Emergence of Fraternities

First Fraternity at the University of Minnesota

Alpha Nu of Chi Psi was the first Greek fraternity established at the University of Minnesota. This chapter was installed in 1874, and it was the sixth intercollegiate fraternity established in the U.S. It was described as a small and cohesive fraternity.¹

Hazing, or Supposed Lack of It

Even early in fraternity life at the U, whispers of hazing were present. In an article written for the Ariel in 1870s, the student addresses the issue of hazing. They claim hazing is a disease that has infected eastern colleges, but denies its presence at the U. The student does briefly admit to hazing in the quote below:

“A few of the young men wished to show that this University had some spunk”.

The student writing the article describes the U as being above hazing, referring to the university as a “she” in the quote below:

“Her exalted station ought to inspire her students with high and noble motives and the feeling

that culture is not a mixture of the Classics and “barbarisms;” but to a good store of knowledge

is to be added that moral training which alone can be called true culture, the proper product of

our higher institutions of learning.”

The student emphasizes that hazing is barbaric and students at the U participate in the culture of knowledge.²