Founding Date

Nov 6th, 1943

Bowling Green Normal School, now Bowling Green State University, was founded in 1910. The first classes for 304 students were held in 1914. In December of 1923 four outstanding young women formed a sorority and called it Skol. The letters stood for their ideals - sincerity, kindness, originality, and loyalty. In 1925 with the composing of the Skol Love Song, Skol established a musical tradition. Although nationalization for the women's fraternities had been discussed for years, the administration would not permit any action to be taken. In 1939, Dr. Frank Prout was inaugurated as the president of Bowling Green State University. He believed that Bowling Green could become a very strong university by the establishment of a system of good national sororities and fraternities. He was a Phi Delta Theta and a loyal fraternity man. His first move to create a climate favorable to a fraternity system was to construct several on campus houses for sorority organizations. The present Alpha Xi Delta house was the first house built and the present Delta Gamma house was the second. In these two houses, Dr. Prout installed the two strongest local sororities. Skol members occupied one of the houses. Dr. Prout hired Audrey Wilder as Dean of Women, a member of Zeta chapter. Dean Wilder felt that Skol was composed of the type of girls that made up Delta Gamma. The Skol members were aware of the national reputation of Delta Gamma and had several friends in other Ohio chapters. The friendship of Betty Smith, Alpha Rho-Ohio Wesleyan and Skol president Joan Norsworthy also influenced the Skol choice of Delta Gamma. With the encouragement of Dean Wilder, the Council of Delta Gamma appointed Eunice Hobart and Dorothy Knight Wildasin, Alpha Omicron-Miami (Ohio), Expansion Chairman, to officially inspect the Skol sorority. Their report was enthusiastic. "The weekend they spent with the girls was delightful; something of true Delta Gamma spirit was born in many hearts; and a long, important step was taken toward the goal of nationalization. Before May ended, Council permitted the petition to be prepared. Then, through days of suspense, accented and aggravated by the news that Alpha Phi and Gamma Phi Beta had both decided to install at Bowling Green, Skol waited. These were weeks of wild rumors, despondent depths, high moments of hope. July, then August, thus dragged by. September first was the dead-line date, but not until the fifth did the message come from Dorothy Wildasin, Delta Gamma has granted Skol's petition. We'll install in November." Initiation ceremonies took place on Saturday, November 6, 1943 in the Practical Arts Building. A formal installation banquet followed in the Falcon's Nest at 6:00 p.m. The cost was $2.25. The banquet theme was the cream-colored rose. The chapter was presented a silver tea and coffee service with a silver tray from the Toledo and Indianapolis alumnae. The chapter presented Hope McAdams, president, with a bracelet, and gave a jeweled pin to the past president of Skol, Joan Norsworthy. A formal reception in the Recreation Hall of the Administration Building followed the banquet. This reception was different from those of other sororities who had become national, because it was an all-campus affair.