The Greeks of Troy
More Than 150 Years of Fraternity & Sorority
History at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Created by Raymond A. Lutzky ‘02 of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity
on behalf of The Office of Greek Life & the Dean of Students Office at Rensselaer
October 22, 2005
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
About Raymond A. Lutzky ‘02:
•Graduated in 2002 with a BS in EMAC, MS from Syracuse in ‘03
•Rensselaer Greek Man of the Year 2000 & 2001
•Alumni Advisory Board, LCA @ Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
•President, Colorado Chapter, Rensselaer Alumni Association
•Recruitment & Expansion Committee, LCA International
•Alumni Advisory Board, PKF @ Colorado State University
•Director of Marketing Communications, CAMPUSPEAK, Inc.
•Greek Life Speaker & Facilitator Across the United States
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Amos Eaton arrives in Troy, New York, after traveling
and lecturing across the northeastern United States.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
America’s first “sororities” began at “Troy Institute” for
women, which later became the Emma Willard School.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
The Rensselaer School is founded through the
patronage of Stephen Van Rensselaer. Amos Eaton
becomes Senior Professor (equivalent of Provost).
Becomes The Rensselaer Institute in 1835.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Delta Phi Fraternity (1827), along with Kappa Alpha Society (1825) and Sigma Phi Society
(1827), all founded at Union College in Schenectady, NY, comprise the hallowed Union Triad the first three social college fraternities. From these three fraternities at Union College
(regarded as the "Mother of Fraternities") can be traced the extensive greek system seen on
college campuses today. Adding to the challenges facing the nascent fraternities was the
authority of the man seeking their destruction, Dr. Eliphalet Nott who was one of the foremost
scientists of his day and had served as president of Union College since 1804.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Dr. Eliphalet Nott, who was already
serving as President of Union College, is
named “Director” (President) of the
Rensselaer Institute. He visited the
school at least every third week and was
compensated with $1 per visit plus all
graduation fees. Rensselaer became the
first civilian school to graduate civil
engineers in 1835, and Union began
offering a degree in civil engineering
after Nott's resignation from RPI in 1845.
Nott remained President of Union
College until 1866.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Stephen Van Rensselaer dies.
Stephen Van Rensselaer
was a Harvard graduate, a
millionaire, a philanthropist,
and the head of one of the
leading families of New York
State. He became New
York's Lieutenant Governor
and served as a member of
the United States House of
Representatives.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Professor Amos Eaton dies.
Born the same year the US
declared its independence, after
founding the Rensselaer School in
1824 Eaton served as Senior
Professor for the rest of his life. He
trained a significant number of
influential scientists of the day, and
remained involved with Rensselaer
until his death on May 10 at age 66.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
The VERY FIRST fraternity at
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was…
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
“Delta Charge” of Theta Delta Chi colonized by Union
College chapter, first founded in 1847. Greek life
begins at Rensselaer. Today, Theta Delta Chi has
chapters on over 40 campuses (but not at RPI!)
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
SD
Competing “secret society”
formed, which eventually
became…
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Alpha Chapter is formed. (Today, Theta Xi Fraternity has
close to 60 chapters nationwide). Founded at location
currently occupied by the Greene Building. Theta Xi was
the only fraternity formed during the Civil War.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
The Lambda chapter of Delta
Phi Fraternity was created on
the Rensselaer campus also in
1864, almost 40 years after
they were founded at
Union College.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Pi Chapter of Zeta Psi
founded at Rensselaer.
(National fraternity
founded at New York
University in 1847).
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Rensselaer Society of
Engineers (RSE)
is founded as Pi Eta Scientific
Society (would later change name in
1882). One of the ten oldest local
fraternities in the United States today.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
After a failed colonization
attempt in 1867, Chi Phi
Fraternity forms at RPI.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Upsilon chapter of Delta Tau Delta
created on September 11, 1879.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
First recorded fraternal hazing in
the United States.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Union Hispano-Americana
founded at RPI. Oldest Hispanic
American student organization in
the United States. Becomes Phi
Iota Alpha Fraternity in 1931.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Palmer C. Ricketts, Class of
1875 and brother of Theta Xi
Fraternity, becomes the first
President of RPI after
serving as “Director” since
1892. Re-built campus after
the fire of 1904.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
The number of fraternities
on campus grows from 8 to
23 chapters. 1912 saw the
first fraternity houses.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Delta chapter of
Theta Chi Fraternity
installed at RPI on
September 25,
1908.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Latin American fraternity
Pi Delta Phi Fraternity
was founded at
Massachusetts Institute
of Technology and
becomes Phi Lambda
Alpha after merging with
Union Hispano
Americana at RPI in
1919.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Originally The Knights
of the Sphynx, this
group chartered as
Phi Kappa Tau,
November 28, 1922
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Phi Kappa Theta (Ski Lodge)
is formed at Rensselaer.
Robert Riggs ‘02 currently
serves Phi Kappa Theta as
Executive Director.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Nu Eta Chapter of Phi Mu
Delta Fraternity forms at
Rensselaer.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Delegates from Phi Lambda Alpha Fraternity
(at RPI/Berkeley/MIT) and Sigma Iota
Fraternity (Louisiana State) assembled at
Troy, NY with the objective of forming a
strong and extensive Fraternity to address
the needs of Latin Americans in universities
in the US. Phi Iota Alpha was created.
Today, Phi Iota Alpha has over 40 chapters.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity (Castle)
founded on June 12, 1931.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Pi Kappa Alpha
Fraternity (Pikes)
Gamma Tau chapter
founded on May 2, 1935.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Local fraternity Delta Sigma
Lambda becomes chapter of
Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity at
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Sigma Zeta, a local
fraternity, becomes the
Theta Beta chapter of
Theta Upsilon Omega
National Fraternity….
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
….which merges with Sigma Phi
Epsilon National Fraternity in
1938. The chapter becomes
SigEp at Rensselaer.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Chapter at Rensselaer
established November
16, 1940.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Alpha Chi Rho
(“Crows”) comes to
Rensselaer.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
The Fellowcraft Club
formed in 1947, which
becomes Phi Mu Beta
Fraternity in 1948 and a
chapter of Acacia
Fraternity in 1949.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Tau Kappa Epsilon
Fraternity, Gamma
Epsilon chapter, founded
at Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute in 1949.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Gamma Tetarton of Phi
Sigma Kappa founded
October 14, 1950.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Sigma Chi Fraternity
established
December 2, 1950.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Alpha Epsilon Pi
founded at RPI.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
New York Epsilon of
Sigma Alpha Epsilon
forms at Rensselaer.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
First national hockey
championship!
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
First Tau Epsilon Phi
chapter established.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
New York Kappa Tau
chapter of Pi Lambda
Phi Fraternity formed
at Rensselaer.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
“Independent Council” organized to
counter the effect of the Interfraternity
Council. They began by instituting
dining reforms and leadership training
for students.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Rensselaer chapter of Zeta
Beta Tau is installed May 11,
1962.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
George Low, alumnus & Delta Phi
brother, helps put the first man on the
moon with the Apollo program.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Fraternities and sororities begin a
period of national decline.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
George M. Low becomes president of RPI for
8 years, from 1976 until his death in 1984.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Rensselaer’s first sorority.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Fundraising
campaign under
President Low raises
$52 million.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Break away Tau Epsilon
Phi chapter becomes the
Epsilon Iota chapter of
Psi Upsilon Fraternity.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Omicron Upsilon
Chapter of Alpha Phi
Alpha is founded at
Rensselaer.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
NY Epsilon chapter of
women’s fraternity
founded at Rensselaer.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI)
formed at Rensselaer.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
President George M. Low
loses his long battle with
cancer on July 17, while in
office at Rensselaer.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Roland Schmitt, non-Greek and
former General Electric executive,
becomes 16th President of
Rensselaer. Schmitt oversaw
completion of the New Century
Campaign for $200 million in 1993
and establishment of a variety of
new research initiatives. A popular
president and respected
statesman, he focused national
attention on Rensselaer.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
The Statement of
Relationship between
Rensselaer and Social
Fraternities and
Sororities is created.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
R. Byron Pipes, a brother of Sigma
Nu Fraternity, becomes 17th
President of RPI. Today he is the
John L. Bray Professor of
Engineering at Purdue University.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Alpha Phi Fraternity for
women established at
Rensselaer.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
La Sociedad de Damas:
Sigma Delta Sorority Inc.,
a local sorority created for
Latin American women is
established at Rensselaer.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Trustee Cornelius J. Barton ‘58, a brother of
Delta Phi Fraternity, becomes Acting President
after the resignation of President R. Byron
Pipes. Laptop pilot program begins.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
2nd chapter formed December 11, 1998.
Original chapter had years earlier become
a chapter of Psi Upsilon Fraternity.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Originally a colony in 1994,
this group was chartered in
1998 on November 14.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D. a
sister of Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority, Inc., is named
president of Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute. She
becomes the first African
American woman to lead a
major research university.
Dr. Jackson was president of
her chapter of Delta Sigma
Theta at MIT for two years.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Rensselaer holds the Greek
L.I.F.E. Forum with alumni,
students, and VIPs to revise
the Relationship Statement.
Travis Apgar named Assistant
Dean of Students.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Norris Pearson, director
of conference services
and former Greek dean,
runs a marathon in June.
He raised contributions
only from Rensselaer’s
Greek chapters.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Rift between the City of
Troy and Rensselaer’s
Greek chapters widens
when the Troy City Council
passes an ordinance
allowing arrests of chapter
presidents for noise
violations.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer
Pi Delta Psi Fraternity, Inc.
becomes the first asian
fraternity to establish at
Rensselaer. Received IFC
recognition.
The Greeks of Troy
150+ Years of Greek Life at Rensselaer