Founding Date

May 12th, 1973

Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) was a public university in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Founded in 1964, IPFW was a cooperatively-managed regional campus of two state university systems: Indiana University and Purdue University. On July 1, 2018, the two universities parted company in Fort Wayne. The health sciences programs on the campus became Indiana University Fort Wayne, and the other programs became Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW). A local sorority Alpha Psi Omega organized in 1966 with seventeen charter members. These women were known on campus for their leadership in student government, voluntary services to the school, participation in community service projects, high scholastic achievement, and high personal standards. With the enrollment of IPFW rapidly expanding, the members of Alpha Psi Omega desired to affiliate with a national sorority. After a good deal of research on their own and consultation with Dr. Joanne Lantz, Assistant Dean for Student Services Administration, the sorority asked for presentations from over nine national sororities. The women chose Delta Gamma, primarily because of its philanthropy, and its consent to allow some of the rituals of Alpha Psi Omega to remain. These women wanted a group that had a meaningful project of service to others. Alpha Psi Omega was the first local to organize on campus, and the first to affiliate with a national sorority. Sunday, October 1, 1972 was the beginning of the Delta Upsilon colony of Delta Gamma. Thirty-six members of the local were pledged by collegians of Alpha Tau-Butler. The Installation weekend of May 11-13 was planned in conjunction with the dedication of the two newest buildings on the campus, one dedicated in honor of Charles H. Keller, husband of Lois Peterson Keller, Theta, Indiana. The festivities began on Friday evening with a dessert, and an inspiration program conducted by members of Gamma Epsilon-Kent State with the assistance of members of Delta Xi-Ball State. Initiation took place in the Youth Room of the Trinity Lutheran Church on Saturday, Mary 12, 1973. Conducted by Gamma Epsilon chapter, thirty-two collegians, five patronesses, and sixteen alumnae of the local were initiated. The Summit Club, on top of the Ft. Wayne National Bank Building, was the site of the installation banquet on Saturday evening. The theme of the evening was" Spring--A Time for Beginning." The charter was presented to chapter president, Ruth Lantz, by NPC Delegate Eleanor Smith Slaughter, Alpha Psi-Mississippi. On Sunday afternoon members of Delta Upsilon were hostesses of an open house in one of the new campus buildings. Delta Upsilon was the last chapter installed in the first century of Delta Gamma and was the 7th chapter installed in Indiana. At the time, it was one of two NPC sororities on campus, the other being Pi Beta Phi. In 1993, the chapter celebrated its 20th anniversary. The celebrations were arranged by Fort Wayne alumnae and included recognition of two alumna who became 50- and 60-year members. By the mid 2000’s, due to conditions on IPFW’s campus, it became increasingly clearer that Greek life was not sustainable. Delta Upsilon had chronic issues with membership, finance, and academics. Due to this, the chapter voted in August of 2005 to relinquish its charter. The Fraternity honored this decision, and on October 22, 2005, the Delta Upsilon chapter officially closed. The Delta Upsilon chapter was fortunate enough to own their chapter house. In 1993, the Delta Upsilon House Corporation had made the necessary arrangements for the chapter house to be renovated.