Theta Nu Epsilon Society - History of the Penn State Chapter

The Theta Nu Epsilon Society.

The Pi Chapters at Penn State University.

There were two chapters at Penn State University. A much fuller account of these two chapters can be found in an extended article at Penn State’s Bad Boy Frat.

The first Pi Chapter at Penn State University was founded on May, 1888. The chapter was legitimate, having been chartered by Alpha Chapter. It was a very strong chapter, although it seems to have had difficulties after 1897, which culminated in a claimed dissolution of the chapter in 1903. Claims to dissolution seem to have been premature, since the Pi Chapter continued to participate in the United National until 1911. The chapter reappeared in the public presses in 1919.

The residence of the Pi Chapter after 1927.

Readers should note that the original chapter had the campus physician, Joseph Ritenour, as a patron who probably did a good deal toward keeping the chapter functioning smoothly through the years. Note also that this is the same situation that prevailed at Rochester and Wesleyan, where the campus physician, an alumnus member, was a presence in the background overseeing the life of the chapter.

A second chapter was founded as a four-year fraternity by the Powell National in 1927. Naturally, since it was legitimately chartered, it was legitimate. This Pi Chapter did function as a fraternity with a very nice residence and all the typical accoutrements. The chapter continued until 1940 when it was killed by WWII.