Theta Upsilon Omega (ΘΥΩ), was a national collegiate fraternity in the United States. Representatives of several local fraternities at a December 1, 1923[2] meeting of locals, organized by the National Interfraternity Conference, determined to form a new national through amalgamation, resulting in the creation of Theta Upsilon Omega on May 2, 1924.
| Theta Upsilon Omega | |
|---|---|
| ΘΥΩ | |
 | |
| Founded | December 1, 1923 National Interfraternity Conference meeting, New York City |
| Type | Social |
| Former Affiliation | NIC |
| Status | Merged |
| Scope | National |
| Member badge |  |
| Colors | Midnight blue and gold |
| Flower | Dark Red Rose |
| Publication | The Omegan |
| Chapters | 17 |
| Merged with | Sigma Phi Epsilon (1938) |
| Headquarters | United States |
| [1][2] | |
On April 23, 1938, Theta Upsilon Omega merged with Sigma Phi Epsilon.
Creation
The following nine locals were part of this meeting and concluded to form Theta Upsilon Omega.
- Delta Tau, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- Phi Kappa Pi, Stevens Institute of Technology
- Zeus Fraternity, University of Illinois
- Kappa Sigma Phi, Temple University
- Beta Kappa Psi, Bucknell University
- Kappa Tau Omega, The George Washington University
- Sigma Beta, University of New Hampshire
- Delta Kappa Nu, Penn State University
- Phi Alpha Pi, Davidson College
In addition, at the Charter Arch Convocation (held at Bucknell on February 21–23, 1924), Pi Rho Phi of Westminster College petitioned for membership and was granted as the youngest charter chapter.[2] Merle C. Cowden, of Worcester, was chosen first national president.[3]
Additional chapters were chartered, but growth stalled during the Great Depression. In 1938, following negotiations, Theta Upsilon Omega merged with Sigma Phi Epsilon. Of its thirteen active chapters, four merged with existing Sigma Phi Epsilon chapters, and seven others were granted new charters in Sigma Phi Epsilon. One chapter reverted to local status under its original name, and one chapter merged with Theta Chi on its campus.[4]
Symbols
The badge of Theta Upsilon Omega was a small pin of blue enamel with a circular contour in the center of which is a ten-pointed gold star enclosing a cut diamond.[5] The badge will have three short arms which are equidistant around the pin, and on them, in gold, will be the letters Theta Upsilon Omega. In the spaces between the arms will be six pearls, two between each pair of arms.[5] Only charter members will be privileged to wear the diamond-centered pins, and initiated members will have to substitute a ruby for the diamond or wear a plain pin.[5] The pledge button was a cross fitchée of midnight blue with a border of gold.[5] Its recognition pin was a mural crown from the top of which issues a dragon's head.[5]
The fraternity's official seal was a voided fusil bearing inscriptions regarding the fraternity and having in the center, the Squire's helmet facing to the left. Its colors were midnight blue and gold.[5] Its flower was a dark red rose.[5]
Chapters
Following is a list of Theta Upsilon Omega chapters.[6][7][1][8]
Notable members
- Thomas Cunningham Cochran - Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania 1927-1935.[15]
- Paul J. Kramer - American biologist and plant physiologist
- Thomas Z. Minehart - Treasurer of Pennsylvania, Auditor General of Pennsylvania.[16]