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Greek life has been part of Kansas State University for over a century and it has shaped the collegiate experience of tens of thousands of students along the way. What first began as small local societies, have blossomed into nationally recognized fraternities and sororities that thrive today. Greek organizations have played a meaningful role in building community amongst students and defining K-State's identity. This site dives into that story by looking at how Greek life at K-State began, how it grew, and the impact it had on campus and in the Manhattan community through the years.
Origins of Greek Life at K-State
Throughout the history of humanity, it is inevitable that people should wish to belong to a group at some point in their lives. This is particularly true for college students, as Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities states "College students have always shown a more or less marked tendency to from themselves into societies." Students formed these societies for a variety of reasons, social, literary, political, but above all, they offered a sense of home while students were away from their own. This trend was no different at Kansas State. Since the beginning of the University, when it was still the Kansas State Agricultural College, students sought out smaller, more personal communities within the larger campus environment. These small groups and societies laid the foundation for what would eventually become the Greek community at Kansas State.
How Chapters Came to Campus
The Greek chapters that exist on Kansas State's campus today began as small local societies with names that would be unrecognizable to most students now. Starting in 1913, these small societies began petitioning national fraternities and sororities for charters. By joining a national organization, these groups gained access to unifrom rituals and customs, recognized standing among other Greek-letter socieites, permanent alumni networks, and the established traditions that local societies typically lacked. This sense of stability was particularly sought after as the university was rapidly changing, as being apart of a national network helped ensure that chapters could survive those changes.
Photo from the 1910 Royal Purple listing all of the fraternities and sororities on the campus at the time
Beta Sigma Psi
First composite photo of Beta Sigma Psi from the 1952 edition of the Royal Purple
On September 15, 1948, a group of Lutheran students at Kansas State organized themselves as the Syconia Club. This group eventaully began having discussions about joining a national fraternity. This group had bids from Sigma Chi, Delta Upsilon, and Beta Sigma Psi. In 1950, the group held a meeting and voted to become a part of Beta Sig. The group was charted as the Zeta Chapter of Beta Sigma Psi on March 4, 1951.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Excerpt from the 1912 edition of the Royal Purple for the Phi Alpha Theta fraternity which would eventually become a chapter of SAE within the next year.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon was the first national fraternity to appear on campus. This organization was originally known as the the fraternity Phi Alpha Theta. The organization was not granted a charter until the scholastic average of the College was above that of the standards of SAE nationally. The organization was presented a fromal charter on January 25, 1913, making it the Kansas Beta chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
Alpha Delta Pi
Alpha Delta Pi was the first secret society in the world for college women. It was originally known as the Adelphean society then later adopted the name Alpha Delta Pi in 1904. The Alpha Eta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi at Kansas State University was installed on September 30, 1915, and it was orginally called Alpha Mu.
Photo of members of Alpha Delta Pi courtesy of the 1916 edition of the Royal Purple
Kappa Kappa Gamma
The Gamma Alpha chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma was chartered in 1916. The charter from the national organization was granted to a local group known as Lamda Lamda Theta which came to the campus in 1904. The group was originally known as the "witches" before adopting the name Lamda Lamda Theta.
Photo from the 1910 edition of the Royal Purple of the Lamda Lamda Theta female fraternity.
Eta Beta Pi Petition to Join Delta Delta Delta National Organization
Below is an example of how local chapters became apart of national organizations in the early days of greek life at the university. This book was sent on behalf of the Eta Beta Pi chapter at Kansas State petitioning for a charter to join the Delta Delta Delta national organization. This book includes a brief history of the university along with the information on the local organization. It also includes reccomendations from university leadership and fellow greek chapters testifying to the great character of Eta Beta Pi and it's members.
Information about Eta Beta Pi and its history
History of K.S.A.C.
