Phi Sigma Nu () was an American junior college social fraternity. It was founded in 1927 at Crane Junior College in Chicago, Illinois. It established at least thirteen additional chapters across the United States before going defunct.
History Phi Sigma Nu originated at Crane Junior College in Chicago as the Bachelor's Club, an informal luncheon group, in February 1926."A History of Phi Sigma Nu Fraternity". The Archway, vol. 23, no. 8 (January 29, 1963), p. 3. via Bryant Digital Depository. Desiring a more formal arrangement, the luncheon club became the Alpha chapter of Zeta Theta Nu fraternity on February 14, 1927. By February 1929, Zeta Theta Nu had established three chapters.
After learning that none of the existing four-year fraternities were interested in adding a chapter at a junior college, the Alpha chapter of Zeta Theta Nu reincorporated as a new national junior college fraternity, Phi Sigma Nu, in the State of Illinois on March 27, 1929. The fraternity was founded as a non-denominational Christian group.
A second chapter was chartered at Potomac State College on March 27, 1929.Rider College News, p. 3 (10 October 1938) This was followed by chapters of Vincennes University, the College of Marshall, and Cumnock College in 1930. The fraternity was governed by a board that was elected at biennial national meetings. Its officers included president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. The 1931 convention was held on July 5 in Chicago.
By 1938, Phi Sigma Nu had 220 members. It had fourteen chapters in 1939; many were at junior colleges and non-accredited institutions. Apparently impacted by World War II, the fraternity only had three active chapters and one alumni chapter in 1940."Phi Sigma Nu". The Junior College Journal, vol. 10, 1940. p. 266. via Google Books. It was an associate member of the National Junior College Panhellenic by 1932, but was dropped from the NJCP in 1941.The Fraternity Month, vol. 9, no. 3 (1941) p. 39. via Google Books.
Phi Sigma Nu was reorganized at a national convention in Cincinnati, Ohio on July 11, 1949. At the convention, the fraternity voted to move its national headquarters from the Nu chapter at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College to Zeta chapter at Rider College. The national headquarters later moved to its Iota chapter at Bryant University until September 1957, when it moved to the Mu chapter at Woodbury College. Phi Sigma Nu had at least thirteen chapters as of 1963.
The fraternity lost several chapters to four-year fraternities, a change made possible as junior colleges became four-year institutions. Its last known active chapter was at Bryant University; it merged with Delta Kappa Epsilon in 1991.
Symbols Phi Sigma Nu's colors were gold and emerald green.1930 Crane College Collegian Its flower was the yellow rose. The fraternity's song was "Hail to Our Phi Sigma Nu". Its periodical was the semiannual The Phi Sigma Nu.
Chapters Following are the known chapters of Phi Sigma Nu, with inactive chapters and institutions in italics.
ChapterCharter date and rangeInstitutionLocationStatusAlpha – 1933Crane Junior CollegeChicago, IllinoisInactiveBeta – 197x ?Potomac State CollegeKeyser, West VirginiaInactiveGamma1930–1931Vincennes UniversityVincennes, IndianaInactiveDelta1930–19xx ?College of MarshallMarshall, TexasInactiveEpsilon1930–19xx ?Cumnock CollegeLos Angeles, CaliforniaInactiveZeta1931 – Rider UniversityLawrence Township, New JerseyWithdrew ()Rider student Newspaper(?) - Monday, May 21, 1962 - Page 5 TKE with 181 chapters, is the largest fraternityEta1931–19xx ?Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids, MichiganWithdrew (local)Theta1931–19xx ?Beckley CollegeHarrisburg, PennsylvaniaInactiveIota1932 – Bryant UniversitySmithfield, Rhode IslandMerged ()Delta Kappa Epsilon education manual 2022-2023Kappa – 19xx ?Wentworth Military AcademyLexington, MissouriInactiveThe Junior College Journal 1933-03: Vol 3 Iss 6 p 326Lambda1933–19xx ?Nichols Junior CollegeDudley, MassachusettsInactiveMu1933 – January 24, 1969Woodbury CollegeBurbank, CaliforniaWithdrew ()Nu – 1943; 1946–1954Northeastern Oklahoma A&M CollegeMiami, OklahomaInactiveThe Junior College Journal 1939-04: Vol 9 Iss 7 p 3961947–1959Tennessee Wesleyan College Athens, TennesseeWithdrew ()
Notable members George E. Bello (advisor), namesake of George E. Bello Center for Information and Technology at Bryant UniversityProulx, Janet. "Accounting for a Remarkable Life". Bryant Magazine. vol. 17, no. 1 (Fall 2010), p. 3. via Bryant Digital Repository.
Chapter and member misconduct
Delaware River crossing On January 23, 1947, the Rider College chapter of Phi Sigma Nu required its pledges to recreate George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River as the final part of their initiation. The goal was to row across the Delaware River from Pennsylvania to New Jersey, and to walk to the Trenton Battle Monument in Trenton, New Jersey to capture a fraternity pennant. Dressed in Revolutionary War military costumes, forty fraternity pledges crossed the river in five rowboats, with George Chafey standing in the portrayal of George Washington. As the Phi Sigma Nu members reached the New Jersey shore after twelve minutes of rowing, a twin-seated airplane flew over the boats. On the shore were 100 members of Delta Sigma Phi, a rival fraternity, who began pelting the Phi Sigma Nu members with tomatoes, oranges, and firecrackers. Other attackers were in an amphibious truck. The pledges countered the attack with snowballs.
The pledges then followed Washington's route to the Bear Tavern, where members of Kappa Phi, another rival fraternity, launched a second attack. Kappa Phi attempted to kidnap General Washington (Chafey), but only managed to capture a Phi Sigma Nu member portraying a drummer boy. After refreshments at the tavern, the pledges moved on to the Trenton Battle Monument, where they were met by fifty Phi Sigma Nu members armed with pillows. However, the pledges endured the pillow fight and flying feathers, securing the pennant. The incident ended with the arrival of the New Jersey State Police.
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