Alpha Chi Sigma
Pi Chapter, Syracuse University & SUNY ESF
ABOUT US
This page contains the history of the Pi Chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma. To learn more about us, please browse through the pages listed below.
HISTORY OF THE PI CHAPTER
Syracuse University has always had chemistry-affiliated clubs as part of campus life. The first chemistry club was formed soon after the founding of Syracuse University in 1870 and was a prominent part of the campus. The Chemistry Club encouraged both students and faculty to become involved with Chemistry related events, and support the growth of Chemistry in the scientific world.
The Chemistry Club continued on until 1906 when a group of eleven seniors and one junior decided to start a new chemistry affiliation, Pi Phi Chi (PFC). Pi Phi Chi was the Honorary Chemistry Fraternity of Syracuse University. The fraternity’s goals were to promote the interests of the chemistry department and to establish scholarships in Chemistry. Only worthy and qualified students were offered membership into Pi Phi Chi; this select group almost always consisted of one sophomore and five juniors. However, the entire chemistry faculty was initiated into Pi Phi Chi to show support for the organization and encourage others to become members. Pi Phi Chi was only active for a total of six years, but in this short period of time they were successful. The Pi Phi Chi Fraternity grew to a total of 50 brothers and alumni, and also had other honorary members. The fraternity published an annual letter including writings from brothers as well as alumni and honorary members. The fraternity also successfully established scholarships for those who desired to further their education in the field of chemistry. Their sixth year of Pi Phi Chi however was lacking, with only seven members who were considered to be actively involved with the fraternity.
In 1911 the Grand Master Alchemist Joseph Howard Mathews of Alpha Chi Sigma learned of the honorary fraternity Pi Phi Chi and became concerned that the fraternity was dwindling. At the American Chemical Society meeting in the winter of 1911 in Washington, D.C, Joseph H. Mathews discussed with Professor H.M. Smith of establishing a chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma at Syracuse University. H. M. Smith was very favorable of this proposal and returned to Syracuse to discuss it further with the members of Pi Phi Chi.
The seven active members of Pi Phi Chi were supporters of the idea to start a chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma at Syracuse University. However they were concerned
that the alumni of Pi Phi Chi would protest, and would no longer support the fraternity. A. W. Kimman of Pi Phi Chi discussed these concerns with a faculty member R. K. Brewer of the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma. The two individuals discussed initiating the alumni of Pi Phi Chi into Alpha Chi Sigma as honorary members, and concluded that this was the best means to convert Pi Phi Chi into a chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma.
On March 1, 1912 A. W. Kimman wrote Grand Master Alchemist J. H. Mathews wishing to affiliate Pi Phi Chi with Alpha Chi Sigma. With the aid of R. K. Brewer, on April 6, 1912 the petition of Pi Phi Chi to join Alpha Chi Sigma was signed and sent. The petition included seven faculty members, the current seven members of Pi Phi Chi and sixteen other students. The Faculty included Ernerst N. Pattee, Harry Manmouth Smith, Hermon Charles Cooper, Eben H. Archibald, Roger F. Brunnell, Chrales H. Richardson, and Charles Edgar Roake. The former brothers of Pi Phi Chi included Arther W. Kimman, Homer G. Turner, Carl F. Miller, Harold E. Bishop, Tracy C. Swan, Fred F. Fox, Earle H. Fellows. The additional students who signed the petition were Floyd H. Edmister, Mark Hopkins, Earl H. Houghton, Harry B. Keegan, Harold S. Mitchel, Karl B. Norton, R. Hale Sawens, Raymond I. Bashford, Albert C. Berndt, Oman S. Egan, Clarence E. Meyers, Manuel B. Navas, W. Gerard McKee, Chester E. Andrews, Francis M. Daly, and Alger L. Ward. The petition also sighted that these individuals wanted all former brothers of Pi Phi Chi to become honorary members of Alpha Chi Sigma. On April 24, 1912 G.M.A. Mathews advised the petitioners that the charter was granted. On May 11, 1912 Vice Grand Master Alchemist R. C. Palmer assisted by R. K. Brewer installed the Pi Chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma. The first initiation was held in Bowne Hall, in the afternoon and it was followed by a banquet at the Hotel Vanderbilt that evening.
During the following years the Pi Chapter proved to be strong, contributing to the fraternity as well as gaining the support of the University’s faculty. The fraternity was actively involved with other Alpha Chi Sigma Chapters as well as other fraternities on the Syracuse University Campus. As membership increased, the Pi Chapter was required to place a limit on the number of new members that could be initiated each year. During the 1920s this limit was set at twenty-five, but by the beginning of the 1940′s the limit was removed allowing the chapter to continue to grow at a fast rate. During the years between it's establishment and 1960 the chapter had started a scholarship with several awards, a newsletter titled Pi Pieces, and colonized two different chapters: Alpha Nu at Colgate University and Beta Sigma at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).
During the end of the 1960′s the Pi Chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma began to deteriorate and in 1972 became inactive due to a lack of active members. The Pi Chapter remained completely inactive for several years until the fall of 1978 when six prospective pledges began the pledging process with the aid of brothers from the Beta Sigma Chapter. In the spring of 1979 the six pledges were initiated into the Pi Chapter, restarting activity of Alpha Chi Sigma at Syracuse University. The six new brothers helped the fraternity grow very quickly, and the Pi Chapter was able to host conclave in 1984. The event was recorded as being a large success for the Chapter.
After 1984 the Chapter again went into a slow downward spiral, shrinking in size and involvement on campus when it reached a low in 1996 when only one pledge went through the pledging process that spring. The pledge was initiated at Tau Chapter and was the last Pi Chapter to initiate for some time as members lost interest and active seniors graduated.
In the December 1999 Alpha Chi Sigma Supreme Council Meeting, it was decided that the Pi Chapter was to be deemed inactive due to lack of membership. During this same time period, the current district counselor of the Northeastern District, Kristen King and an alumna of Pi Chapter, Sally Mitchell, discussed the prospect of a new pledge class for the Pi Chapter. After the determination of the Supreme Council to deem the Pi Chapter inactive, Kristen King informed the council that reactivation efforts were well under way and that there would be a pledge class of fourteen students and one professor beginning the pledging process in the coming spring. A week later the Supreme Council decided by means of e-mail vote to renounce the inactivation of the Pi Chapter. In the spring of 2000, Kristen King and several brothers from the Beta Sigma Chapter initiated thirteen pledges, thirteen students and one faculty member (current faculty advisor, Dr. Mike Sponsler), into the Pi Chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma. The following year a total of twelve pledges were initiated, continuing the growth of the Pi Chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma here at Syracuse University.
Presently, the Chapter is still growing and strengthening its ties to the community of Syracuse and Syracuse University with increasing involvement and enthusiasm to promote the advancement and knowledge of chemistry to others.