History

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  • A comprehensive look at our history...

    1935

    • Sigma Theta Kappa Sorority (local) becomes the first sorority on campus. They met in Mississippi Hall.
    • Kappa Alpha Tau Fraternity (local) founded from the X.X.X. Club.
    • All social dances for fraternities and sororities exist in the “Pine Haven Lodge” which was located in what is now the gated parking lot behind AKA in The Village. Pine Haven Lodge used to be the country club building for the campus golf course

     

    1937

    • Gamma Delta Tau Sorority (local) founded to become Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority, the first national sorority on campus.
    • Mu Omega Sorority (local) founded. They also met in Mississippi Hall.
    • Kappa Phi Sigma Fraternity (local) founded. They would meet in College Hall.
    • Sigma Beta Sorority (local) founded.
    • The “Pan-Hellenic Council” is formed for fraternities & sororities to govern rush.  Some of their initial rules included:
      • The men would have rush in November, the women in April
      • Chapters would draw dates for their parties from a hat
      • No chapter may have more than two rush parties
      • No chapter may issue invitations to their parties until after the Pan-Hellenic party
      • No chapter may persuade a person to leave another chapter’s rush party
      • No chapter may spend more than $25 in rush. Each chapter will submit documentation of their expenditures including alumni donations


    1938

    • Sigma Beta Sorority becomes Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority, the second national sorority on campus.
    • Delta Sigma Sorority (local) is founded with a dream to become national.

     

    1940

    Delta Sigma Sorority becomes Delta Sigma Epsilon Sorority, accomplishing their dream of becoming a national organization.

     

    1941
    Kappa Phi Sigma Fraternity (local) becomes Zeta Sigma, the first national men’s fraternity.

     

    1942
    Kappa Alpha Tau Fraternity closes.

     

    1946
    Ole Southern Club (local) is founded as non-Greek-letter fraternity.

     

    1947

    • Zeta Sigma Fraternity disbands nationally following World War II.  The Mississippi Southern College chapter changes its name to Sigma Zeta Fraternity (local).
    • Alpha Delta Mu Fraternity (local) is founded.

     

    1948

    • Sigma Zeta Fraternity (local) closes.
    • Beta Kappa Tau Fraternity (local) starts to become Phi Kappa Tau, the second national fraternity on campus.
    • Ole Southern Club (local) membership splits up to become Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

     

    1949

    • Remaining members of the Ole Southern Club (local) become Kappa Alpha Order.
    • Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity founded.
    • Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity founded.
    • Sigma Theta Kappa Sorority (the oldest local sorority on campus) becomes Kappa Delta Sorority.Mu Omega Sorority (local) becomes Chi Omega Fraternity.

     

    1950
    Phi Mu Fraternity founded.

     

    1951
    Delta Delta Delta Fraternity Founded

     

    1952
    Alpha Delta Mu Fraternity (local) becomes a colony of Theta Chi Fraternity. Unfortunately, it would close within the year.

     

    1953
    Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity founded.

     

    1954
    The Panhellenic House came to be. It was located in what is now a parking lot behind Mississippi Hall, across from the new stadium addition.

     

    1956
    Delta Sigma Epsilon is absorbed into Delta Zeta Sorority.

     

    1961

    • Pi Beta Phi Fraternity founded.
    • Acacia Fraternity founded. It would be Southern’s first national non-Greek letter fraternity.

     

    1965

    • Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity founded.
    • All sororities move out of the Panhellenic House and into what is now Wilber Hall, named after Iva O. Wilber, the first Panhellenic advisor. At the time, the dormitory was just called “Panhellenic.”

     

    1966
    Kappa Sigma house burns to the ground, partially destroying the Pi Kappa Alpha house in the process.

     

    1967

    • The Order of Omega founded. Nationally, Southern’s chapter would be recognized as the Beta chapter of that organization.
    • Alpha Tau Omega placed on 1-year social probation by the IFC for “Homecoming Decorations  not in good taste.”
    • The IFC is named “Top IFC” in the nation and in the South by the NIC (North American Interfraternity Conference) and SEIFC (Southeastern Inter-Fraternity Conference).

     

    1968

    • Sigma Nu Fraternity founded.
    • Kappa Sigma, SAE, and Pike open houses on “new Fraternity Row.”
    • Acacia Fraternity closes its doors due to low membership.

     

    1971
    Delta Gamma Fraternity founded.

     

    1975

    • 7 Jewels Study Club (local) founded with exclusive African American membership.
    • Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is founded.
    • Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is founded.
    • Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is founded.

     

    1976

    • Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is founded from membership in the 7 Jewels Study Club.
    • Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. is founded.

     

    1978
    Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. is founded.

     

    1980
    Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. is founded.

     

    1981
    Sigma Chi Fraternity is founded.

     

    1983
    First integrated “Greek Week” has IFC, Panhellenic and NPHC groups compete together.

     

    1984
    Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. is founded.


    1985

    • Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority is closed for low membership.
    • Alpha Delta Pi Sorority is founded.
    • Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. becomes the first historically black-Greek letter organization to move into the Panhellenic Dormitory (Wilber Hall)

     

    1986
    Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity is founded.

     

    1987

    • Delta Tau Delta Fraternity is founded.
    • Kappa Alpha Order loses their house on fraternity row because of outstanding debt.
    • IFC Honored as “Top IFC” in the South by the SEIFC.

     

    1988

    • Pi Kappa Alpha nearly closes when members assaulted a campus police officer at spring parties. Chapter is reorganized to save its charter.
    • Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. is closed for hazing.
    • Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is closed for violating their national Intake protocol by crossing an underground line while on moratorium.

     

    1989

    • B-wing of the Pike house burns down. It would be replaced by a “party barn.”
    • Sigma Nu relinquishes its house on fraternity row because of excessive debt.

     

    1990
    Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity wins True Merit Award from their national organization.

     

    1991
    Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority closed for low membership.

     

    1993

    • NPHC founded to unify all historically African-American Greek-letter organizations.
    • Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. closed because of hazing.
    • Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity builds final house on fraternity row.

     

    1994
    Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. closed for hazing.

     

    1996
    Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity wins True Merit Award from their national organization.

     

    1997
    Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity wins True Merit Award from their national organization.

     

    1998

    • Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity wins True Merit Award from their national organization.
    • Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. closed because of hazing.
    • Delta Zeta Sorority closed for low membership.
    • Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. returns to campus.
    • Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity founded.
    • Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity founded.

     

    1999
    Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity wins True Merit Award from their national organization.

     

    2000

    • Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity wins True Merit Award from their national organization.
    • Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity closed because of low membership.
    • Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. returns.

     

    2001

    • Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity wins True Merit Award from their national organization.
    • Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity becomes the first African American Greek-letter organization to receive a chapter house (the old Tau Kappa Epsilon house)

     

    2002

    • Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity wins True Merit Award from their national organization.
    • NPC changes their council name to CPC - signifying the Collegiate Panhellenic Council.
    • Members of Pi Kappa Alpha implicated in assault of persons after Jackson State/Southern Miss football game.  Chapter and University are sued as crime is called “hate crime” by local media and plaintiffs.

     

    2003
    Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity wins True Merit Award from their national organization.

     

    2004

    • Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity wins True Merit Award from their national organization.
    • Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. returns.

     

    2005

    • Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity wins True Merit Award from their national organization.
    • Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. founded.
    • Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. closed for hazing.

     

    2006

    • Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity wins True Merit Award from their national organization.
    • Groundbreaking on The Village, a campus housing project for sororities.

     

    2008

    • Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity wins True Merit Award from their national organization.
    • Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity closes because of low membership.
    • Kappa Sigma Fraternity closes because of risk management issues involving alcohol and hazing (Little Sister program).

     

    2009

    • Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. returns.
    • Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity wins Fogerty Award - #1 Pi Kapp chapter in the country.


    Additional Topics of Interest
    Housing

    • “Old Row” was the first set of houses built in the 1950’s and existed where the Thames Polymer Science Building is today. Chapters located on the Old Row were Phi Kappa Tau, Alpha Tau Omega, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Kappa Alpha Order.
    • “Panhellenic House” was the first set of living quarters for the sororities. It existed in the 50’s and was located behind Mississippi Hall in the parking lot across from the new football stadium addition.
    • (New) “Fraternity Row” was the second set of fraternity houses built after 1967. It would house Kappa Sigma, SAE and Pike originally.  Following them: 
      • Phi Kappa Tau in the early 1970’s.
      • Kappa Alpha Order (in what is now the Sigma Chi house) in the early 1970’s.
      • Sigma Phi Epsilon (in what is now the Delta Tau Delta house) in the late 1980’s.
      • Sigma Nu (in what is now the Sigma Phi Epsilon house) in the late 1980’s.
      • Alpha Tau Omega in 1989.

     

    • “Panhellenic” Dormitory (later renamed Wilber Hall after Mrs. Iva O. Wilber, the first Panhellenic advisor) would open in 1965 and house all the sororities.
    • Ross Boulevard housed other chapters between 1970 and today:
    • Sigma Chi lived in a house next to what is now Sigma Nu.
    • Delta Tau Delta lived in what is now the Sigma Nu house.

     

    • House mom’s/dad’s cease to exist in 1988 due to low interest and a negative change in men’s overall behavior.
    • Alpha Phi Alpha moves into the Tau Kappa Epsilon House in 2001 making them the first African American Greek-letter organization to have a campus chapter house.
    • The Village groundbreaking occurred in 2006, giving all CPC sororities an individual chapter facility, as well as Alpha Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta who are members of the NPHC.


    Awards and Recognitions
    1967 - IFC named “Most Outstanding” regionally at SEIFC and nationally at North American Interfraternity Conference.
    1987 - IFC named “Most Outstanding” regionally at SEIFC.
    2002 - NPHC named “Most Outstanding” regionally at NPHC.
    2005 - NPHC named “Most Outstanding” regionally and nationally at NPHC.
    2009 - Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity wins Fogerty Award (top chapter in nation).
    1990, 1996-2006, 2007 - Alpha Tau Omega awarded “True Merit” nationally

     

    The Office of Greek Life and its Directors
    1955-1967: Iva O. Wilber, Assistant Dean of Women
    1955: J. T. Palmer, Assistant Dean of Men
    1956-1958: Raymond Clegg, Assistant Dean of Men
    1959-1966: Rader Grantham, Assistant Dean of Men
    1966-1070: Horace Dickerson, Assistant Dean of Men
    1967-1970: Sally Hines, Assistant Dean of Women
    1970-1972: Linda Amacker, Assistant Dean of Women
    1970-1980: Berringer Brechtel, Assistant Dean of Men
    1972-1984: Barbara Ross, Assistant Dean of Women
    1980-1984: Rick Wright, Assistant Dean of Men
    1984: Barbara Ross, Director of Greek Life - establishes the Office of Greek Life
    1989: Charles Goodman, Director of Greek Life
    1989-1995: Martha Fortenberry, Director of Greek Life
    1995-1997: Tom Shoemaker, Director of Greek Life
    1997-1999: Alicia Edwards, Director of Greek Life
    1999-2003: Wynde Fitts, Assistant Dean of Students for Greek Life
    2004-2007: John Burks, Assistant Dean of Students for Greek Life
    2008-2009: Trey Skaggs, Assistant Dean of Students for Greek Life
    2009-2010: Josh Schutts, Assistant Dean of Students for Greek Life

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