Phi Sigma Epsilon
Encyclopedia
Phi Sigma Epsilon was a North American social fraternity that operated for 75 years (20 February 1910 - 14 August 1985) until it merged with the Phi Sigma Kappa
fraternity. The traditions and values of Phi Sigma Epsilon live on through Phi Sigma Kappa and its members.
. The early years of Phi Sigma Epsilon were stormy ones for there was much opposition to secret societies, and the fraternity had to exist as an underground organization until 1912. Phi Sigma Epsilon was considered an outlaw organization and frowned upon by many of the college authorities and citizens. However, the fraternity's willingness to cooperate, and its program of scholastic and social improvements, soon won support and admiration. Finally, in 1913, Phi Sigma Epsilon was officially recognized on campus, and Prof. C. R. Phipps became the sponsor.
of Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburg, Kansas. From these unions, ΦΣΕ became a national teacher's fraternity and a group of members authored the fraternity's new ritual.
In 1937, Phi Sigma Epsilon worked with Sigma Tau Kappa to form an association of Teachers' College Fraternities.
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Phi Sigma Kappa
-Phi Sigma Kappa's Creed and Cardinal Principles:The 1934 Convention in Ann Arbor brought more changes for the fraternity. Brother Stewart W. Herman of Gettysburg wrote and presented the Creed, and Brother Ralph Watts of Massachusetts drafted and presented the Cardinal Principles.-World War II:The...
fraternity. The traditions and values of Phi Sigma Epsilon live on through Phi Sigma Kappa and its members.
History
The Phi Sigma Epsilon Fraternity (ΦΣΕ) was founded on 20 February 1910 at Kansas State Normal College, now Emporia State UniversityEmporia State University
Emporia State University is a university in the city of Emporia in Lyon County, Kansas, just east of the Flint Hills.- History :...
. The early years of Phi Sigma Epsilon were stormy ones for there was much opposition to secret societies, and the fraternity had to exist as an underground organization until 1912. Phi Sigma Epsilon was considered an outlaw organization and frowned upon by many of the college authorities and citizens. However, the fraternity's willingness to cooperate, and its program of scholastic and social improvements, soon won support and admiration. Finally, in 1913, Phi Sigma Epsilon was officially recognized on campus, and Prof. C. R. Phipps became the sponsor.
Expansion of Phi Sigma Epsilon
In 1926, ΦΣΕ held preliminary meetings with Sigma Delta Tau of nearby Kirksville State Teachers College in Kirksville, Missouri, and Pi Sigma EpsilonPi Sigma Epsilon
'ΠΣΕ ' is the only national, professional fraternal organization in sales, marketing, and management in the United States. The fraternity was developed by four members of the Sales and Marketing Executives association of Atlanta, Georgia...
of Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburg, Kansas. From these unions, ΦΣΕ became a national teacher's fraternity and a group of members authored the fraternity's new ritual.
In 1937, Phi Sigma Epsilon worked with Sigma Tau Kappa to form an association of Teachers' College Fraternities.
Closing and Reopening
The fraternity expanded to many other campuses until every chapter ceased operations between 1941 and 1946 because of the lack of manpower caused by World War II. Under the leadership of National President Shannon Flowers, however, the fraternity was successfully revived after the war. By 1947, Phi Sigma Epsilon was no longer strictly a fraternity for teachers. In 1952, the fraternity became a junior member of the NICNorth-American Interfraternity Conference
The North-American Interfraternity Conference , is an association of collegiate men's fraternities that was formally organized in 1910, although it began on November 27, 1909. The power of the organization rests in a House of Delegates where each member fraternity is represented by a single delegate...
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Growth and Decline
Phi Sigma Epsilon had an unofficial goal of having sixty chapters. Between 1958 and 1970, it doubled in size to reach this goal. After 1970, growth nearly ceased as expenses grew and, like many fraternities, it had difficulty managing the chapters, especially the Eta Chapter at SOSU which was especially independent and rowdy. Despite having a chapter GPA of 3.88, the Phi Sig Eta chapter were often troubled with claims of lewd parties (Playboy Ball,Goat Roast) and all nighters. The chapter had since begun a move to re-establish itself as a power in the social fraternity circles and vows to again be seen and heard on campuses across America.The Merger
In 1984, National President James Whitfield was approached by Grand President Anthony Fusaro of Phi Sigma Kappa with a suggestion that the two fraternities consider the possibility of a merger. The negotiations which followed resulted in the joining of the two fraternities at the 50th General Convention of Phi Sigma Kappa in Washington, D.C., on August 14th, 1985. In 1987 the Phi Sigma Kappa flag and crest were changed to incorporate the symbolism of Phi Sigma Epsilon, thus formally finalizing the merger.ΦΣΕ Founders
- Raymond Victor Bottomly
- W. Roy Campbell
- W. Ingram Forde
- Humphrey Jones
- Robert C. Marley
- Orin M. Rhine
- Fred M. Thompson
Previous Chapters of ΦΣΕ Still Active as Chapters of ΦΣΚ
- Henderson State (Epsilon Rho)
- Wisconsin Whitewater (Epsilon Upsilon)
- Wisconsin Milwaukee (Epsilon Phi)
- Truman State University (Gamma Epsilon)
- Ball State University (Epsilon Tau)
- Northwest Missouri State University (Epsilon Nu)
- Ferris State University (Sigma Epsilon)
- Northeastern State University (Epsilon Epsilon)
- Pittsburg State UniversityPittsburg State UniversityPittsburg State University, also called Pitt State or PSU, is a public university with approximately 7,100 students located in Pittsburg, Kansas, United States. A large percentage of the student population consists of residents within the Pittsburg region; the gender proportion is relatively equal...
(Beta Epsilon) Pittsburg, KansasPittsburg, KansasPittsburg is a city in Crawford County, in southeastern Kansas, United States. It is the most populous city in Crawford County and in southeastern Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 20,233.-History:... - Shepherd College (Sigma Chi), Shepherdstown, West VirginiaShepherdstown, West VirginiaShepherdstown is a town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States, located along the Potomac River. It is the oldest town in the state, having been chartered in 1762 by Colonial Virginia's General Assembly. Since 1863, Shepherdstown has been in West Virginia, and is the oldest town in...
- Valparaiso UniversityValparaiso UniversityValparaiso University, known colloquially as Valpo, is a regionally accredited private university located in the city of Valparaiso in the U.S. state of Indiana. Founded in 1859, it consists of five undergraduate colleges, a graduate school, a nursing school and a law school...
(Phi Upsilon) Valparaiso, IndianaValparaiso, IndianaValparaiso is a city in and the county seat of Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 31,730 at the 2010 census, making it the 2nd largest city in Porter County.-History:... - Shippensburg University (Phi Theta) Shippensburg, PennsylvaniaShippensburg, PennsylvaniaShippensburg is a borough in Cumberland and Franklin counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Settled in 1730, Shippensburg lies in the Cumberland Valley, 41 miles west-southwest of Harrisburg, and is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 1900, 3,228 people...
- University of Central MissouriUniversity of Central MissouriThe University of Central Missouri is a four-year public institution in Warrensburg, Missouri.- History :...
(Epsilon Iota), Warrensburg, MissouriWarrensburg, MissouriWarrensburg is a city in Johnson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 16,340 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Johnson County. The Warrensburg Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Johnson County. It is home to the University of Central Missouri.-History:Warrensburg... - University of Central ArkansasUniversity of Central ArkansasThe University of Central Arkansas is a state-run institution located in the city of Conway, the seat of Faulkner County, north of Little Rock and is the fourth largest university by enrollment in the U.S. state of Arkansas, and the third largest college system in the state. The school is most...
(Epsilon Mu), Conway, ArkansasConway, ArkansasConway is the county seat of Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 58,908 at the 2010 census, making Conway the seventh most populous city in Arkansas. It is a principal city of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area which had...