Theta Nu Epsilon Society - History of the Virginia Chapter

The Theta Nu Epsilon Society.

The Pi Phi Chapter at The University of Virginia.

Virginia candidates prepared for initiation, 1932.

The Pi Phi Chapter at The University of Virginia was founded in 1893. It was a legitimate chapter, because although it was chartered illegitmately, (possibly by the Alpha-Beta national), it was legitimized in 1896 by the Alpha Chapter. It has also been reported as the Pi Pi chapter, but it seems clearly to have considered itself always the Pi Phi.

Being a traditional chapter, it was driven from the society in the 1913-16 Interfraternity Conflict. The chapter was able to survive quite well on its own, given the conducive environment of the University.

There was a subsequent Skull & Keys organization on the Virginia campus, which was reorganized in the early 1950’s, but which left no subsequent record. It seems to have been an interfraternity type organization, and almost certainly in someone’s mind a continuation of Theta Nu Epsilon.

Since 2004 there has been a pro-chapter on campus, which has been Theta Nu Epsilon’s only all female chapter. The current Pi Phi chapter activity started with some tentative plans going back to a visit by three UVA women in the Summer of 2004 to a different Southern university where a vestige of Theta Nu Epsilon can still be found. When the first organizational steps were taken in March of 2005, Nerissa Neal, the leader, wrote for the group that “We do not wish to start a chapter under the pretenses that it will be an all-powerful entity with a purpose of controlling things at UVA. Thankfully, there is no room for that sort of organization here and it goes against the ideals and purposes of this school and its students—upholding honor above all. Our purpose is to come together aside from our respective organizations, uphold the traditions that are so treasured and fun at this university, maintain the integrity of the group, others, and ourselves, while bringing back a piece of UVA history that could be both special and certainly entertaining.” The first candidates were initiated on October 15, 2005, when three members were initiated by the Alpha Chapter. The first initiation by and for Wahoos was on March 21st, 2006. The initiation was in a secluded garden off the Main Lawn. “The interesting part was that although it is March, we had snow flurries. While chilly, it actually added a nice touch.”

The first regular annual initiation in many decades was held on Friday, October 27, 2006. One of the organizers noted that the plans for the initiation were upset, but the chapter saved the situation. “We had planned on doing the initiation outside in one of the gardens again. Unfortunately, it poured all day and night on Friday. We were extremely disappointed at first, until we came up with plan B; which was even better... We initiated five members and they are so excited to be a part of T.N.E. We chose them because of their love of UVA and what it stands for, their character, and their potential for making this chapter amazing. We want to see it grow and be something really special at UVA.” In commeration of this auspicious event, the membership painted the Beta Bridge green and black.

There was a general chapter meeting with the the whole chapter and alumni on February 1, 2007, and planning for the rest of the year was addressed. And on May 4, 2007 there was another initiation of the society. Noted as “badass”. Three members new were initiated. The accounts of the event indicate it was held according to both the traditions of the society and the high standards of all the societies of the University of Virginia. In the fall of 2007 Katie Kellam headed the chapter, and in the Spring of 2008, Emily Rick held the same position.