Classroom

The original Pi Kappa Alpha was founded in 1868 at University of Virginia. Pike named their chapter at Trinity after the colony that resided before it, Epsilon Alpha. In 1953 the the fraternity became the 170th chapter to enter the Pike group. Tau Alpha was founded in 1948 as a result of a combining of two fraternities on campus, Alpha Tau Kappa and Phi Gamma Delta. The alumni of both fraternities who were once on campus came together to preserve the fraternities and therefore created Tau Alpha. After long consideration and developments made by brothers to go national as Pi Kappa Alpha the members of Tau Alpha voted to apply for the membership. The group Tau Alpha purchased and redecorated a house as well as gained new members in anticipation and preparation of becoming associated as a national fraternity. Officers from Pike nationals visited campus on inspection tours around this time in 1952-3. The house was visited by brothers in undergraduate chapters in the vicinity of Trinity as well. Currently Pike still resides at 94 Vernon St and is a very active chapter on campus. They attract many young men on campus who are involved in the community and stand by the principles of Pi Kappa Alpha.

Trinity Pikes outside current Chapter House 

The current Chapter House on 94 Vernon St 

Pi Kappa Alpha or Pike was established at Trinity College on May 2nd, 1953. The fraternity evolved from the Epsilon Alpha colony on February 3rd, 1953. The process for a colony to become a chapter usually takes about a year but for Epsilon Alpha it only took 3 months. What used to be Pike was known on Trinity Campus as Tau Alpha and converted in the spring of 1953. 

Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE)

This walking tour includes stops at a variety of historic homes that offer an overview of Trinity College's Greek Life Organizations. A centerpiece of the college's early history, these student organizations date back to the 19th century.

Trinity College Greek Life Tour

Lambda Alpha Upsilon or LAU was founded at the State University of New York at Buffalo. It was established on December 10th 1985. LAU was established as a support group that provides a social and cultural outlet for the greater Latino Community. The Omicron Chapter was founded at Trinity in 2016 and is currently still very active. The group made sure when they established at Trinity that although the organization is Latino-oriented it is not Latino Exclusive. Henry Chavez '18 a student at Trinity and report for the Trinity Tripod the school newspaper said in an article, "Each brother, in their personal and professional life, embodies these principles and LAU’s motto, “¡Venceremos Porque Nacimos Para Triunfar!” (We will overcome because we were born to triumph!)." The organizations mission is for young men to be educated together, and to build a network of successful people while at Trinity.

Lambda Alpha Upsilon a fraternity on campus also known as the Latino America Unida. It is a group at Trinity that consists of a network of professionals that promotes brotherhood, scholarship, and service to the community. They are a newer organization that was founded at Trinity on March 31st, 2016. 

Lambda Alpha Upsilon 

The Beta Beta Society was one of the oldest and strongest societies that existed on Trinity's campus. In 1872 about 30 years after its establishment and about 8 years prior to becoming a Psi Upsilon Chapter, the members of the Society created the Colt Trust Association after member Rev. William U. Colt one of the founders. The Colt Trust was made for the purpose of the Society to hold property or funds for the future. Beta Beta was made up of bishops, esteemed clergymen of the Protestant Episcopal Church, college presidents, professors, prominent lawyers, and businessmen. In 1879 there was a proposition for the Society to become a chapter of Psi Upsilon. The petition was presented at a convention and was promptly granted action. The installation of the chapter featured 33 alumni and 21 undergraduate brothers initiated. The chapter initiation took place on February 4th, 1880. The Beta Beta Society was honored and preserved to the name of the Chapter and has been credited to the fraternity. Years later the cornerstone of the Beta Beta Chapter House was laid on Vernon St on June 28th 1883.

Psi Upsilon also is known as "Psi U" was founded on Trinity campus on February 4th, 1880. It is one of Trinity's oldest fraternities next to Delta Psi which was founded in 1850. Psi Upsilon was previously a local society much like the other fraternities and sororities on Trinity's campus. It was a well known and established Society named Beta Beta which was organized in 1842. 

Psi Upsilon 

The original Pi Kappa Alpha was founded in 1868 at University of Virginia. Pike named their chapter at Trinity after the colony that resided before it, Epsilon Alpha. In 1953 the the fraternity became the 170th chapter to enter the Pike group. Tau Alpha was founded in 1948 as a result of a combining of two fraternities on campus, Alpha Tau Kappa and Phi Gamma Delta. The alumni of both fraternities who were once on campus came together to preserve the fraternities and therefore created Tau Alpha. After long consideration and developments made by brothers to go national as Pi Kappa Alpha the members of Tau Alpha voted to apply for the membership. The group Tau Alpha purchased and redecorated a house as well as gained new members in anticipation and preparation of becoming associated as a national fraternity. Officers from Pike nationals visited campus on inspection tours around this time in 1952-3. The house was visited by brothers in undergraduate chapters in the vicinity of Trinity as well. Currently Pike still resides at 94 Vernon St and is a very active chapter on campus. They attract many young men on campus who are involved in the community and stand by the principles of Pi Kappa Alpha.

After establishing at the new college campus they bought a lot on 122 Vernon Street on January 21st, 1886. They broke ground on building the new chapter house in 1890. When planning the architecture of the house they decided to design it as an ordinary home so it would sell easily if they decided to move to a more desirable location. The only part of the house that didn't fit with the regular home structure was the lodge room on the 3rd floor. In 1911 and 1912 additional land was added to the property to expand the property. The fraternity drew up plans for a new chapter house in 1912 but had to delay construction due to World War 1. After the war they planned to follow through the building but were delayed again from the Great Depression and WWII. In 1960 the fraternity celebrated the 125th anniversary of the Phi Kappa Society in which the chapter is named after. At the ceremony they revealed the new house plans. That same year the AD founded the Phi Kappa Educational Foundation that granted financial aid to students and sponsored educational events on campus. These events consisted of lectures and "fireside chats" in the Chapter house living room. in 1962 the old Chapter house was demolished and the construction began on a new two-story building. During demolition they salvaged a piece of cornerstone of red brick and set it in the new house with "1962" inscribed in the stone. The house altogether cost about $150,000 and was ready in January of 1963. The house was unique because it did not feature dormitory quarters, just social, dining and parking facilities. The house remained untouched until 1981 when they underwent a $20,000 renovation. The house still stands as the red brick house at 122 Vernon St today.

Alpha Delta Phi or AD for short is a nationally recognized fraternity that was established on Trinity campus on December 20th, 1877. It began as the Phi Kappa Society and current members at the time were initiated with an agreement signed on November 23rd, 1877. The Phi Kappa Society originated at Trinity when it was still Washington College. The society was founded on October 27th, 1835 and was the second secret society established at Washington College. 

When the society became affiliated with the chapter, it became the second international fraternity at the college. The Phi Kappa Society at the time known for its long and honorable history was recognized with the naming of the Alpha Delta Phi chapter. 

Alpha Delta Phi (AD) 

Saint Anthony Hall, which was built in 1878, owes much to the generosity of Robert Coleman, one of the county’s wealthiest industrialists in the 19th century. Coleman was an 1877 graduate of Trinity, and following his graduation, he assumed leadership of his family’s iron and steel companies and quickly became a very wealthy man. Coleman served three terms as an alumni trustee of Trinity and donated considerable sums to the college before losing most of his fortune in the Panic of 1893. Coleman donated $25,000 to the construction of the building. There were rumors at the time regarding the great cost of the hall’s construction and what that could mean for the future of the Epsilon Chapter’s finances. The chapter published a statement in the local newspaper informing readers that the building was free of financial obligation and would not be a burden to the chapter. Saint Anthony Hall is a two-story, High Victorian Gothic style structure that was designed by Josiah Cleveland Cady, a prominent architect at the time. The most significant feature of the building is the octagonal Chapter Room on the second floor. The room was designed in an octagonal shape because it was in this room that all official Chapter events and business would take place. The building has changed very little since the time of its construction. Some of the upstairs rooms, in particular, remain virtually unchanged and even include original furniture. Mementoes from the Chapter’s history are placed throughout the hall. Saint Anthony Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

Saint Anthony Hall was completed in 1878 for the use of the Epsilon Chapter of the fraternity Delta Psi at Trinity College. The chapter is the oldest at Trinity and members have long occupied central roles as both students and later as trustees and administrators of the college. The building has served continuously as the chapter’s headquarters, with most rooms serving their originally intended purposes. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Saint Anthony Hall

IVY first started at Tri-Delta and was founded at Trinity in February of 1981. Tri-Delta was founded at BU in 1888 and took almost 100 years to establish a chapter at Trinity. The girls opened the Beta Omega Chapter and it was the 122nd active chapter. Before 1981 Tri-Delta was Kappa Alpha Phi and eventually the local sorority wanted to affiliate nationally. They wanted to colonize as Tri-Delta because having a national affiliation helped them with scholarship funds, summer leadership school, and assistance from local Tri-Delta Alumnae. At the time Tri-Delta was the first soroity to obtain a house on campus. They were located on Vernon St right next to then what was the Religion/Philosophy building. Since then, IVY has converted into a local sorority again, and grown over the years since 1995-1997. Ivy is, “dedicated to building lasting friendship, developing strong social and academic personalities, and most importantly, forming well-rounded women.” It is a very popular sorority on campus today, and will continue to uphold the legacy of past sororities as well as creating new opportunities of growth for them as a Greek organization.

The IVY Society was once known on campus as the nationally recognized sorority Tri-Delta. In 1995 when the College trustees wanted to make all Greek Life co-educational the sorority was forced to reconsider their Greek standing on campus. As a compromise, Tri-Delta and Alpha Delta Phi united in what is called the Fire Society.  

The IVY Society 

Kappa Sigma was a late addition to Greek Life at Trinity. Establishing in 2012, plans to make the fraternity began in October of 2011. The idea came from a student, Greg Smith '13 who said that due to the exclusivity of the current fraternities on campus, he wanted to start a new organization. That same day the student called Kappa Sigma Nationals and sending a couple emails about beginning a new fraternity on campus. The goal of opening the chapter was to offer men of the college an alternative social club to the already established houses. Since the founding more than 100 members have passed through the chapter. In 2017 the Brotherhood moved from Crescent St where it originated to 144 Allen Place. After a complete remodel the house can now fit 8 brothers and there is now a kitchen to feed the brothers.

The Sigma Alpha chapter of Kappa Sigma was established on Trinity Campus in March of 2012. The fraternity has gained popularity over the 7 years it has been on Trinity campus and known to students at Kappa Sig. It is the National Fraternity's 364th Chapter. Kappa Sigma was founded at UVA in 1869 and has expanded to universities across the countries. 

Kappa Sigma 

In 1989 after the chapter was established Kappa moved to 162 Allen Place and initiated 22 new sisters. Later in 1991 the chapter renovated their house adding a new kitchen and bathrooms to the second floor. The sisters of Kappa became a very prominent and desirable sorority to join on campus. Then trouble struck when in 1995 there was pressure from college trustees about the Greek system going co-education. Kappa worked especially hard to show that women can make positive changes to make the system safe for all members of GLOs on campus. After the college backed off Kappa Kappa Gamma wanted to become more involved in philanthropy in an attempt to show the trustees that they made a correct decision. From 2014 on the sisters have participated in: Kappa Kisses in which they donate profits to an interval house in Hartford, Relay for Life, Involvement in the planning of Greek Week on campus, Trinity "do it day" where they spend an entire day giving back to the community, halloween on Vernon, and a masquerade Gala hosted with another fraternity St. Anthony Hall where they raise money for House of Bread. In 2014 Kappa Kappa Gamma moved to 116 Allen Place and has been located there as their chapter house ever since.

Kappa Kappa Gamma was founded on Trinity Campus on May 1st, 1982. It was established as the 110th chapter named Zeta Theta of the national sorority. Kappa was previously known as Alpha Zeta Chi a local women's sorority that sought Kappa colonization. In 1988 the women were successful to attain the membership. 

Kappa Kappa Gamma 

The Stella Society was created in the fall of 2016 and began accepting new members in 2017. The reason the group came together was because many young women on campus realized they had an opportunity to expand the number of GLOs available to women. The sorority is not nationally recognized as it is a lengthy and complicated process. As a society they want to contribute to the Trinity campus and community around Trinity in a positive and impactful way. Stella contributed to the sense of community across campus. Some of the founding members have said that an important value of Stella is community. They believe that strong communities are built off of relationships between individuals and groups and in this case GLOs. Stella is committed to adding to the atmosphere of positive connections within the Trinity community. Within this they have been very successful in their philanthropy efforts as a new group. Stella has made a relationship with My Sisters' Place and has donated money through their various fundraisers to make a lasting impact according to the organization. In the fall of 2017 the Sisterhood doubled in size as they were allowed to participate in Spring Rush. They have continued to grow in size and popularity over the past couple of years and recently moved to a different chapter house location in the fall of 2019. They were originally located on Brownell Avenue and have moved into 120 Allen Place along with other sororities Kappa Kappa Gamma and the IVY Society.

Stella Society was founded in 2016 by a hopeful group of young women. The decision to start the sorority was a collaborative effort that was both difficult and fun. The Sorority is one of Trinity's newer GLOs and is looking to make lasting impacts on Trinity's campus in the coming years. 

The Stella Society 

Carl's father Reverend Ziegler who attended Trinity wanted to found a Greek Letter society. He wrote a document on his beliefs of what the brotherhood should stand for in what they call the "exoteric manual of Alpha Chi Rho". The document would be the first non-secret statement that clearly listed the principles of the new fraternity. There were three men that accepted the first manual and they were Paul and Carl Ziegler and Herbert Sheriff. At the time all the active fraternities on Trinity's campus were apart of old prestigious national organizations and many had doubts of the survival of Alpha Chi Rho. The first meeting was help on June 4th 1895, and at the meeting they decided to name the chapter "Phi Psi". After 2 years Carl Ziegler and Herbert Sheriff were ready to graduate in 1897 and left the brotherhood in the hands of 17 brothers. This size was remarkable, because the fraternity had become one of the largest on campus with 1/6 of the student body in Alpha Chi Rho. It was the first fraternity on campus that accepted local students that were called "townies" as members. The fraternity at this time was beginning to spread across New England to other colleges. On June 23rd and 24th in 1896 they held the first convention in Hartford where they elected a president who served only the duration of the meeting. The chapter house of Alpha Chi Rho was located where Vernon Social currently stands from 1940-1995. Following the announcement of creating all co-ed Greek Life on Trinity campus in 1995, the fraternity closed temporarily. The property where the chapter house stood was then sold to the school. In 2000 the chapter was welcomed back on campus and moved locations a couple of times. The new chapter house now stands at 79 Allen Place and had been linked closely to the Trinity Football Team.

Alpha Chi Rho is unique because it was founded on Trinity College campus in 1895. The fraternity was founded by two young men Carl Ziegler and Herbert Sherriff after they were not invited to join the Beta Beta Chapter of Psi Upsilon. Alpha Chi Rho is a charter member of the North American interfraternity conference. 

Alpha Chi Rho 

Aaron Kirshenberg was an active student on campus involved in a number of clubs and organizations. In 2016 in his Sophomore year he felt that the school needed to add a chapter on campus and he wanted it to be AEPi. In an interview with a Trinity Tripod reporter he stated that, "I wanted to add the chapter to Trinity because I saw that were was no true Jewish Social Organization on Campus." He wanted to bring male members of the Trinity community together in a less religious aspect.  The fraternity even though it is associated with a Jewish background is not exclusively Jewish. On the Trinity website it states that Alpha Epsilon Pi, "provides opportunities for the Jewish college man seeking the best possible college and fraternity experience." The current president of the fraternity is Julian Laird '20.

Alpha Epsilon Pi or AEPi was founded and opened on Trinity Campus in 2016. It is a relatively new fraternity that was established by student Aaron Kirshenberg who was a sophomore at the time. He was a member of the class of 2018 and wanted to add a chapter to Trinity for a number of reasons. 

Trinity College Greek Life Tour

Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE)

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources