Alpha Theta (Coeducational Fraternity)

Infobox Fraternity | name = Alpha Theta
letters = ΑΘ
crest =
motto =
colors = Red and White
symbol =
flower =
birthplace =
founded = As Iota Sigma Upsilon - 1920Joined Theta Chi - 1921 Became Alpha Theta - 1952
chapters = 1
type = Local coeducational
scope = Dartmouth College
address = 33 N. Main Street
city = Hanover
state = New Hampshire
country = United States
free_label =
free =
homepage = [http://www.dartmouth.edu/~atheta/ http://www.dartmouth.edu/~atheta/]

History

Early Years

Alpha Theta was founded as a local fraternity named Iota Sigma Upsilon on March 3, 1920, by a group of seven students:

Robert L. Farwell, James W. Frost, Howard A. Hitchcock, Robert L. Loeb (Alpha Theta / Theta Chi's first president), Robert J. Minor, Burdette E. Weymouth, Ralph K. Whitney.

In 1921 the fraternity received a charter as the Alpha Theta chapter of Theta Chi. John Sloan Dickey, later President of the College, joined the fraternity in 1928 and was elected house president only two weeks later, while still a pledge.

Nine brothers of Theta Chi died in a tragic accident on the morning of February 25, 1934, when the metal chimney of the building's old coal furnace blew out in the night and the residence filled with poisonous carbon monoxide gas. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,747133,00.html] This is still the most fatal accident ever to occur at Dartmouth College.

Breaking from Theta Chi

Alpha Theta was one of the first collegiate fraternities in the United States to break from its national organization over civil rights issues, and the first at the Greek-dominated Dartmouth College. In 1951, while Dickey served as President of the College, the student body passed a resolution calling on all fraternities to eliminate racial discrimination from their constitutions. The Theta Chi national organization's constitution contained a clause limiting membership in fraternity to "Caucasians" only. On April 24, 1952, the members of the Dartmouth chapter voted unanimously to stop recognizing the racial clause in Theta Chi's constitution.Unattributed (1952). "Dartmouth Society Drops Bias Clause". "New York Times". April 26, 1952., p. 20.] Upon learning that the Dartmouth delegation to Theta Chi's national convention later that year planned to raise questions about the clause, the Alpha Theta chapter was derecognized by the national organization on July 25, 1952.Unattributed (1925). "Charter is Revoked; Dartmouth Theta Chi Chapter Rejected Racial Clause." "New York Times". July 28, 1952., p. 17.] The house reincorporated as a local fraternity and adopted the name Alpha Theta.

Coeducation

Alpha Theta was one of the first all-male fraternities to admit female members. In 1972, Dartmouth admitted the first class of female students and officially became a coeducational institution. Alpha Theta also voted to become coeducational. After a few years, most of the women in the fraternity had become inactive and the house voted to become male-only again on November 10, 1976. The house returned to a coeducational membership policy in 1980.Bronner, Geoffrey and Robinson, Chris(1999). [http://www.dartmouth.edu/~atheta/history.html "Alpha Theta History"] . Retrieved Mar. 14, 2007.]

Physical Plant

The original physical plant used by Theta Chi fraternity was built by the year 1852 and used as a candy shop by confectioner E.K. Smith. Of Smith's confectionery operation, only the building housing his candy factory to the north of Alpha Theta still survives (now the Native Americans at Dartmouth house). Subsequent owners used the candy shop as a dwelling and Theta Chi fraternity eventually bought it from J.V. Hazen in 1921 [http://www.dartmo.com/buildings/tuvwxyzbldg.html] .

After the tragedy of 1934, the house was considered to be haunted by the ghosts of those killed in the accident, and that the only way to remove the curse was to raze the house to the ground and start from scratch. The house was destroyed soon and the current building was constructed in 1940 [http://www.dartmo.com/buildings/abbldg.html] . The only part of the original building that remains is part of the basement that leads to the back stair and contains the laundry room, called "Appalachia" [http://www.dartmouth.edu/~atheta/history.html] .

"Appalachia" gets its name from its proximity to the Appalachian Trail. Hikers from the trail used to be able to stop in the house, an activity which is no longer possible. House tradition still has it that ghosts walk this part of Alpha Theta, and in 2007, a ghost-hunter attempted to gain access to this part of the house. Believing it would be disrespectful to the spirits, Alpha Theta refused access, though they did allow a student to take a look [http://thedartmouth.com/2007/10/26/arts/skeletons/] .

Famous Alumni

Owen Chamberlain - class of 1941, one of Dartmouth's only three Nobel Prize winners (Physics 1959), participated in the Manhattan Project

John Sloan Dickey - class of 1929, President of Dartmouth College from 1945-1970

Cameron Myler - class of 1992, Member of four United States Olympic Teams in the sport of luge, Flag-bearer for United States Team at 1994 Olympic Winter Games. Seven-time U.S. National Champion and winner of eleven World Cup medals

Ira Michael Heyman - class of 1951, Chancellor of University of California-Berkeley, 1980-90. Trustee of Dartmouth College since 1980.

Nathan Ruegger - class of 2006, voice actor on animated television series Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs, and Histeria!.

ee also

*Dartmouth College Greek organizations

External links

* [http://www.dartmouth.edu/~atheta/history.html Alpha Theta History]

References