History

  • U of M Greek History
    The Greek Community at the University of Minnesota has a strong tradition and many of our chapters are among the oldest in the United States.


    Chi Psi (ΧΨ) was the first fraternity to be charted at the U of M in 1874. They were soon followed by Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ) in 1881, Delta Tau Delta (ΔΤΔ) in 1883, Phi Kappa Psi (ΦΚΨ) in 1888, and Sigma Chi (ΣΧ) in 1888.


    The first sorority to be charted at the U of M was Kappa Kappa Gamma (ΚΚΓ) in 1880. Soon thereafter, Delta Gamma (ΔΓ) in 1882, Kappa Alpha Theta (ΚΑΤ) in 1889, Alpha Phi (ΑΦ) and Pi Beta Phi (ΠΒΦ) in 1890 were also chartered here.


    Our National Pan-Hellenic Council fraternities and sororities also are among the oldest in the United States. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (ΑΦΑ), was chartered on campus in 1912, followed by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (ΩΨΦ), in 1921; Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. (ΚΑΨ), in 1924; Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. (ΣΓΡ), in 1970; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (ΔΣΘ), in 1976; and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (ΑΚΑ), in 1979.


    The University of Minnesota also is proud to have three “alpha” chapters whose organizations were founded at the University of Minnesota, including: Lambda Delta Phi Sorority (ΛΔΦ) in 1961, Alpha Sigma Kappa Sorority (ΑΣΚ) in 1989, and Omega Nu Alpha Fraternity (ΩΝΑ) in 2000.

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    Famous U of M Greeks
    Buildings on the University of Minnesota campus named for famous fraternity and
    sorority members:
    · Carlson School of Management, Curtis Carlson, Sigma Phi Epsilon
    · Coffman Memorial Union, Lotus D. Coffman, Phi Gamma Delta
    · Comstock Hall, Ada L Comstock, Delta Gamma
    · Ferguson Hall, Donald N. Ferguson, Sigma Chi
    · Folwell Hall, William Folwell, Alpha Delta Phi
    · GibsonNagurski Hall, George R. Gibson, Sigma Chi
    · GibsonNagurski Hall, Bronislaw (Bronko) A. Nagurski, Sigma Chi
    · Holman Building, Professor William F. Holman, Phi Gamma Delta
    · Les Bolstad Golf Course, Les Bolstad, Delta Kappa Epsilon
    · McNamara Alumni Center, Pinky and Robert McNamara, Phi Gamma Delta
    · Middlebrook Hall, William T. Middlebroook, Phi Sigma Kappa
    · Northrop Auditorium, Cyrus Northrop, Delta Kappa Epsilon
    · Pillsbury Hall, John S. Pillsbury, Chi Psi
    · Roy Wilkins Hall, Roy Wilkins, Omega Psi Phi
    · Scott Hall, Carlyle M. Scott, Phi Sigma Kappa
    · Vincent Hall, George Vincent, Delta Kappa Epsilon

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    Famous University of Minnesota Greeks:
    · Loni Anderson, Kappa Kappa Gamma – Actress
    · Wendell Anderson, Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Governor of Minnesota
    · Benjamin Boo, Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Mayor of Duluth
    · Margaret BourkeWhite, Alpha Omicron Pi – First female photographer Life Magazine
    · Curtis Carlson, Sigma Phi Epsilon – CEO, Carlson Companies
    · John Dalrymple, Delta Kappa Epsilon – President, International Milling
    · Richard DeWall, Sigma Chi – Inventor of HeartLung Machine
    · Joanne Erdall Warner, Gamma Phi Beta – Minnesota Tennis Hall of Fame
    · Keith Fahnhorst, Beta Theta Pi – NFL player for San Francisco 49ers
    · Henry Fonda, Chi Phi – Actor
    · James Ford Bell, Chi Psi – President, General Mills
    · Donald Fraser, Alpha Delta Phi – Mayor of Minneapolis
    · Donald Freeberg, Sigma Chi – President, Sierra Land Group
    · Bud Grant, Phi Gamma Delta – Head Coach for Minnesota Vikings
    · Peter Graves, Phi Kappa Psi – Television and Movie personality
    · Jacqueline Jodl, Alpha Chi Omega – First female Student Body President
    · Janis Klecker, Alpha Phi – US Olympian Marathon
    · George Leach, Chi Psi – Mayor of Minneapolis
    · Iantha LeVander, Alpha Gamma Delta – First Lady, State of Minnesota
    · Richard Lindstrom, Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Inventor of Lasek Surgery
    · Dee Long, Alpha Gamma Delta – MN House of Representatives
    · William Luther, Alpha Delta Phi – US House of Representatives
    · Harvey Mackay, Phi Epsilon Pi Author and CEO, Mackay Envelope
    · John Mashek, Sigma Chi – Pulitzer Prize Recipient, US News & World Report
    · William D. Mitchell, Delta Kappa Epsilon –US Attorney General
    · Charles Mooty, Sigma Alpha Epsilon – CEO of Dairy Queen
    · Diana Murphy, Alpha Gamma Delta US Court of Appeals Judge
    · Bronko Nagurski, Sigma Chi – Pro Football Hall of Fame
    · Alan Odell, Zeta Psi – CEO, Burma Shave
    · William Pearce, Sigma Chi – Chairman, CEO, President, IDS American Express
    · Alfred Pillsbury, Chi Psi – CFO, Pillsbury
    · Charles Pillsbury, Chi Psi – President, Pillsbury
    · John Pillsbury, Chi Psi – President, Pillsbury
    · Jim Ramstad, Phi Delta Theta US House of Representatives
    · Harry Reasoner, Theta Chi Anchor 60 Minutes
    · Rand Rufus, Chi Psi – President, Minnegasco
    · Patricia Schroeder, Chi Omega US House of Representatives
    · Harold Stassen, Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Governor of Minnesota
    · Roy Wilkins, Omega Psi Phi Civil Rights ActivistÍž Executive Director, NAACP
    · Liz Winstead, Delta Gamma Creator of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show"