Kappa Nu

Kappa Nu
ΚΝ
FoundedNovember 12, 1911; 114 years ago (1911-11-12)
University of Rochester
TypeSocial
Former affiliationNIC
StatusMerged
Merge dateOctober 14, 1961
SuccessorPhi Epsilon Pi
EmphasisJewish
ScopeNational
Member badge
Colors  Purple and   White
SymbolStar
JewelAmethyst
PublicationKappa Nu
Chapters27
HeadquartersRochester, New York
United States

Kappa Nu (ΚΝ) was an American college fraternity that was active from 1911 to 1961 when it merged with Phi Epsilon Pi.[1]

History

Kappa Nu was founded at the University of Rochester on November 12, 1911.[2] The founders were:

  • Joseph Bernhardt
  • Abraham Levy
  • Joseph Lazarus
  • Harold Leve
  • Morris Lazersohn
  • Louis Gottlieb

All six were pre-medical or medical students.[1] Their intention was to create a local-only fraternity for Jewish students.[2]

In 1917, five loosely connected groups (U of Rochester and others created by men who had left Rochester) held a convention in Rochester and set up Kappa Nu as a National Fraternity. By the 1918 convention, Kappa Nu had ten chapters. It continued to add chapters through 1931.[3] Its executive offices were in Rochester, New York.[2]

On October 14, 1961, Kappa Nu's thirteen active chapters voted to merge with Phi Epsilon Pi fraternity.[2] Of these, three chapters declined to participate in the merger at campuses where Phi Epsilon Pi already existed.[2] In 1970, Zeta Beta Tau absorbed Phi Epsilon Pi.[4][2]

Symbols

The badge is a diamond shield displaying a monogram of the Greek letters ΚΝ arranged horizontally along one plane below which is a six-pointed star and above which are קנ (Kuf Nun, the equivalent letters in Hebrew), standing for קשר נעורים or Kesher Neurim ("Ties of Youth").[1]: 54  The jeweled base of the pin is surrounded by twenty pearls with an amethyst set at each of the corners. Its colors were purple and white.[5][4]

As of 1920, the fraternity had a semi-annual publication called Kappa Nu.[5] It also published a magazine, The Reporter, three times a year.[2]

Chapters

Kappa Nu established 27 chapters.[1][5][4][2]

  1. ^ Chapter formed from Rho Sigma Alpha. After going dormant, it was re-established as a colony in 1946.
  2. ^ Chapter formed from Rho Sigma Beta.
  3. ^ Chapter formed from the Apollo Club, established in 1917.
  4. ^ a b Became a Zeta Beta Tau chapter.
  5. ^ Became a Pi Lambda Phi chapter
  6. ^ Chapter formed from Omega Kappa (local), established in 1920. After dormancy, it reformed as a colony in 1947.
  7. ^ Chapter formed from Rho Delta Rho, established in 1920.
  8. ^ Chapter formed from Alabama Club, established in 1920.
  9. ^ Chapter formed from Kayen Club, established in 1921.
  10. ^ Chapter formed from Phi Epsilon, established in 1930.
  11. ^ Chapter formed from Kappa Eta Phi, established in 1930.
  12. ^ Chapter formed from Garson Club (local), established in 1927.
  13. ^ Chapter formed from Beta Tau Delta.
  14. ^ Became a Phi Sigma Epsilon chapter.
  15. ^ Chapter formed from Delta Nu, established in 1947.

Notable members

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Sanua, Marianne Rachel (2003). Rischin, Moses; Sarna, Jonathan D. (eds.). Going Greek: Jewish College Fraternities in the United States 1895–1945. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8143-2857-6. LCCN 2002007160.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (July 6, 2024) "Kappa Nu". Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed August 20, 2024.
  3. ^ Our Antecedent Groups - Kappa Nu
  4. ^ a b c Anson, Jack L.; Marchesani Jr., Robert F., eds. (1991). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. pp. VIII-9–10. ISBN 978-0-9637159-0-6. OCLC 25278937.
  5. ^ a b c Brown, James T., ed. (1920). "Kappa Nu". Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (9th ed.). New York: James T. Brown Publisher. OCLC 17350924 – via HathiTrust.
  6. ^ "Bnai Chaim - Kappa Beta Fraternity - SUNY Albany - U Albany - Alumni". Kappa Beta Fraternity. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  7. ^ University of Cincinnati Going Greek: Fraternities