kappa, 1930-1939 (PFA), men's teaching professions, became Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΣΤΔ[111]

Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΕΡ - Epsilon Rho (local?), pre-1940-19xx, teaching professions, dormant[112]

See also

College of Wooster, Clubs & Organizations

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jack L. . Anson . Robert F. . Marchenasi . Baird's Manual of American Fraternities . 20th . 1991 . 1879 . Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. . Indianapolis, IN . 978-0963715906 . II-220. . Baird's Manual is also available online here: The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  2. Book: Morse . James . "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 (on file at the Andrews Library at the College of Wooster). 1 June 1997 . College of Wooster . Andrews Library, College of Wooster.
  3. This was the 30th chapter formed by Sigma Chi, which in its earliest years did not follow a strict alphabetization system. It would go on to install over 300 additional chapters, after Wooster.
  4. https://openworks.wooster.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1015&context=index1870-1920 See the 1897 Wooster Index yearbook, pages 25-31 for examples
  5. Causal to this may have been Freemasonry's disturbing Morgan Affair, prior to which that fraternity had enjoyed broad support across America due to unanimous respect for President George Washington, who famously supported the Craft. European observer De Tocqueville wrote glowingly about Washington and the Founders' embrace of such civic and fraternal groups, which he observed added vastly to America's social fabric and built what we today term "Social capital."
  6. For example, earlier, an Anti-Masonic political party had formed, which by 1870 impacted a generation of civic leaders then in ascendancy.
  7. For example, one national fraternity, Delta Upsilon (ΔΥ) had actually been organized on a fully anti-secret basis. By 1876 ΔΥ reformed this model to reflect a more moderate "non-secret" stance.
  8. Noted in the 1950 Index yearbook, p.64-75, accessed 6 Jan 2021.
  9. Book: Charles Liggett . Van Cleve . The History of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, from its Foundation in 1852 to its Fiftieth Anniversary. 1902 . Franklin Printing Company . Philadelphia, PA . 225–226.
  10. https://www.woosteroh.com/sites/default/files/2018-10/Historic%20Properties%20and%20Districts.pdf Kenarden was built in 1911, according to the City's historic district plan
  11. Noted in Historian Fran Becque's Greek historical writings, posted 13 Feb, 2013 on the centennial of 1913 ban, accessed 27 Dec 2020.
  12. Baird's Manual, 20th ed. states the situation more plainly: "The trustees of Wooster were seduced by an offer of a large endowment, on condition that fraternities be banished. But Wooster did not get the money it expected, which was humiliating for the trustees; and the sympathetic interest of loyal alumni was estranged, which was unfortunate for the college." (p.I-22)
  13. For example, on p.132 of the 1938 yearbook, in sort of a poke in the eye aimed at the administration, it states "It will be noticed that in this year's Index the Greek letter names of the Kenarden sections and off-campus houses have been omitted. This has been done by order of the Faculty. Although the Kenarden "system" closely resembles a local fraternity system in pledging, hazing, social distinctions, and even the Greek letter names, the faculty has taken this action in order that outsiders may not think of the system as a fraternity system." The only passing reference to Greek identity in that edition is a note on the listing for the Imps (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΖΦΓ) in 1938, mentioning that each year, their former national Kappa Alpha Theta would send them a friendly invitation to re-join. Additionally, advertisements in the yearbook offered pins and badges.
  14. The 1941 yearbook continued the gag, listing the sections and providing a handy reference (pictured) as a legend for a seventeen page fraternity section that otherwise omitted the fraternities' names.
  15. The group had no known connection to the white-hooded racists that also called themselves the KKK.
  16. Chapter names and legacy continuity has been traced through review of Index yearbooks, national fraternity lists and the Morse paper, all referenced in the list of chapters in this article.
  17. An occasional, errant publication lists this as Delta Delta Gamma; the "Gamma" is a typo, probably from a misreading of the italicized version of the Greek letter Rho.
  18. See for example the 1992 effort to ban initiation into the societies for a period of two years, announced in the Wooster Voice, 9 Oct 1992, accessed 28 Dec 2020.
  19. ΩΑΤ and ΠΚ were cited for hazing on 17 Jan, 1993, article accessed 29 Dec 2020.
  20. Chapter information from the College's website, college yearbooks, or from Baird's Manual (20th ed.).
  21. https://wooster.edu/campus/orgs/greek/beta/ "Beta Kappa's" Wooster portal
  22. Nicknamed the "Sigs", Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΣΑ is a local organization, and as of January 2021 is incorrectly listed as an honorary group on the campus website. Also, a 1940s/1950s yearbook typo lists Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΣΑ as the successor to Sigma Alpha Epsilon, but Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΣΑΕ never had a Wooster chapter. This was possibly a typo meant to be Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΣΦΕ; or perhaps FIJI or Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΑΤΩ.
  23. https://wooster.edu/campus/orgs/honorary/phi-sigma/index.php The "Sigs" Wooster portal
  24. https://wooster.edu/campus/orgs/greek/harambee/index.php "MOH's" Wooster portal
  25. Formed by students in the aftermath of the Galpin Takeover, from a group named simply "Harambee" that had formed in 1969. This group has no affiliation with the former (original) VIII Section. Accessed 29 Dec 2020.
  26. https://wooster.edu/campus/orgs/greek/xi/ "Zee Chi's" Wooster portal
  27. https://wooster.edu/campus/orgs/greek/delta-chi/ "Delta's" Wooster portal
  28. This was the Alpha Lambda chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΒΘΠ, installed .
  29. This was the Ohio Delta chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΔΘ, installed . Its linkage to Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΔΣ is noted in recurrent sources, but nevertheless it is a long gap of time between 1899 and 1913, and Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΔΣ's claimed year of establishment.
  30. This was the Beta chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΣΧ, installed .
  31. This was the Psi chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΤΔ, installed . Morse says it formed as early as 1863 out of an organization called the "Ozarks".
  32. First mentioned in the 1910 Index yearbook, p.126-127, its member are listed as ΔΤΔ by the 1911 yearbook.
  33. Noted in the 1913 and 1914 Index yearbooks, no page numbers; fraternities section. Accessed 31 Dec 2020.
  34. This local fraternity had no connection with the Ku Klux Klan, nor with the local Dartmouth fraternity of that name, nor the Indiana women's service organization of that name. "It changed its name to Kappa Chi in the 1960s due to increased racial sensitivity" (Morse).
  35. Last active at Wooster officially in 1999, unofficially in 2005. Banned following hazing charges.
  36. This was the Ohio Gamma chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΚΨ.
  37. Under the school name header in Baird's 20th, Phi Kappa Psi is listed as a continuing chapter, thus "active". However, this is in error; the fraternity's national records show dormancy beginning in 1892, with no resumption on that campus. Of the Wooster chapters that closed at the time of the low-manpower crisis of 1893, Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΚΨ was the only chapter not to return. Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΒΘΠ, Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΣΧ and eventually Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΤΔ were revived after that downturn.
  38. This was the Rho Deuteron chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΓΔ, installed .
  39. This was the Gamma chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΣΔΠ, a small national fraternity nicknamed "The Vitruvian Society".
  40. This was the Beta Mu chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΑΤΩ, installed .
  41. This was the Tau chapter of this inter-Greek social fraternity. Its charter was revoked by its national organization in 1923.
  42. This was the Ohio Delta chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΣΦΕ, installed . While short-lived, its successor may have been Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΣΑ, or Sixth (VI Section).
  43. https://thewoostervoice.spaces.wooster.edu/2017/04/07/phi-omega-sigma-de-chartered-following-cc-vote/ Phi Omega Sigma De-chartered Following CC Vote
  44. Morse reference points out that this group formed as early as 1863 as a dining group called the "Ozarks". They colonized with Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΤΔ in 1877. At the banning of fraternities, they adopted a short term name of the "Lizards", or Zards for short, before taking on the local letters of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΩΣ.
  45. Charter expired with lack of effective recruitment during 2002-2005.
  46. Originally Third (III) Section, pre-ministerial students. Also called the Synagogue. Pin was the Roman numerals "III"; this Section did not have a Greek letter name.
  47. Name derived from original moniker of IX (Ninth) Section. Nicknamed the Friars, they disbanded after 1949 when the college razed their building, the Martin Home on Beale.
  48. Formed as a social group, the group lived at a nearby boarding home called St. Kates, per the 1937A yearbook.
  49. Housed in Warburton Hall, then Livingstone Lodge, the group formed as a new organization, unaffiliated with previous fraternities, per the 1937A Index yearbook.
  50. Formed as a social group, the Inkys lived at nearby Livingstone Lodge, per the 1941 yearbook.
  51. https://wooster.edu/campus/orgs/greek/eta-pi/ Eta Pi's Wooster portal
  52. Originally housed in Second (II) Section, and a men's-only organization, Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΦΣ went co-educational from the late 1960s. Some name and colors similarity to Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΣΦΕ - was there any connection?
  53. https://wooster.edu/campus/orgs/greek/pi/ "Peanuts" Wooster portal
  54. https://wooster.edu/campus/orgs/greek/zeta/ "Imps" or "Zeta's" Wooster portal
  55. https://wooster.edu/campus/orgs/greek/kappaepsilonzeta/ "Keys" Wooster portal
  56. Morse reference notes original founding between 1913 and 1945, dying out by 1980. Prior to becoming Keys in 1948 the group existed as two separate clubs, named the "Darts" and the "Arrows" which had both formed in about 1943. Hence, without a national predecessor, this group's roots appear to have originated in 1943.
  57. https://wooster.edu/campus/orgs/greek/epsilon/ "Echo's" Wooster portal
  58. Originally part of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΠΚ, they broke away in 1943.
  59. https://wooster.edu/campus/orgs/greek/alpha/ "Alpha Gamm's" Wooster portal
  60. Originally part of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΠΚ, they broke away in 1983. This group has no connection with the national sorority nicknamed similarly, 'Alpha Gam': Alpha Gamma Delta. The local Wooster group spells their nickname "Alpha Gamm."
  61. https://wooster.edu/campus/orgs/greek/theta/ "Theta's" Wooster portal
  62. This was the Epsilon chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΑΘ, installed .
  63. This was the Beta Gamma chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΚΓ, installed .
  64. First mentioned in the 1910 Index yearbook, p.128-129.
  65. First mentioned in the 1911 Index yearbook, p.122-123.
  66. This was the Delta Delta chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΔΔ, installed .
  67. Noted in the 1938 Wooster Index yearbook, the Imps reformed into local sorority Zeta Phi Gamma the following year. They note a corresponding relationship with former national, Kappa Alpha Theta.
  68. Combined with "Arrows" to form "Keys".
  69. Combined with "Darts" to form "Keys".
  70. This was the Ohio Gamma chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΠΒΦ, installed .
  71. Where Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΔΓ appears it is in error: The group's name was Delta Delta Rho (a Greek Gamma Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Γ and Rho Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Ρ can look similar, depending on typography or printing error). Successor to Tri-Delta sorority.
  72. https://openworks.wooster.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1015&context=index1870-1920 See the 1897 Wooster Index yearbook, page 29
  73. Nickname was "Sphinx". Possible successor of a previous national sorority.
  74. Also known as the Pyramids, this was the continuation of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΔΔ, or Tri-Delta national sorority. Its pin was in the form of a Delta, with a Rho (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Ρ) in the center. Noted in the 1937A Index yearbook.
  75. Noted in the 1950 Index yearbook in a retrospective of Greek life at the College, p.36-47. Accessed 6 Jan 2021.
  76. This organization was made up of local Wooster girls, who volunteered as hostesses for incoming freshmen girls each fall according to the 1941 Index yearbook, p.163, accessed 4 Jan 2021.
  77. Also known as the Trumps, this organization formed in 1940 according to the 1941 Index yearbook, p.160, accessed 4 Jan 2021.
  78. This organization formed in 1940 according to the 1941 Index yearbook, p.161, accessed 4 Jan 2021.
  79. The badge, pictured on p.46 of the 1950 yearbook may read "Sigma Phi Delta" or Sigma Delta Phi". It is not otherwise spelled out.
  80. A social sorority, not to be confused with Chi Omega national sorority.
  81. A social sorority, not to be confused with the German honor society of the same name, also present at Wooster.
  82. Originally just Delta Sigma Rho, This is the Wooster chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΣΡ-Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΤΚΑ.
  83. This is the Epsilon chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΣΔΠ.
  84. This is the Kappa of Ohio chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΒΚ.
  85. This is the Alpha-Beta chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΑΘ.
  86. This is the Gamma chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΣΙ, which in some yearbooks billed itself as the "French Honorary".
  87. This is the Alpha Upsilon chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΗΣΦ.
  88. This is the Beta Tau chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΦΑ.
  89. Not to be confused with the local social sorority (club) on the Wooster campus (1989-~2014), which had the same name.
  90. This is the Alpha Sigma Mu chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΣΤΔ. The 1940 yearbook mentions that Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΣΤΔ is the successor to Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΦΚ, formerly a professional fraternity.
  91. This is the Upsilon chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΠΚΛ.
  92. This is the Alpha Lambda chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΠΣΑ.
  93. This is the Wooster chapter of National Collegiate Players, formerly known as Pi Epsilon Delta.
  94. This is the College of Wooster chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΟΔΕ.
  95. This is the Wooster chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΣΤ.
  96. This is the Lambda chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΛΠΗ.
  97. This is the Xi Nu chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΒΒΒ.
  98. This is the Alpha Eta Lambda chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΑΨΩ.
  99. This is the Alpha Eta Chi chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΔΠ.
  100. https://thewoostervoice.spaces.wooster.edu/2016/02/19/education-honor-society-opens-new-chapter-at-the-college/ Noted in the Wooster Voice
  101. This is the Zeta of Ohio chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΝΡΨ, established .
  102. A Juniors society among fraternity men at Wooster, this young group became a chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΒΔΒ in 1896, per a note in the 1897 Index yearbook, scanned page 136. On other campuses, Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΒΔΒ operates as a Freshmen society.
  103. This was the Chi Mu chapter of this five-chapter fraternity. Noted in the 1913 Index yearbook, no page numbers; fraternities section. Accessed 31 Dec 2020.
  104. Noted in the 1898 and 1899 Index yearbook.
  105. Noted in the 1902 Index yearbook, first mention.
  106. Noted in the Index yearbook of 1927, p.165. Accessed 31 Dec 2020.
  107. Noted in the Index yearbook of 1930, p.122. Accessed 31 Dec 2020.
  108. This was the Gamma chapter of the fraternity, noted in the Index yearbook of 1927, p.164, and following. The national fraternity of approximately ten chapters dissolved sometime after 1940, according to Baird's 20th ed. Accessed 31 Dec 2020.
  109. This was the Wooster chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΣΠΣ.
  110. This was the Ohio Beta chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΜΕ, noted in the 1941 Index yearbook, p.49. Accessed 4 Jan 2021.
  111. This was the Alpha Rho chapter of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΦΚ, noted in the 1938 Index yearbook.
  112. Noted in the 1940 Index yearbook, p107. Accessed 6 Jan 2021.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of College of Wooster fraternities and sororities".

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