Fraternity & Sorority Life History At OWU

Commitment to Enhancing Campus Life

Belief in scholarship, service, and supporting peers during their college years and beyond as alumni/ae, has been a tenet of membership, both in the past and today. These organizations play an important role in providing leadership training and support as each collegian progresses through their course of study.

Since 1853, when the first men’s fraternity was established at Ohio Wesleyan University, members of fraternities and in later years, sororities, continue to contribute to campus life. Beta Theta Pi was installed that year and others of the Miami triad from Oxford, Ohio, with Sigma Chi joining in 1855, and Phi Delta Theta in 1860. Other chapters established during this time include Phi Kappa Psi, Alpha Sigma Phi, Delta Tau Delta, and Phi Gamma Delta. Chapters established in the 1870s and 1880s included Chi Phi, Alpha Tau Omega, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon. The late 1920s and early 1930 saw Kappa Sigma and Tau Kappa Epsilon join campus.

In the earliest years, Greek Life competed with the literary societies that were also prominent on-campus. When fraternities opened residential houses in the city of Delaware in the 1920s, Greek Life seriously challenged the popularity of the literary societies. 

Between 1954 and 1963, the University built nine fraternity houses that provided housing for the men’s groups on Williams Drive, where many men’s groups currently reside. The land had been the grounds of the family home of Professor William G. Williams in the 19th century. Women’s groups colonized on campus in 1880 for a brief time, exited, and were welcomed back to campus in 1924. They were not permitted to live in housing, only OWU dormitories. From 1923 to 1925, 19 Greek letter women’s fraternities were established. In the 1950s, OWU assisted six sororities by providing University-owned land at West Central and Elizabeth Streets for their lodges. Several groups were already on West Winter Street.

In the 1940s and 1950s, nearly all students belonged to a Greek organization. In the 1960s, numbers declined due to rising student unrest mirroring national unrest. This era challenged membership policies, and Delta Delta Delta initiated the organization's first Black woman, Diane Petersen, class of 1966. 

Keeping Current

Throughout OWU's history, membership numbers see a natural ebb and flow as the campus community changes and evolves in response to the world around it.

By the 1940s and 1950s, nearly all students were affiliated with a Greek organization. In the 1960s, those numbers declined due to rising student unrest mirroring national unrest. The era also challenged membership policies and the Delta Delta Delta chapter initiated their organization’s first African American woman, Diane Petersen, class of 1966.

In the 1970s, 55% of the men and 47% of the women were part of the community. University involvement increased to ensure non-discriminatory clauses were part of each organization. In loco parentis was no longer in place and students made their own decisions, often questioning authority. The 1980s saw a return to some school traditions and more students taking pride in their community. Social activism and responsibility brought new events to campus, including the President’s Ball.

During the 1990s, 53% of the student body belonged to 13 national fraternities and eight sororities. National Pan-Hellenic Council, the official coordinating agent for the nine historically Black Greek-letter fraternities and sororities, began to recruit on campus. The fraternity houses on “The Hill” continued to be the hub of much campus social activity, with parties, formals, mystery dates, and dinners. The Alumni Interfraternity Council formed in the early 1990s to provide guidance and support and fostered cooperation among men’s groups.

During the decade of the 2000s, the numbers of Greek men and women on campus in 2004 represented 37% (567) of the student body. Sorority life was making a gradual comeback in 2006. The 

Alumnae Panhellenic Council was formed to assist Ohio Wesleyan collegians and advisors.

Greek groups in the 2010s continued their member support and remained active in campus events including service projects and sponsoring interesting speakers. Heritage Day 2013 honored the 160 years of service and contributions to campus life. 2017 saw the formation of the women’s Panhellenic house on Williams Dr. with four residents of each sorority in residence living together.

Special thanks to Laurie McGregor Connor '77 (Kappa Alpha Theta) for her help in updating OWU's Greek history.