Greek Life History
Cornell has a rich history surrounding its Greek life.
Alpha Chi Epsilon (AXEs)
1927- present
Alpha Chi Epsilon (AXEs) was founded in 1927 in the hopes of idealizing a different kind of brotherhood. Unlike most of the groups at the time, they were sponsored and not descended from either literary societies or any of the secret societies which flourished previous to 1927. They adopted the colors of red and black.
Currently, the AXEs take part in a variety of service projects including farm restoration for a local farmer and also provides moving and painting services to the larger community. The AXEs also take part in a variety of intramurals.
The AXE motto is “Brotherhood and Unity” which emphasizes their continued dedication to their traditional motto and focus on a unified group.
Basic Points: Motto focused, all-male.
Alpha Sigma Pi (Arrows)
1901- present
Descended from the Aonian Literary Society, Alpha Sigma Pi is the only female group to still exist from the formal creation of social groups in 1927. They became formally known as the Arrows and have a proud history in the college. The Arrows have adopted the colors of gold and white, symbolizing friendship and honor, and the symbol of the Arrow, symbol of love and signifying loyalty and friendship.
Arrows participate in a wide variety of service projects, but individual members especially frequently volunteer at the Emma Goldman Clinic in Iowa City.
Their motto of “To Be Born Aloft Amongst the Muses” stems from their history and signifies an important principal of the Arrows: individuality. Alumnae Lu Ann White describes the perfect Arrow (or Arrow candidate) as “a woman with zest for life.”
Basic points: Focus on friendship, honor and loyalty, all-female.
Delta Phi Delta (Delphis)
1933-Present
Delta Phi Delta has an exceptionally interesting history in the college. The first known record of them is from the Royal Purple in 1934. Sources suggest that they were either formed from two merged groups or broke off from Alpha Sigma Pi. They disbanded in 1964 only to return in 1986 and celebrated their twentieth anniversary in 2006.
Delphis participate in quite a few service projects including the Especially for You Race (breast cancer cure fundraiser), the Cedar Valley Humane Society, Movin’ for McAuley Walk and the Angel Tree project.
The Delphi mission is: “To build self-confidence, to nurture creative thinking, and to promote leadership through respect, service and unique governing opportunities.” Each of the families in the Delphis is named for one of the muses, from their motto, “To be born aloft amongst the muses,” demonstrating a respect for creativity and self-expression.
Basic Points: Emphasis on mission statement, all-female.
Kappa Delta Chi (KD Chis)
1957-Present
The history of Kappa Delta Chi is a difficult one to track and in the past they have endured difficult times. However, today’s KD Chis, like their founders, embrace their original values of leadership, service and sisterhood. While small, they quickly bond and their unity rewards them with the ability to thrive.
The KD Chis continually work on large service projects at the Waypoint and Madge Phillips Centers in Cedar Rapids—centers for abused women and children. At the centers they have cleaned storage shelters and even thrown Halloween parties for the children. Smaller projects include walking dogs and other projects at the Cedar Valley Humane Society and anything else available at any given time.
Kappa Delta Chi’s motto is: “Friendships formed, they never seem to fail” which highlights the KD Chi’s great sisterhood. Relatively small size has allowed them to remain a tight-knit group in which no one is discounted. Together they move forward under their guiding principles.
Basic Points: Emphasis on leadership, service and sisterhood, all-female.
Kappa Theta (Theta)
1954-Present
Kappa Theta proudly cites its history at Cornell. Founded in 1954, the Thetas pride themselves on excellence and unity, a recurrent them fro the Thetas. Their motto “Tis not in our numbers but in our unity that our great strength lies” highlights that very fact.
The Thetas have a variety of service projects. The most prominent is their regular volunteering at the Emma Goldman Clinic in Iowa City. Thetas cite their favorite service project as the first one they do together during or after pledging.
While diverse, the Thetas foster sisterhood amongst all of their members. Service is one component of that, but Thetas push their members toward higher ambitions. Rebecca Wearin Pulk (Class of ’62) says of her experience as a Theta “I respected the Thetas and being one gave me self-respect…It made me a better person. Being a Theta was and is still a very positive influence on my life.”
Basic Points: Focus on unity, all-female.
Phi Kappa Nu (Newts)
1975-Present
The Newts were founded in 1975 based on a Five-Fold Purpose of excellence in athletics, academics, leadership, community service and social activities. In order to assure that members uphold the values expressed in the group’s purpose the Newts have standards for each of the five folds which encourage individual excellence and track accomplishments. Members who meet the standards for at least three folds each semester stay in good standing and those who fail to do so are given assistance and encouragement by the other members in order to help them meet the standards. Each of the folds is overseen by an officer whose job is to arrange for activities that relate to the fold. Through their Five-Fold purpose the Newts foster individual accomplishment and a sense of brotherhood within the group.
Traditionally the Newts have always completed a large number of service hours and particularly enjoy working on the last remaining Octagon Barn in Iowa, fifteen minutes west of Iowa City, and at Camp Courageous in Monticello.
Basic Points: Emphasis on Five-Folds, all-male.
Phi Lambda Xi (Phi-Lambs)
1990-Present
The Phi-Lambs appeared on the Cornell Greek scene on March 21, 1990. Their letters stand for friendship, loyalty and excellence and the Phi-Lambs pride themselves on being individuals and “on having very low pressure for our members to fin into any one mold.”
Each group has different service requirements, but the Phi-Lambs go above and beyond the call by requiring 16 service hours per semester. Typically they do individual and group work at the Cedar Valley Humane Society, the Hallmark Center in Mount Vernon with Planned Parenthood in Cedar Rapids, and on their highway stretch just to the west of Mount Vernon on Route 30. In fact, it is not unusual for individual Phi-Lambs to meet and surpass their own requirement each semester.
The Phi-Lambs motto is “time may pass and we may part, but sisters remain close at heart” which emphasizes the possibility of being close-knit friends while also being individuals within a large system.
Basic Points: Emphasis on friendship, loyalty and excellence, all-female.
Phi Omega (Phi-Os)
1962-Present
Founded in 1962, Phi Omega has grown to become the largest Greek organization on campus, consistently having over 30 members. Each of the Phi-Os espouses the qualities of confidence, courtesy, humility, respect and duty, the values of the group.
Being very large, the group clocks an extraordinary number of service hours. Amongst their many service projects are highway cleanup, serving meals at the Southeast Linn County Community Center, making holiday cards for the Hallmark Care Center, sponsoring and child in Madagascar, donating money each month to a different non-profit organization and sending cards to a biology class in Kenya.
The Phi-O motto “True happiness consists no in the multitude of friends, but in their worth and choice,” perfectly fits the size of the group. Phi-Os share a strong sense of community and through that community they reach their common goals.
Basic Points: Emphasis on five values, all-female.
Rho Zeta Omicron (Rhozes)
1999-Present
The youngest sorority on campus, Rho Zeta Omicron was chartered in 1999 with eight values and a strict abstinence from alcohol policy. After a year, the alcohol policty was revised in order to allow members to drink, but not at social events or in letters and never for the explicit purpose of getting drunk.
Today, they are an entirely female, non-drinking sorority dedicated to service, leadership, academics, health and well-being, creativity, responsibility and individuality. Under their motto “Be Nobody but yourself,” the Rhozes encourage members to pursue outside interests as well as group goals.
Rhozes service projects are particularly varied. Amongst the projects are MAHP House, Crowded Closet (a local thrift store), bingo at local retirement homes, Adopt-A-Park, Relay for Life, ushering at Cornell theater productions and various clothing drive and fundraisers.
Basic Points: Focus on eight values, all-female.
Sigma Kappa Psi (SKYs)
2005-Present
Sigma Kappa Psi is the newest member of Cornell’s Greek community. They formed in the fall of 2004 and eventually chartered in the spring of 2005. The values espoused by the SKYs are somewhat different from other male groups and emphasize strength, perseverance and righteousness.
As with many other groups, SKY service projects are diverse in nature. Some of their projects include helping to clean up Camp Courageous, working at the Mid-American Housing Project and various projects at Cornell College and within the Mount Vernon Community. Also unique to the SKYs is the requirement that they complete 50 service hours per year, making them one of the largest contributors to service hours on campus.
The SKY drinking policy is a bit different from other groups. While technically they are not a dry group, the SKYs operate using a BYOB policy for members who are of legal age. Paired with their belief in integrity this policy creates a group united under their values and brotherhood. Also unique to the group is that they are the only male group to currently require prospective members to preference.
Basic Points: Focus on strength, perseverance and righteousness; all-male.
Sigma Tau
1989-Present
Sigma Tau broke off from Phi Kappa Nu in 1989 due to a change in the alcohol policy of the group. Finding alcohol to be an economic burden the group didn’t want, the Taus became a non-drinking fraternity from their conception. Sigma Tau espouses the values of leadership, service, and academics; they have the highest GPA requirement of all the social groups for membership.
Due to smaller numbers in recent years, the group has fewer service hours than larger groups but remains quite active. A two-mile stretch of Route 1 south of Mount Vernon is their Highway Clean-up area which they usually clean during pledging and periodically outside of it. The group also established an annual tradition of judging a science fair each year at the Lindale Mall in Cedar Rapids.
Similar to the Rhoze alcohol policy, the Taus will not spend group money on alcohol, nor consume alcohol at Greek sponsored events or while in letters. Through this policy and the focus on their ideals, the group encourages individualism alongside unity.
Basic Points: Focus on service, academics and leadership; co-ed.
