Epsilon Beta Bench at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

In 1926, three years after it was founded, Epsilon Beta, a local organization at Southern Illinois Normal University, gave this bench to the University. It sits in front of Wheeler Hall. At the time it was given, Wheeler Hall served as the library.

Epsilon Beta became part of a national organization, Delta Sigma Epsilon,in 1928. Delta Sigma Epsilon was a member of the Association of Education Sororities.

When the national organization merged with Delta Zeta in 1956, the SIUC chapter did not go along with the merger. Instead it became a local organization, Nu Delta Sigma, until a release from the merger was granted from the Delta Zeta national organization. The organization that started out as Epsilon Beta became the Beta Eta Chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta on September 21, 1957.

 

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A History of the Fraternity System at Southern Illinois University from 1948 – 1960

Posted on November 20, 2011 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

I hope to post the thesis as soon as I figure out how to do it. This is the abstract to whet your appetite.

A HISTORY OF THE FRATERNITY SYSTEM AT
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY FROM 1948 THROUGH 1960

Frances DeSimone Becque

ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to chronicle the history of the social fraternity system at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale during the years 1948-1960.  It includes a brief synopsis of events prior to 1948, the year Delyte W. Morris became President of the University.  The study concludes with the year the first four Small Group Housing buildings were completed.

The growth of the fraternity system is detailed including the Administration’s stance on home rule and non-discrimination, the consequences of which hindered several national men’s fraternities, including Sigma Pi and Sigma Phi Epsilon, in establishing chapters at SIU.  The quest for University-owned fraternity housing is chronicled. Also discussed are the mergers affecting the women’s fraternities,including the merger of the Association of Education Sororities and the National Panhellenic Conference and the merger of Delta Sigma Epsilon and Delta Zeta on the national level as well as the national merger of Pi Kappa Sigma and Sigma Kappa.

In addition, a brief history is given of all the men’s and women’s fraternities at SIU from 1923 until 1960. The Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council are discussed as are the Greek Week activities.

The Appendices include winners of the Service to Southern Award, Most Valuable Fraternity Man and Sorority Woman Award, Kappa Delta Alpha/Theta Xi Variety Show, and Greek Sing for the years from 1948-1960. The addresses of the fraternity groups are also listed as are the first residents of the Small Group Housing area. A compilation of the fraternal groups is given for the years 1948, 1960, and 1991.

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Thanks for Visiting My Blog!

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

Welcome!

The history of women’s fraternities has been one of my great passions. I was likely the last person anyone in my high school would have suspected would join a sorority in college. I am sure I would have agreed with them, too.

When I made my way to Syracuse University, I saw the houses with the Greek letters that edged Walnut Park – some more impressive than others – and wished I could tour them. My freshman roommate suggested I sign up for rush (as it was then called – it’s known as recruitment today) and go through the house tour round and then drop out of rush. It sounded like a terrific plan to me. I didn’t realize that I would find a chapter that I wanted to be a part of and I ended up pledging the New York Alpha Chapter of Pi Beta Phi.

During my time in the chapter, I found the collection of bound Arrows, its magazine. I would sit in the second floor smoker – the open space between the stairs to the second floor and the stairs to the third – and read about the history of the organization.

In this blog I will share my love of the history of the women’s fraternity system. My dissertation “Coeducation and the History of Women’s Fraternities 1867-1902″ chronicles the growth of the system and the birth of the National Panhellenic Conference. I will make the dissertation available.

My masters thesis was on the history of the fraternity system at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and I will also make that available as well.

I hope you’ll follow my blog.

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