Zeta Psi
 | This article contains content that is written like an advertisement. (February 2020) |
| Zeta Psi | |
|---|---|
| ΖΨ | |
 | |
| Founded | June 1, 1847 New York University |
| Type | Social |
| Scope | International |
| Motto | ΤΚΦ (Honor and Brotherly Love) |
| Colors | Zeta Psi Gold Pure White Pure Black |
| Flag |  |
| Flower | White Carnation |
| Publication | The Circle |
| Philanthropy | Zete Kids USA |
| Chapters | 87 (53 Active, 34 Inactive) |
| Nickname | Zete |
| Headquarters | 15 South Henry St Pearl River, NY 10965 US |
| Website | Zeta Psi homepage |
Zeta Psi (ΖΨ) is one of the world's oldest collegiate fraternities. Its members are known as "Zetes" and have many notable alumni. Zeta Psi was founded on June 1, 1847 at New York University. The organization now comprises fifty-three active chapters and thirty-four inactive chapters, encompassing roughly fifty thousand brothers, and is a founding member of the North American Interfraternity Conference. It has historically been selective about the campuses at which it has established chapters,[1] focusing on forging new territory and maintaining a presence at prestigious institutions: it was the first Fraternity on the West Coast at the University of California, Berkeley June 10, 1870,[2] the first Fraternity in Canada at the University of Toronto,[3] March 27, 1879, and the only fraternity to have chapters simultaneously at all eight Ivy League schools with the chartering of the Eta Chapter at Yale University in 1889 (though this claim lasted only a few years, owing to faculty opposition to the Princeton University Chapter).[4] The fraternity became intercontinental on May 3, 2008 with the chartering of Iota Omicron at the University of Oxford, and then with the chartering of Theta Omicron at Trinity College Dublin in 2012. Its newest such chapter, Psi Omicron at the University of Paris, officially joined on May 18, 2019.
The public motto is Τιμε Και Φιλαδφοσ, meaning “honor and brotherly love”. It is often abbreviated by the initials of the words, “ΤΚΦ” (or occasionally as “TKP” when rendered in English).
Zeta Psi's international headquarters is located in Pearl River, New York.
Regalia and symbols
Colors
The official colors of the fraternity are white and gold,[5][6] the unofficial secondary color is black.
Flower
The fraternity flower is the white carnation.[5][6]
Flag
The flag of the Zeta Psi is a white field with the letters Zeta and Psi or the words Zeta Psi written in the center in gold, piped in black.
Pledge Pin
The Zeta Psi pledge pin is a white circle with a narrow gold outline.[6]
Badge
The badge of Zeta Psi consists of "a gold pin formed of the Greek letters Zeta and Psi and there shall be engraved upon it the letters O and A." The arms of the psi are also engraved, with a Roman fasces upon the right and a star upon the left. The badge is set with seven stones (usually pearl or jet) along each of the bars of the zeta, for a total of twenty-one.[5]>[6]
Patron Saints
Each chapter of Zeta Psi chooses at its founding a patron saint to represent the chapter. There is no particular criteria for a chapter patron saint, other than the chosen figure must have some historical significance either to the chapter or the chapter's respective locality.[7] The patron saints are as follows:
| University | Chapter Designation | Patron Saint |
|---|---|---|
| New York University | Phi | John Marshall |
| Williams College | Zeta | Mark Hopkins |
| Rutgers University | Delta | Benjamin Franklin |
| University of Pennsylvania | Sigma | Robert Morris |
| Colby College | Chi | Nelson Dingley |
| Brown University | Epsilon | Roger Williams |
| Dartmouth College | Psi Epsilon | Salmon P. Chase |
| Tufts University | Kappa | Paul Revere |
| Lafayette College | Tau | Marquis de Lafayette |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Upsilon | Augustus Van Wyck |
| University of Michigan | Xi | George Crockett Jr. |
| University of Chicago | Omega Alpha | Thomas Peters |
| Bowdoin College | Lambda | James Bowdoin |
| University of Virginia | Beta | Thomas Jefferson |
| Cornell University | Psi | Theodore Roosevelt |
| University of California, Berkeley | Iota | Meriwether Lewis |
| Syracuse University | Gamma | Ernie Davis |
| University of Toronto | Theta Xi | John McCrae |
| Columbia University | Alpha | Alexander Hamilton |
| McGill University | Alpha Psi | Anderson Ruffin Abbott |
| Case Western Reserve University | Nu | William Henry Harrison |
| Yale University | Eta | Nathan Hale |
| Stanford University | Mu | Leland Stanford |
| University of Minnesota | Alpha Beta | George Rogers Clark |
| University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign | Alpha Epsilon | Abraham Lincoln |
| University of Wisconsin | Lambda Psi | James Madison |
| University of Washington | Phi Lambda | George Washington |
| University of Manitoba | Pi Epsilon | Lord Selkirk |
| University of California, Los Angeles | Sigma Zeta | Zachary Taylor |
| University of British Columbia | Sigma Epsilon | George Vancouver |
| Western University | Theta Phi | Sir Frederick Banting |
| The American University | Delta Chi | Harvey Milk |
| Brock University | Theta Eta | Robert Nathaniel Dett |
Literature
Directory of the Zeta Psi Fraternity
First published in 1859, with two later editions in 1867 and 1883, the Catalogue of the Zeta Psi Fraternity contained names of members of the Fraternity arranged by chapters and years of initiation. In 1874, the Addenda to the Catalogue of the Zeta Psi Fraternity 1867-1874 was published to complement the 1867 edition of the Catalogue of the Zeta Psi Fraternity.[8][9] In 1888, the title was changed to the Directory of the Zeta Psi Fraternity and contact information was added for members of the Fraternity. Later editions of The Directory were produced in 1889, 1893, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1916, 1922, 1926, 1932, 1953, 1987, 1992, and 1998. Notably in 1899, the Semicentennial Biographical Catalogue of the Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America was published. This volume contained biographies of over 4000 members of Zeta Psi from 1847 to 1900 and historical information about each chapter. The Directory continues to be published on a regular basis and the modern version is a useful networking tool for members of the Zeta Psi Fraternity.[6][8][9][10]
Songs of the Zeta Psi Fraternity
First published in 1871, by undergraduate members of the Psi Chapter at Cornell University, Songs of the Zeta Psi Fraternity contains a collection of songs about the Zeta Psi Fraternity. Later editions appeared in 1890, 1897, 1903, 1914, and 1958. The Chapter, a brief compilation of poems, was also written by members of the Zeta Psi Fraternity in 1869.[8] [9][11]
The Jubilee of the Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America
Published in 1903, The Jubilee of the Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America is a record of the fiftieth anniversary of the Zeta Psi Fraternity. Likewise, The Double Diamond Jubilee of the Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America published in 1997 was an account of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Zeta Psi Fraternity, made to complement The Story of Zeta Psi. Both volumes include historical information on the fraternity and its chapters.[9][10][12]
The Circle
First published in June 1909, The Circle is the annual publication of the fraternity. The corresponding secretary has the duty of filing a report for The Circle every year. The Circle was preceded by other periodic publications that were unsuccessful. These publications were "The Zeta Psi Monthly" published in 1883; "The Zeta Psi Quarterly" published from 1884 to 1886; and "The Bulletin of the Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America" first published in 1897.[6][8][9]
The Story of Zeta Psi
Published in 1928, with two later editions, The Story of Zeta Psi contains the detailed history of the fraternity and each chapter founded up to the point of publication.
Pledge Manual of the Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America
The first published in 1942, the Pledge Manual of the Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America remains in publication and is a crucial source of information for men pledging the Zeta Psi Fraternity.[10]
Famous members
Zeta Psi alumni include many national business leaders, recognized athletes, government officials in the US and Canada, and brethren of notability in a broad array of fields.
Chapters
Zeta Psi, like all conventional university fraternities, operates as chapters at various campuses across North America and the world. Zeta Psi has chapters in five countries: Canada, the United States, England, Ireland, and France. Its chapter In Scotland is dormant.
Active chapters
The active chapter is the core of the Zeta Psi experience.
Chapter governance
Zeta Psi is modeled after most modern democracies in that they have legislative, judicial, and executive branches of governance.
Chapter meeting
Each chapter meeting with due quorum has the authority to act as the legislative organ of the chapter. Most chapters run their meetings with parliamentary rules of order.
Supreme Council
The Supreme Council is the chapter's only judicial body. It has authority to rule on almost any matter and its proceedings are held in camera. It is composed of the Phi and Alpha Phi and at least three elected members-at-large.
Naming
Each chapter in Zeta Psi has a unique name composed of one or two Greek letters. A petitioning colony that receives a charter chooses a name for their chapter. From this point on, the name is fixed. Even if the chapter goes inactive—in that it has no undergraduate members—the name will be taken up by any group that re-establishes a chapter at the university campus.
The name can be based on many different factors. For instance, it is common for new chapters to take on an element from an existing chapter that has helped them form. Theta Xi in Toronto adopted the Xi from their neighbor chapter in Michigan, and in turn chapters in Ontario started adding "Theta" as part of their name from their relationship to the Toronto chapter. There are now many chapters in Ontario and there is no pre-requisite to have a Theta in the name. Other times, a name is related to other factors like the Roman Catholic Villanova University chapter being named Alpha Omega due to the Christian significance.
A one or two-letter name can only be re-used if the chapter possessing the name is pronounced "deceased." This has not happened since 1892.
Elder chapters
For each undergraduate chapter at a campus, there is a corresponding elder chapter composed of alumni members.
Chapter governance
An elder chapter has a similar organizational structure to the active chapter, with Greek-letter officers and a supreme council.
Greek-letter officers
There are only six Greek-letter officers in the elder chapter that act as its executive.
- Phi – Φ – Elder President
- Alpha Phi – ΑΦ – Elder Vice-president
- Sigma – Σ – Elder Secretary
- Gamma – Γ – Elder Treasurer
- Delta – Δ – Elder historian
- Beta Pi – ΒΠ – Elder advisor to the active chapter
Chapter meeting
Elder chapters are also required to hold annual chapter meetings to serve as a legislative body.
Supreme Council
The Supreme Council is the chapter's only judicial body. It has authority to rule on almost any matter and its proceedings. It may hear appeals and rule on matters from the active supreme council. It is composed of all the elder officers and at least three elected members-at-large.
Naming
The elder chapter has the same name as the active chapter but has different organization, powers, and is legally a separate entity.
Geographical associations
Geographical associations are similar to elder chapters, in that they are composed of alumni and have a vote at Grand Chapter. However, they are larger in scope and have no active affiliation. Geographical associations mostly base their membership on alumni living in a metropolitan area.
Active geographical associations (as of 2006)
- Zeta Psi Washington, D.C. Elders Association
- Zeta Psi New York City Elders Association
- Philly Zete RAC
- Zeta Psi Chicago Alumni Club
- Zeta Psi Boston Alumni Club
- Zeta Psi Arizona Alumni Club
- Zeta Psi Dallas Alumni Club
- Houston Association of Zeta Psi
- Southern California Association of Zeta Psi Alumni
- Zeta Psi Alumni Association of Greater Pittsburgh
- Zeta Psi Elders Association of Durham
- Zeta Psi Elders Association of Toronto
- Zeta Psi Alumni of Cleveland
- Zeta Psi of Texas
Grand Chapter
The Grand Chapter is composed of the seven grand officers and one voting delegate from each active and elder chapter and geographical association. The Grand Chapter has complete and total authority over Zeta Psi.
Chapter governance
The Grand Chapter has a similar organizational structure to the active chapter, with Greek-letter officers but with an executive committee in place of a supreme council.
Greek-letter officers
Grand Chapter has the same number and function of Greek-letter officers however, the name has an additional "alpha" to denote it as different. At one point in time, there were several appointed officers each designated Chi Phi Alpha (ΧΦΑ) of a particular area (e.g. Canada, or the Northwest United States) which served as geographical representatives to the Grand Chapter.
- Phi Alpha – ΦΑ – President and executive head
- Alpha Phi Alpha – ΑΦΑ – Vice-president
- Sigma Alpha – ΣΑ – Secretary
- Alpha Sigma Alpha – ΑΣΑ – Assistant secretary (appointed)
- Gamma Alpha – ΓΑ – Treasurer and fiscal officer
- Delta Alpha – ΔΑ – Fraternity historian
- Sigma Rho Alpha – ΣΡΑ – Sergeant-at-arms (appointed)
- Beta Gamma – ΒΓ – Founder (appointed)
Annual meeting of the Board of Delegates
The Board of Delegates elects the Grand Chapter officers and may amend the by-laws and act as the legislative body of the Grand Chapter.
Executive Committee
The executive committee is constituted as follows: "Phi Alpha, Alpha Phi Alpha, Sigma Alpha, Gamma Alpha, Delta Alpha, and six representatives duly elected at large from the Fraternity for one year terms." In addition one member, but no more than two, must be members of an active chapter.
Zeta Psi in popular culture
- Steve Berman, who was a member of the Beta Tau chapter at Tulane University featured that chapter in the short story, "His Mouth Will Taste of Chernobyl".[citation needed]
See also
Notes
- ^ The Cyclopedia of Fraternities. New York: Hamilton Printing and Publishing Company. 1899. p. 357.
- ^ Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. New York: James T. Brown. 1920. pp. 397–403.
- ^ Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. New York: James T. Brown. 1920. p. 400.
- ^ Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. New York: James T. Brown. 1920. p. 398.
- ^ a b c Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. New York: James T. Brown. 1920. p. 402.
- ^ a b c d e f Directory of the Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America. New York: Trustees of the Zeta Psi Fraternity. 1926. pp. v, l–liii.
- ^ The Story of Zeta Psi. New York: Trustees of the Zeta Psi Fraternity. 1928. p. 695.
- ^ a b c d Semicentennial Biographical Catalogue of the Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America. New York: Zeta Psi. December 1899. pp. 913–914.
- ^ a b c d e Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. New York: James T. Brown. 1920. p. 401.
- ^ a b c Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America: Double Diamond Jubilee. Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Company. 1997.
- ^ The Chapter. New York: W. C. Rogers &. Co. Stationers and Printers. 1869. pp. 2–3.
- ^ The Jubilee of the Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America. New York: Zeta Psi. 1903.