Epsilon Pi
| Epsilon Pi | |
|---|---|
| EΠ | |
 | |
| Founded | February 7, 1976 |
| College | University of California, Riverside |
| Location | Riverside, CA |
| Homepage | Epsilon Pi Homepage |
| Media related to Epsilon Pi Chapter | |
University of California at Riverside, 1954
Epsilon Pi founded February 7, 1976
867 initiates (as of June 2012)
Some of Chapter’s Outstanding Alumnae: (If you have chapter alumna who have received recognition in any of these three categories, please list them with the date(s) of recognition.)
Fraternity Council Officers:
Fraternity Loyalty Award Recipients:
Fraternity Alumnae Achievement Award Recipients:
Contents
The Early Years -- Colonization and Installation
Love and guidance by many caring Kappas allowed Epsilon Pi chapter to enjoy a great beginning. The culmination of this love and concern was exemplified in the beautiful Installation held the first weekend in February 1976 when 13 new members of Epsilon Pi Colony were initiated as charter members of Epsilon Pi Chapter at the University of California at Riverside.
Installing officer Marian Schroeder Graham, Beta Phi—Montana, Fraternity President, was assisted by many others including Phyllis Brinton Pryor, Beta Mu—Colorado, National Panhellenic Conference Delegate and colonizing officer; Patti Ball Hillyard, Delta Chi—San Jose State, installation chairman and President of the Riverside Alumnae Club; Lyn Conway Madding, Delta Gamma—Michigan State, Kappa Province Director of Alumnae; Kay Reid Tennison, Epsilon Delta—Arizona State, Kappa Province Director of Chapters; and Janeen Gould, Beta Beta Deuteron—St. Lawrence, Epsilon Pi Graduate Counselor. Also, several advisers and Graduate Counselors to California chapters and alumnae from all over southern California gathered to participate in and to honor the Installation of Kappa’s 95th chapter.
The setting for the ceremonies was the chapter house of Epsilon Pi’s sister chapter, Delta Tau—Southern California. It was agreed by all and well stated by Phyllis Pryor that “no more perfect arrangements could have been made for an unhoused chapter to be assimilated into a totally Kappa setting where a true feeling of belonging could be imparted. The cooperation and hospitality of those members of Delta Tau who made this possible will be long remembered as a very vital aspect of the happy Initiation of Epsilon Pi.” She also noted that “the beautiful, warm, very adequate facilities of the Delta Tau house accommodated the influx of extra people and activities gracefully and with no evidence of inconvenience or interruption.”
Fern Crane, Delta Tau Housemother; Katie Finnegan, Delta Tau President; Kris Kline, chapter coordinator, and chapter members were thanked for their superb planning and for making the guests and participants feel welcomed and prepared.
It was here that the scene for the entire weekend, including a lovely Friday night Fireside Service and dinner. Delta Tau members added to the beauty by sharing some of their traditional pre-initiation thoughts and songs.
Many gifts to the new chapter were recognized at the luncheon banquet, which was held at the University Hilton Hotel following Saturday’s Installation. Two special gifts were award badges for outstanding new members, one given to the new member class president, Debbie Dietrich, and one to Robin Rose, Recruitment Chairman, for scholarship.
Greetings to the new chapter increased even more when more than 150 guests came in heavy rain to a reception Sunday afternoon in Riverside at the home of a recent Delta Tau active. UC Riverside administrators and Panhellenic representatives and members of other Greek-letter groups on campus along with friends and family members of the new chapter members honored Epsilon Pi with their attendance.
Prior to Installation, the Epsilon Pi new members were busy with campus activities including selling cotton candy during Homecoming, a pizza party with alumnae, a new member retreat and joining the other fraternities and sororities in the Greek cheering section for football games and for Christmas caroling before the winter break. Epsilon Pi members also created a wooden plaque with pictures of the charter members, and they worked together on a hooked rug with an owl design for Delta Tau Chapter. The previous information was excerpted from (unknown source-most likely The Key.)
The information that follows has been gleaned from available resources including Chapter History Reports, chapter meeting minutes, letters and comments from chapter members and alumnae, the Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity Archives, and The Key. Each chapter is expected to update its history record annually. Contact Fraternity Headquarters at kkghq@kkg.org with questions.
Highlights of the 1970s
From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.:
The chapter’s first formal, called “Sea and Sky”, was held in a multipurpose room in one of the apartment complexes near campus since the budget for the event was only $75; $25 was spent on decorations and $50 was spent on a band. One sister, who was dating a Sigma Alpha Epsilon from UCLA, had him fix up some of the Kappas with blind dates with his brothers. Charter President Kim Braun Padulo recalled the surprised reaction of the boys when they entered the room as it was not the kind of reception they were used to.
Epsilon Pi faced its challenges head on and ultimately succeeded. In the fall of 1976, they welcomed a second pledge class that nearly doubled the size of the chapter. Following soon after, in spring quarter the women had to write their chapter Bylaws. After getting the foundations of the chapter set, the women focused on their sisterhood. To improve this Epsilon Pi chapter participated in a potluck with the Northern Orange County Alumnae Association. The theme was to bring with you your favorite Kappa memory to share. After doing so, the women realized that while they were close, a house would bring them much closer to each other. They hoped that one day they would reach this goal for Epsilon Pi to have a chapter house.
October of 1977, thirteen more lovely ladies were pledged after an informal Yell-in, and on Inspiration week, in October 24-29; the women were initiated. With rush again in the spring the chapter was able to grow from 13 actives to 30 by 1978.
1979 was kicked off with Formal Fall Rush. The first night the girls attended open house and had sandwiches while getting to know each other. The second night was theme night, in which the chapter put on their annual performance of “Kapparet”. On the second to last night the chapter had project night in which the women used felt letters and animals to spell their names, these where then to be used for philanthropy. The final night, was preference night. Here the women all dressed up formally, and had dessert together while sharing stories in a circle. Epsilon Pi once again initiated more women, making the chapter grow a little bigger every year. With the goal to become one of the largest chapters, Epsilon Pi continued learning ways of improving and growing closer in sisterhood. To do so, their goal was set to focus on social graciousness, organization, and sisterhood (SOS). Memorable events from the 70s include hanging out at the pool at Bannockburn, yearly pledge class songs, and exchanges with other groups on campus.
Philanthropy:
Chapter Convention Awards:
Highlights of the 1980s:
From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.:
Small "get to know each other" parties were held at the Bannockburn pool, so that all the women could get to know each other better and create stronger sisterhoods. They also held exchanges. Epsilon Pi had an annual "walkout" in which the pledges would plan to "kidnap" actives and have them do funny antics like sing Kappa songs and Kappa Dances at different stops on campus like the library, residence halls, and classrooms. Every stop would earn them a clue that would lead them to the location that the pledges had chosen to host them for dinner. They experienced the debut of MTV and this spurred lip-synching contests in the dorms, which were a blast!
After just a few years of being established Epsilon Pi was honored to participate in founding of a new chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma at the University of California, Irvine.
Philanthropy:
Epsilon Pi held many different Philanthropy events such as making rabbit-like Easter baskets to give to the Sunshine School in Riverside, dressing up around Halloween in costumes and visiting the Riverside Community Hospital patients with candy. One popular tradition was a "Grandparent Adoption" from convalescent homes where the chapter women would visit their adoptee twice a month and bring them carnations and homemade spice ropes. Chapter Convention Awards:
Highlights of the 1990s
From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.:
Philanthropy:
Chapter Convention Awards:
1992 Efficiency Honorable Mention 1996 Scholarship Award Honorable Mention
Highlights of 2000-2010
From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.:
The chapter actively participated in campus events such as BEAR Facts Orientation, Block Party, Homecoming and Spring Splash as well as Panhellenic sponsored events such as Sports Week, Greek Unity Week with Greek Pyramid, and Presents. Founders Day was often celebrated with Zeta Eta, UC Irvine and the Orange County Alumnae Association. A yearly Scholarship Dinner was held to honor the sisters with the highest GPA, most improved GPA, and all sisters with a 4.0 in a quarter. Yearly chapter events included a fall Date Party, a winter Scholarship Banquet, and a Parent’s Day in the spring.
Housing:
Epsilon Pi was the first Greek organization to be invited to participate in UCR’s Greek Housing Pilot Program. The chapter was able to rent five units in an apartment complex near campus and 10 members lived there during the 2009-2010 school year. However, due to a lack of contracts and security, the program was discontinued.
Philanthropy:
Members of Epsilon Pi volunteered yearly for a local breast cancer fundraiser put on by the Inland Agency, called “Shop to Stop Breast Cancer.” Each year, chapter members volunteered to read to students at Madison Elementary School on Dr. Suess day. In Spring 2009, the members of Epsilon Pi hosted sixth grade students for “A Day In The Life” at UCR. The Kappas gave them tours of the campus and the sixth graders got to meet the Men’s Basketball Team and the UCR Cheerleaders and Dance Team. The finale of the day was lunch on the commons lawn where the sixth graders read their favorite books to the Kappas.
Chapter Convention Awards:
2008 Rose McGill Award
Highlights of 2011-2019
From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.:
Philanthropy:
Chapter Convention Awards:
Highlights of 2020s:
From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.:
Philanthropy:
Chapter Convention Awards:
Note to Chapter Registrar: Please refer to your chapter archives including chapter meeting minutes and back issues of The Key to fill in any gaps in the above historical highlights. If your chapter archives are not complete, please research your university library, campus newspaper and yearbook archives for newsworthy information about your chapter. Please double check your work for accuracy. Contact chapter Advisory or House Board members, local Alumnae Association members, or your Province Director of Chapters for assistance.
Your efforts will ensure a complete and accurate history of your chapter for future generations to enjoy!
