Sigma Theta Epsilon

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Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Infobox Fraternity

Sigma Theta Epsilon (Script error: No such module "Lang".) was an American interdenominational national Christian fraternal organization that operated from 1941 to Template:Dts. It had 47 chapters across the United States.

History

Predecessors

Methodist students at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, South Dakota, formed a local a religious fraternity, Phi Lambda Phi, around 1924. They invited representatives from similar organizations at other colleges to meeting in Lincoln, Nebraska on February 6–7, 1925, to discuss forming a national fraternity.[1] At that meeting, the delegates drew up articles of federation and elected national officers, establishing a national religious fraternity for Methodist men known as Phi Tau Theta.[1]

On October 8, 1936, Methodist students at Indiana University established Sigma Epsilon Theta.[1] Edwin Green, a student pastor at the Wesley Foundation was its first president.[2] Other founding members included Edward Dodd, Montford Mead, F. Jay Nimitz, and Robert E. Schalliol.[3][4] Sigma Epsilon Theta became a regional fraternity with three chapters.[5]

Formation

In 1939, Phi Tau Theta approached Sigma Epsilon Theta about merging.[1] On November 30, 1941, at a meeting in Cedar Falls, Iowa held during Thanksgiving break 1941, the two fraternities merged into Delta Sigma Theta.[6][7] It had the common mission as a fraternity for Methodist men.[7] However, a national sorority with prior usage of the Delta Sigma Theta name, threatened suit against the new fraternity.[1] The fraternity's members selected the new name, Sigma Theta Epsilon, during Easter break 1949.[1]

The purpose of Sigma Theta Epsilon was four-fold:[8]

  1. "To extend our service projects through programs of action to meet unfilled human needs.
  2. To attempt with the guidance of God to live Christian lives of faith and service.
  3. To provide social activities through service and Brotherhood.
  4. To provide a background for understanding ourselves, our faith, and our world."

Its officers include president, vice president, recording secretary, corresponding secretary, treasurer, chaplain, historian, and alumni secretary.[9]

After a period of expansion, the many chapters became inactive, leading to the 1968 national conclave to appoint a committee to review the fraternity's mission.[1] The committee suggested changing the emphasis on Methodist men to Christian men.[1] However, this change increased the loss of members because of less support from campus the Wesley Foundations.[1] In 1972, the fraternity changed purpose to be religious, service, and social; however, this was reversed in 1975.[1]

In 1975, Alpha Gamma at West Virginia Wesleyan College and the Epsilon at Ohio Northern University were the only active chapters.[10][11] The addition of a chapter at Mount Union College in April 1980 stimulated optimism for the fraternity.[12][1] However, by 1988 Delta chapter nearly closed and Alpha Gamma's membership was declining.[12][1] That year, Beta Alpha chapter formed in Oklahoma City University.[1] The Beta Alpha designation marked what was hoped to be a rebirth for the fraternity, and all chapters from this point on would be named in succession following Beta Alpha.[1]

In March 1993, the Beta Beta chapter at Miami University of Ohio was formed.[13] In the fall of 1993, Delta chapter at University of Mount Union was reviving from nearly closing and initiated its first pledge class in almost five years.[1][12] In 1998, the Beta Gamma chapter was installed at the University of Cincinnati.[14] The Beta Delta chapter was formed in 1999 at Our Lady of the Lake University.[15] Beta Epsilon chapter from Bradley University was chartered in 2000.[16] This was followed by Beta Zeta chapter at Oklahoma City University in 2002 and Beta Eta chapter at West Virginia University and Beta Theta at Ohio University in 2003.[17][18][19] The addition of the Beta Kappa chapter in 2006 brought the number of active chapters to eleven, the highest number seen since the 1960s.[20][1]

However, growth ceased, and in Template:Dts there was only one active chapter, Our Lady of the Lake University. On November 19, 2022, Sigma Theta Epsilon officially closed. There are no remaining active chapters and all fraternal operations have ceased.

Symbols

The Greek letters Sigma Theta Epsilon were selected to represent the Greek words Script error: No such module "Lang"., meaning "Fellow Workers with God".[8] This is taken from I Corinthians 3:9 and was also the group's motto.[8] The fraternity's insignia included badge, pledge pin, recognition pin, and alumni key.[21] The fraternity's colors were purple, old gold, and white.[21] Its flag consisted of vertical stripes of purple, white, and gold with the Greek letters Script error: No such module "Lang". and the fraternity's crest in the middle stripe.[21]

Chapters

Chapters of Sigma Theta Epsilon included the following, with inactive chapters and institutions noted in italics.[5] A state naming system was adopted briefly when there were few chapters still active.

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status References
Alpha Template:DTS – 1967 Iowa State University Ames, Iowa Inactive Template:Efn
Beta Template:DTS – 1965 University of Nebraska Lincoln, Nebraska Inactive Template:Efn
Gamma Template:DTS – 1960 University of South Dakota Vermillion, South Dakota Inactive Template:Efn
Delta (1) Template:DTS – 1951 University of Minnesota Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota Inactive, Reassigned Template:Efn
Epsilon (see Iota 2) Template:DTS – 1941 University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Inactive Template:Efn
Zeta Template:DTS – 1931? University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, California Inactive Template:Efn
Eta Template:DTS – 1962;
1966–1971 		University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, Iowa Inactive Template:Efn
Theta (see Beta Theta) Template:DTS – 1943;
1945–1972 		Ohio University Athens, Ohio Inactive Template:Efn
Iota Template:DTS – 1934 ? University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming Inactive Template:Efn
Kappa Template:DTS – 1968 Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio Inactive Template:Efn
Lambda Template:DTS – 1943;
1952–1965 		Kansas State University Manhattan, Kansas Inactive Template:Efn
Mu (see Beta Eta) Template:DTS – 1970 West Virginia University Morgantown, West Virginia Inactive Template:Efn
Nu Template:DTS – 1971 Oklahoma State University Stillwater, Oklahoma Inactive [22]Template:Efn
Xi Template:DTS – 1957 Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana Inactive Template:Efn
Omicron (see Beta Beta) Template:DTS – 1962 Miami University Oxford, Ohio Inactive Template:Efn
Pi Template:DTS – 1942;
1952–1958;
1960–1962 		Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, Ohio Inactive Template:Efn
Rho Template:Dts–1959 Fort Hays State University Hays, Kansas Inactive
Sigma Template:Dts–1971 Kent State University Kent, Ohio Inactive
Tau Template:Dts–1968 University of Oklahoma Norman, Oklahoma Inactive
Upsilon Template:Dts–1953 University of Nebraska at Kearney Kearney, Nebraska Inactive
Phi Template:Dts–1953 University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Inactive
Epsilon (2) (see Beta Alpha) Template:Dts–1954 Oklahoma City University Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Inactive
Zeta (2) Template:Dts–1954 University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point Stevens Point, Wisconsin Inactive
Chi Template:Dts–1953;
1960–1968 		Pittsburg State University Pittsburg, Kansas Inactive
Iota (2) (see Epsilon) Template:Dts–1960 University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Inactive
Psi Template:Dts–1957 Southwestern Oklahoma State University Weatherford, Oklahoma Inactive
Omega Memorial
Alpha Alpha Template:Dts–1962 Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan Inactive
Alpha Beta Template:Dts–1974 Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan Inactive
Alpha Gamma Template:Dts – 2012 West Virginia Wesleyan College Buckhannon, West Virginia Inactive [10][23]
Alpha Delta Template:Dts–1965;
1967–1970 		Pennsylvania State University State College, Pennsylvania Inactive
Alpha Epsilon Template:Dts–1969 American University Washington, D.C. Inactive
Alpha Zeta Template:Dts–1963;
1966–1971 		Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, Michigan Inactive
Gamma (2) Template:Dts–1971 Mansfield University of Pennsylvania Mansfield, Pennsylvania Inactive
Beta (2) Template:Dts–1975 Lane College Jackson, Tennessee Inactive
Epsilon (2) (Alpha of Ohio) Template:Dts – 2021 Ohio Northern University Ada, Ohio Inactive [11]Template:Efn
Eta (2) Template:Dts–1977 Northern Illinois University DeKalb, Illinois Inactive
Delta (2) Template:Dts–1975;
April 27, 1980 – 1987;
1994-2011 		University of Mount Union Alliance, Ohio Inactive [12][23]
Beta Alpha (see Epsilon 2) Template:Dts–2003 Oklahoma City University Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Inactive
Beta Beta (see Omicron) Template:Dts – 2008 Miami University Oxford, Ohio Inactive [13][23]
Beta Gamma Template:Dts – 2011 University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio Inactive [14][23]
Beta Delta (Alpha of Texas) Template:Dts – Template:Dts Our Lady of the Lake University San Antonio, Texas Inactive [15][23]Template:Efn
Beta Epsilon Template:Dts – 2012 Bradley University Peoria, Illinois Inactive [16][23][24]
Beta Zeta Template:Dts – 2015 Northeastern State University Tahlequah, Oklahoma Inactive [17][23]
Beta Eta (see Mu) Template:Dts – 2011 West Virginia University Morgantown, West Virginia Inactive [18][23]
Beta Theta (see Theta) Template:Dts – 2006;
2009–2010 		Ohio University Athens, Ohio Inactive [19][23]
Beta Iota Template:Dts – 2006 Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington, Illinois Inactive [23][25]
Beta Kappa Template:Dts–2007 Missouri Valley College Marshall, Missouri Inactive [20][23]

Template:Notelist

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Fraternities and Sororities Template:Christian fraternity

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  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  6. ↑ 1942 The Recensio - Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) Yearbook
  7. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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