Founding Date

Apr 21st, 2016

Albert Gallatin, Secretary of Treasury under Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, declared his intention to establish "in this immense and fast-growing city ... a system of rational and practical education fitting for all and graciously opened to all.” On April 18, 1831, an institution was established. On April 21, 1831, the new institution received its charter and was incorporated as the University of the City of New York by the New York State Legislature. The university has been popularly known as New York University since its beginning and was officially renamed New York University in 1896. Fraternity and sorority life at NYU began with the founding of Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity in 1903 on its campus. Since then, the NYU fraternity and sorority community has grown to boast 27 chapters, including seven National Panhellenic Conference sororities with the addition of Eta Phi chapter of Delta Gamma Fraternity. The chapter’s establishment included events led by Samantha Reyes, Mu-Missouri and Lauren Isaacs, Beta Iota-Purdue, Collegiate Development Consultants assigned to support the new chapter. These events included “infoviews” between potential members, Fraternity staff and volunteers, and a preference event with sisters from Zeta Theta-Columbia chapter. The establishment events culminated on February 21, 2016 with the pledging of the charter members of Eta Phi-NYU chapter and a Bid Day celebration. It was a spectacular week of preparation and implementation by Fraternity Director of Extension & Consultants, Lorie Holt, Epsilon-Ohio State, and Fraternity Extension Specialist, Hannah Nugent, Epsilon-Ohio State, along with many volunteers. Eta Phi chapter and their 137 charter members join the sisterhood of over 230,000 living members with their April 21, 2016 Initiation and Installation. This day Eta Phi celebrates becoming Delta Gamma’s 197th chapter since 1873, and the 147th active chapter of Delta Gamma on college campuses today.