The Epsilon Theta Chapter of Sigma Nu

The Founding of Sigma Nu at MIT

In 1919 several Sigma Nus from other schools were studying at the Institute, and under the leadership of Robert Littlefield and William Quarels, they organized and petitioned to form a chapter.  The charter was granted and on February 25^th, 1922, Epsilon Theta became the 100^th chapter of Sigma Nu.  William Quarels was elected the first Commander.

 

The Early Years of Sigma Nu

During the first full year of its existence, the Epsilon Theta chapter resided at 583 Beacon Street. The following year it moved to 261 Commonwealth Avenue.  In 1924 the house was sold and Sigma Nu was left without a house.  There was no place available to rent, no money to buy a house, and only three brothers were planning to stay in Boston over the summer.  These three, with the help of the former chapter advisor, found a house on 259 St. Paul Street in Brookline and the lease was taken.

 

Early Financial Problems

In its first years, Sigma Nu was run on a small budget with low housebills.  In October of 1924 a member of the house corporation was found to be embezzling money from the house.  Though the loss was only twenty-five hundred dollars, this put a severe strain on the already tight budget and the money could not be recovered from the bankrupt embezzler.  However, housebills remained unchanged and even stricter economizing measures put the house in sound financial shape.  Five years of penny-pinching paid off the mortgages in full and left the house with three thousand dollars worth of new furniture and improvements and a one thousand dollar surplus.

 

Fraternity Excellence: the 1920s and 1930s

The early years of Sigma Nu were characterized by academic and literary excellence.  During its first five years, the house led all MIT fraternities in scholarship twice and was runner-up three times.  In 1928 Sigma Nu had the highest GPA in its division and again led all MIT fraternities.

               

Early members started a long-lasting tradition of participation in and sometimes dominance of the various publications at the Institute.  The first decade produced several general managers of The Tech, Tech Engineering News, and Technique, along with many staff members on each. These years also saw the beginning of a Sigma Nu “dynasty” on the staff of Voodoo, the MIT humor magazine.

 

The War Years

During the war years, 1942-45, many fraternities closed down, but Sigma Nu remained in operation with sometimes as few as four brothers.  Several boarders were taken to keep housebills low.  A quick recovery from this wartime effect occurred in 1945 when the house pledged twelve men.  The following year brought the return of the brothers from military service, boosting the membership to thirty-six.

 

The Late 1940s and 1950s

The pledge class of 1948 showed outstanding athletic abilities, fielding eight varsity sports team members and ushering in an era of athletic excellence at Sigma Nu.  Over the next few years, Sigma Nu intramural teams finished at or near the top in many sports.

 

Over a period of many years the house appeared to become more socially oriented, holding several major social events, such as the White Rose Formal, the Bowery Brawl, and the Tech Cabin Weekend along with many other smaller parties.

 

In the early 1950s the house regained its prominence in academics once again, leading all fraternities in scholastics in 1950 and winning the Gallagher Cup in 1955 for having the highest GPA in Sigma Nu.

 

In the mid 1950s the house seemed to excel in just about all fields of endeavor. Academically and athletically, Sigma Nu was at or near the top while brothers participated in a wide variety of student activities and still found time for a full social calendar.

 

Problems in the Mid-Sixties

Rush 1964 brought financial problems to Sigma Nu when only seven freshmen pledged, leaving the house with too few people paying housebills.  However, the next year brought thirteen new members, enough to take the strain off the budget.  Sigma Nu also dropped off academically for a couple of years before pulling back up to third among living groups in 1967.

 

The Late Sixties

Over a period of several years during the late 1960s attitudes about the fraternity and fraternity life were changing as new classes brought in new ideas.  This was reflected in gradual changes in the pledge program and in the running of the house.  House meetings with all house members attending became more frequent and gradually took the place of the all-initiate chapter meetings for doing general house business.  During the fall of that year someone half-jokingly brought up an idea: Why not go coed?  A small group within the house decided to look into the matter more seriously. They divided the research necessary into philosophical and legal problems, and started digging.

 

As they worked they became more enthusiastic about it, and began putting together a document on how the change could be accomplished.

 

Coedity Passes

Finally, in the spring of 1970 the project became big enough that it was time for a decision by the house.  After a long and heated debate a vote was taken.  The motion to go coed failed to reach the three-fourths majority necessary by two votes.  Over the next couple of weeks, coedity was the major topic of conversion around the house and pressure was brought to bear on the hold-outs.  At the next house meeting the motion was passed.

 

From the beginning it had been assumed that going coed meant leaving Sigma Nu National. This was not particularly upsetting to the actives, since in the recent past the idea of leaving Sigma Nu had been brought up and discussed frequently.

 

When the plans of the house were presented to the alumni, they were very much against leaving Sigma Nu although most were amenable to the idea of coedity.  Thus the house looked into the possibility of going coed and remaining in the national fraternity.  An agreement was worked out with Dick Fletcher, the Executive Secretary of Sigma Nu whereby women could live in the house but only the men would be initiated and could hold chapter offices.

 

In July of 1970 the Dean’s office at MIT approved the plan to go coed and a small last minute rush booklet was sent out to the incoming freshmen.

 

The Early Years of Coedity

Rush 1970 yielded a pledge class of two women and four men plus the five upperclass women. For the most part, the first year of coedity went smoothly and the following rush brought in nineteen freshmen, including seven women. 

 

That year, the house began working on a motion to bring to the floor of the Sigma Nu Grand Chapter that would allow the initiation of women.  Many members of the house worked of creating reports and booklets outlining their position.  Seven actives and five alumni went to the Grand Chapter at Dallas in August of 1972 and lobbied for their position.  Although an impression was made on many of the delegates, the motion ultimately failed to pass.

 

House Conflict

The following year there was misunderstanding and disagreement over what types of coed relationships were appropriate in the house and to what degree they could be influenced.  Discord over these and similar issues and personality conflicts finally came to a peak in April of 1973 when discussion became bitter and a motion was made to revert back to being all male the following year.  The motion failed.  However, Dean Ken Browning at MIT decided that the house would either be all male or would not get freshman approved living status.  At this point it was clear that the house would fold if something were not done soon.  Many members finally persuaded the Dean that the differences within the house could be reconciled and that enough people would remain to warrant allowing the house to stay coed.

 

First Woman Commander

In the spring of 1974 Carol McGuire was elected the first woman Commander of the house.  Sigma Nu National was informed that a woman had been elected “Head of the House” rather than specifically as Commander.

 

At the same time a release was sent out by the MIT News Office about the fraternity with a female president.  A large number of newspapers throughout the country published stories on it, sometimes portraying Sigma Nu as a nationally coed fraternity.

 

The Break with Sigma Nu

In May of 1974, the Epsilon Theta chapter received a telegram from the High Council of Sigma Nu that the charter was suspended for “Failure to uphold the Ancient Customs and Fundamental Principles of the Fraternity.”

 

The chapter appealed the decision at the Grand Chapter and the High Council but both appeals were denied.

 

A charter for the new fraternity, Epsilon Theta, was drawn up, but a final copy was not produced until the following school year.

 

The Formation of Delta Pi

Delta Pi was formed in April of 1990 as a local fraternity to continue the brotherhood experienced by the members of the Mu Tau Chapter of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. A house was acquired for the new fraternity in the spring of 1991 and members began moving into the house during the summer of that year.

 

Rush 1991 proved successful for Delta Pi as seven men pledged but the following year the house became not financially viable.  Members moved to apartments in Boston and Cambridge.  At this point members also decided to cancel fall Rush because of their doubt in the fraternity’s future.  Another reason was that the move out of the house in Boston fell on the same weekend as Rush, making it impossible to accomplish both tasks at the same time.

 

The fall of 1992 proved to be a turning point as the younger members decided that the ideals of the fraternity were extremely important and must live on.  With this new direction the fraternity looked at several options.  One of the options was to affiliate with a national fraternity.

 

Affiliation with Sigma Nu

The decision to affiliate with Sigma Nu came after much research and discussion.  It was decided that the stability of a national fraternity would aid in maintaining the brotherhood.  Sigma Nu was the first choice of the members and they expressed interest in rechartering the Epsilon Theta Chapter.  With this as their goal, the members of Delta Pi formally disbanded and became the MIT Colony of Sigma Nu.

 

The Petition for Rechartering

Throughout the fall of 1994 the members of the MIT Colony worked on preparing a petition to send to Sigma Nu National requesting a charter.  This document was completed later that year and was officially submitted to Sigma Nu on December 4^th, 1994.

 

Sigma Nu Grants the Charter

On April 22^nd, 1995, Sigma Nu officially rechartered the Epsilon Theta Chapter (#100) at MIT.  Brothers from the Zeta Eta Chapter at Tufts University initiated the first members and the chapter was once again active.