Difference between revisions of "Beta Nu"

Beta Nu Chapter, The Ohio State University

Founded October 12, 1888

The Ohio State University established in 1870, Columbus, Ohio

3,000 initiates (as of June 2015)

Charter Members: Fanny Elizabeth Bancroft, Alberta Donnezetti Garber, Alice Hynes Moodie, Carrie Adelia Pocock, Alla Berta Rickey, Ellen Bliss Talbot

Some of Chapter’s Outstanding Alumnae:

Fraternity Council Officers:

Fraternity Loyalty Award Recipients:

Fraternity Alumnae Achievement Award Recipients:

Dorothy Canfield Fisher, 1948; Anna Scott Morningstar, 1958; Patricia A. Searight, 1958; Susan Burrows Swan, 1978; Sharon Brooks Weber, 2006; Letha Yurko-Griffin, 1994

Additional Outstanding Beta Nu Alumnae:

The Early Years (Excerpted from The History of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity: 1870-1976)

Beta Nu Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma was the first women's fraternity founded at Ohio State University. A Columbus newspaper dated October 12, 1888, reported: "The organization was perfected at the residence of Miss Bell Slade on Hamilton Avenue...'Nu' is the name of the chapter and the pin is a small enameled gold key inlaid with stones. The ladies believe they have good prospects for a flourishing chapter." The "Nu" was changed to Beta Nu by vote of the 1890 Convention, to distinguish this Nu from the Nu of Franklin College, Indiana, which had lived briefly from 1879 to 1894.

Ohio State University was founded as a result of the Land Grant Act of Congress approved by President Lincoln in 1862. It has grown from its original 311 acres and one building to a campus of 2,555 acres with more than 123 buildings.

In 1888 the university enrollment was 225 including 30 women. Men's fraternal organizations had appeared as early as 1878. Chapters of other sororities were established following the installation of the Kappa chapter, and in 1903 the first Panhellenic meeting was called by a Kappa and a Kappa, Edna Pratt (Brown)l, was elected president.

Location of the first chapter meetings is not known, but records show that in 1891 the girls were gathering in the home of a member, Sarah Elizabeth O'Kane (Raymond) at 215 West Tenth Avenue.

In 1916, a small apartment was rented above Long's Book Store on North High Street and furniture donated by Columbus Kappas. During World War I male students who had not joined the service were required, as members of the ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps), to live in temporary barracks erected on the campus. Rather than close the Phi Gamma Delta house, the president offered it to the Kappas. The few out-of-town members had already made arrangements to live in dormitories, so the house was used as a meeting place and for entertaining.

The war period was one of unrest on the campus. Many girls left school to fill positions left open by men who had enlisted, and others were on call for nurses's training. Beta Nu and the Columbus alumnae collected clothing for chapter member Dorothy Canfield Fisher's Dispensaire in France in addition to rolling bandages and knitting socks. The chapter pledged $500 to the YWCA. To raise the money the chapter made and sold sandwiches to the fraternities after Monday night meetings, sold flowers at football games, gave subscription dances, and performed many other small jobs.

After the war, the Kappas and Delta Gammas leased and shared an apartment at Sixteenth Avenue and High Street. In 1920, a six-room apartment was rented at 24 Fifteenth Avenue. It was occupied by four out-of-town members and a chaperone. A cook was hired and lunches served to town girls.

The Beta Nu Building Association was formed in 1921 and in September, 1922, a house was purchased for $12,360 at 90 Thirteenth Avenue, the first to be owned by a women's fraternity at Ohio State. It had three bedrooms and a third-floor "dormitory." It was occupied by eight girls and a housemother.

With the increase in the number of out-of-town girls a larger house was soon needed and one was purchased in 1926 at 84 Fifteenth Avenue, the street which has always been known as "the gate to campus." The purchase price of $30,000 was raised with the help of a loan from the Fraternity. Ten girls and a housemother used its one family-sized bathroom. A third floor with a chapter room and smaller rooms for initiation was considered to be very "posh," although fainting in the heat of initiation was standard procedure.

In 1936,"...with the mortgage reduced and the income increased," to quote from the January, 1937, Banta's Greek Exchange, the work of remodeling this former family home into a sorority house was accomplished. Once again, Kappa was first with a "real" sorority house. An addition provided housing for 15 girls, larger bathroom facilities, a housemother's suite with bath, a large living room, larger kitchen and dining facilities, a basement chapter room, and, in tune with the times, a parking lot in the rear.

The World War II years brought dramatic changes of scene to the Ohio State campus. Class ranks were drastically disrupted as men elected to enter various branches of the armed forces or were drafted into the service. Joe College, with his broad-brimmed, flat top "pork pie" hat and "zoot suit" (featuring pegged trousers, long jacket with padded shoulders) was replaced by a man in uniform, as the university geared to specialized training programs for the Army and the Navy.

Highlights of 2012

In the past calendar year, the Beta Nu chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma has grown in many different respects. For instance, we have become a more unified chapter, developed a stronger Chapter Council, and have grown our presence on campus.

We have started new philantropy events such as Kappa King Pin, a bowling tournament, as well as lending our hands to foundations such as the Ronald McDonald House.

At Convention, Beta Nu was honored with admission into the Adelphe Society.

During this Presidential election, we had women volunteering at the polls, rallies, etc. Quite a few women in the chapter actually worked directly with campaigns for different parties.

Changes The Ohio State University is a constantly changing and growing campus. This past year, two well-known dorms, Park and Stradley Hall, were conjoined and reopened as one, single dorm. Steeb and Smith Halls are currently undergoing similar construction to join the two buildings together. A new dorm on 10th Avenue was also opened to house primarily first year students.

The South Oval is still under construction pending completion of a project in which geothermal wells will be installed.

The OSU Medical Center was renamed in honor of Les Wexner.

It is hard to summarize a sisterhood or a dynamic like that of our chapter. A collection of vastly unique and different individuals, we somehow fit perfectly as a whole. We have athletes, including members on the Ohio State soccer team, equestrian team, synchronized swimming teams, etc. We have musicians, fashion designers, political activists, and humanitarians.