Alfa Chi Alfa

Alpha Chi Alpha ( ΑΧΑ o Alpha Chi) es una fraternidad local del Dartmouth College en Hanover, New Hampshire . Se fundó como fraternidad independiente en 1963, tras haber sido inicialmente una sección de Alpha Chi Rho y parte de la fraternidad local Gamma Delta Chi . La fraternidad ocupa una casa capitular que pertenece a la universidad.

Historia

En marzo de 1917, doce estudiantes del Dartmouth College formaron la fraternidad Epsilon Kappa Alpha . En 1919, este grupo se convirtió en el capítulo Phi Nu de la fraternidad nacional Alpha Chi Rho . A principios de la década de 1930, decayó drásticamente debido a la aparición de varias fraternidades nuevas en el campus y a las dificultades financieras causadas por la Gran Depresión . En 1935, Alpha Chi Rho se fusionó con los capítulos del campus de Lambda Chi Alpha , Phi Kappa Sigma y Alpha Sigma Phi para crear una nueva fraternidad, Gamma Delta Chi . ^{[ 1 ]}

El 9 de marzo de 1957, 24 estudiantes de pregrado se separaron de Gamma Delta Chi y reactivaron el capítulo Phi Nu de Alpha Chi Rho. El capítulo Alpha Chi Rho, ahora reactivado, se instaló en una casa en Webster Avenue, que fue comprada y renovada por la universidad.

En la primavera de 1963, un comité de miembros se reunió y recomendó la separación de Alpha Chi Rho. La fraternidad nacional exigía a sus miembros "aceptar a Jesús como su Señor y Salvador", un principio con el que los hermanos del capítulo de Dartmouth estaban totalmente en desacuerdo. Una excesiva carga financiera para la fraternidad nacional pudo haber sido otro factor. El 21 de mayo de 1963, el capítulo Pi Nu votó a favor de desafiliarse de Alpha Chi Rho y formar la fraternidad local Alpha Chi Alpha. Alpha Chi Alpha continúa ocupando la sede del capítulo en Wester Avenue.

Símbolos

El lema de Alpha Chi Alpha es Fidelis et Suavis . Los colores de la fraternidad son el rojo y el negro. Su símbolo es el caballo blanco. Su apodo es Alpha Chi.

Alpha Chi Alpha pledges are recognized by their "sirens", red baseball cap-like headwear, which they wear for the duration of their pledge term.

Chapter house

Alpha Chi Alpha's chapter house is located at 13 Webster Avenue on the Dartmouth College campus, directly across from the college president's house. The green-shingled house is nicknamed the "Magic Green Cottage" and the "Cheese Lodge" by its members and can house 21 members.

Professor Fred Emery purchased the vacant lot on May 5, 1896, and constructed the house in 1898. Later owners sold the house to the college in March 1957, and it has been leased by the fraternity ever since. The college, as the fraternity's landlord, takes care of all major structural repairs The living room and the second floor above it were added in May 1963. The addition of a third floor resulted from the efforts of member Bob Ceplikas. During the summer of 1985, the college spent over $180,000 on major renovations.

Costing $1.3 million, the 2004 renovations involved the razing of a structure that was once known as the Emory Barn or simply the Barn. A concrete hallway called the Slide was constructed at some point, adjoining the fraternity's physical plant and the Barn. The Barn was one of the most distinctive social atmospheres on Dartmouth's campus and was cherished by the fraternity. The second floor of the Barn, known as the Upstairs Barn, housed three brothers each term. The basement, along with the new main floor area and recently refurbished tube room, has replaced the Barn and the old front room as the primary social spaces for the fraternity.

Activities

The fraternity hosts over 600 guests for the Beach Party during Winter Carnival, and also for a Pigstick BBQ each spring on the first Saturday in May.