Category Archives: Syracuse University

The Graduation Edition – Alumna / Alumnae /Alumnus / Alumni

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

I love the pomp and circumstance of graduation ceremonies. After all, I earned a degree based mainly on the color of the hood (two of my favorite colors wine and silver blue, which just happen to be Pi Beta Phi’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Beta Theta Pi, GLO, Goucher College, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Knox College, Syracuse University | Tagged alumna, alumnae, alumni, alumnus, graduation | 2 Comments

The First Fraternity House Built by Women for Women

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

Syracuse University has the distinction of being home to the first fraternity house owned by women. There were no dormitories for women when Alpha Phi and Gamma Phi Beta were founded in 1872 and 1874, respectively. In 1884, the Alpha … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Phi, Gamma Phi Beta, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, National Panhellenic Conference, Sorority History, Syracuse University, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Phi, first sorority house, first women's fraternity house, Syracuse University, Wellesley P. Coddington | Comments Off

Musings on a Western Union Telegram from Chi O to Pi Phi

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

This gem was found in a 1957 scrapbook. Evidently the Syracuse University Greek Week skit competition was fairly intense that year. The gracious ladies of the Chi Omega chapter sent a telegram to congratulate the winners, the sisters of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Chi Omega, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, National Panhellenic Conference, Pi Beta Phi, Syracuse University | Tagged Chi Omega, Pi Beta Phi, Syracuse University, Western Union Telegram | Comments Off

The Syracuse – Michigan Match-Up, the Non-Athletic Version

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

Syracuse and Michigan play a basketball game tonight. It’s part of the coveted Final Four of NCAA basketball. The Final Four usually not a big deal in the Becque household (well, at least not in my life – my sons … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Phi, Fran Favorite, Gamma Phi Beta, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Syracuse University, Theta Phi Alpha, University of Michigan | Tagged 2013 Final Four, NCAA Final Four, Syracuse University, Univeristy of Michigan | Comments Off

A Bittersweet Day in the Archives

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

Upon my arrival at the Pi Beta Phi Archives yesterday, I was met with about 30 boxes of various sizes and shapes. They were the remains of my own chapter, the New York Alpha Chapter of Pi Beta Phi. Its … Continue reading →

Posted in Grace Coolidge, Pi Beta Phi, Syracuse University | Tagged Marilyn Stevens Smith, New York Alpha Chapter of Pi Beta Phi, Pi Beta Phi, Syracuse University | Comments Off

From the Saltine Warrior to Otto the Orange – Happy Birthday Syracuse University!

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

Syracuse University celebrates its anniversary on Sunday, March 24, the day the Board of Trustees signed the University charter and certificate of incorporation. Syracuse is the only university whose mascot started as a goat, became an Indian, had a quick … Continue reading →

Posted in Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Lambda Chi Alpha, Syracuse University | Tagged Ivan Mestrovic, Luise Kaish, Otto the Orange, Saltine Warrior, Syracuse University | Comments Off

Celebrating the Rebirth of Two NPC Alpha Chapters!

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

This spring two National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) organizations are recolonizing their Alpha chapters. Zeta Tau Alpha is returning to its birthplace at Longwood University. Alpha Omicron Pi is revitalizing the chapter whose home will be the now co-ed Columbia University, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Barnard College, Boston University, Colby College, DePauw University, Farmville Four, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Knox College, Lombard College, Longwood University, Miami University, Mount Holyoke College, National Panhellenic Conference, Sorority History, Syracuse University, Women's Fraternities | Tagged National Panhellenic Conference, NPC, sorority history | 1 Comment

Syracuse University and the Tragedy of Pan Am Flight 103 Over Lockerbie

Posted on December 22, 2012 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

December 21, 1988, four days before Christmas, was to have been filled with joyful reunions. It quickly turned horrible for the families and friends of the 259 people on board and 11 on the ground who perished when Pan Am … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Tau Omega, Brown University, Delta Tau Delta, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Kappa Gamma, National Panhellenic Conference, NIC, North-American Interfraternity Conference, Ohio Wesleyan University, Phi Delta Theta, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sorority History, SUNY - Oswego, Syracuse University, Zeta Psi | Tagged Delta Tau Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Lockerbie, Pan Am Flight 103, Phi Delta Theta, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Syracuse University, Zeta Psi | Comments Off

Fraternity History and Sorority History Do Matter!

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

It’s been a year since I started this blog. Some people stumble upon it while trying to find out which presidents were fraternity men, or which Olympic athletes were sorority members, or any odd number of searches that will lead … Continue reading →

Posted in Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, Calvin Coolidge, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Knox College, Men's Fraternities, Mount Holyoke College, National Panhellenic Conference, Notable Sorority Women, P.E.O., Presidents, Sorority History, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Syracuse University, The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi, Women's Fraternities, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged Chi Omega, famous NPC women, famous sorority women, Greek-letter Organization History, P.E.O., sorority history, Women's fraternities, women's fraternity history | Comments Off

Doctors Who Wore Badges: Fraternity Women in Medicine 1867-1902

Posted on November 17, 2012 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

In 1870, there were 525 female doctors in the United States (Newcomer, 1959). Among the fraternity women who became physicians were founders of two NPC groups, Rachel Jane “Jennie” Nicol, a founder of Pi Beta Phi, and Eleanor Dorcas Pond … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Phi, Boston University, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, DePauw University, Gamma Phi Beta, GLO, Goucher College, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Iowa Wesleyan College, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Alpha Theta (magazine), Kappa Kappa Gamma, Knox College, Lombard College, Monmouth College, National Panhellenic Conference, Northwestern University, Notable Fraternity Women, Notable Sorority Women, Pi Beta Phi, Sorority History, Syracuse University, The Anchora of Delta Gamma, The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi, The Key of Kappa Kappa Gamma, The Trident of Delta Delta Delta, University of California at Berkeley, University of Kansas, University of Michigan, University of Vermont, Women's Fraternities, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged Alpha Phi, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Famous fraternity women, Female doctors, female physicians, Gamma Phi Beta, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Monmouth College, National Panhellenic Conference, Pi Beta Phi, sorority history, Syracuse University, University of Michigan, Women's fraternities, women's fraternity history | Comments Off