Chi Psi
| Chi Psi Fraternity | |
|---|---|
| ΧΨ | |
 | |
| Founded |
May 20, 1841 Union College |
| Type | Social Fraternity |
| Scope | National |
| Colors | Purple and Gold |
| Chapters | 31 |
| Headquarters |
45 Rutledge Street Nashville, Tennessee USA |
| Homepage | http://www.chipsi.org |
Chi Psi Fraternity (ΧΨ) is a fraternity and secret society consisting of 32 active chapters (known as "Alphas") at 32 American colleges and universities. The mission of the Chi Psi Fraternity is to create and maintain an enduring society which encourages the sharing of traditions and values, respect for oneself and others, and responsibility to the university and community.
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. It was the first Greek-letter organization to be founded on these grounds, rather than the literary characteristics of the seven then-existing societies. In 1854, Chi Psi was the first fraternity in the nation to establish a fraternity house. The first fraternity house was located at the University of Michigan. Thanks to the building's resemblance to a hunting lodge, Chi Psi now refers to all its houses as Lodges.[1] Chi Psi Fraternity is the 8th fraternity to be founded 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.
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 founding members were: Philip Spencer (later hanged on charges of mutiny aboard the brig USS Somers), Robert Heyward McFaddin (1822-1858) of Greensboro, Alabama, 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.
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.[2]
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.[3] | ” |
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.[4][5]
Purple & Gold
The Chi Psi newsletter, 'The Purple & Gold' was first published in November 1883, and is currently received by all current brothers on a lifetime subscription.[6]
Alphas (Chapters)
Chi Psi has 31 chapters, which are known as Alphas, at American colleges and universities.
Active Alphas
Dormant Alphas
| Institution | Date founded | Alpha | Dormant since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williams College | 1842 | Theta | 1963 |
| Middlebury College | 1843 | Mu | 1994 |
| 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 |
| Brown University | 1860 | Lambda | 1870 |
| Cornell University | 1869 | Psi | 2014[8] |
| Wofford College | 1869 | Tau | 1906 |
| University of Rochester | 1884 | Omega | 1889 |
| Northwestern University | 1892 | Epsilon Delta | 2012 |
| Stanford University | 1895 | Gamma Delta | 1971 |
| UCLA/UC-Irvine | 1949 | Lambda Delta | 1994 |
| Penn State University | 1997 | Nu Delta | 2004 |
| University of Michigan | 1845 | Epsilon | 2016 |
Notable alumni
See also
Links and references
References
- ↑ The Chi Psi Story, p70
- ↑ 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
- ↑ "174th Annual Convention in Review". 5 Aug 2015. Retrieved 31 Aug 2015.
- ↑ "University revokes recognition of Chi Psi fraternity". 2 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.