Delta Phi Epsilon :: Beta Upsilon Chapter :: Rochester Institute of Technology

BETA UPSILON HISTORY

On March 15, 1991, a group of women came together to form an organization at The Rochester Institute of Technology. There was a great deal of diversity among the interested women, but they all possessed a common goal of wanting to make a difference. Twelve days later this group, The Royal Ladies, elected officers and began their journey toward sisterhood. On April 26th 1991, the first initiation ceremony was held to express the ideals of the new organization and to initiate the young women as founding sisters of The Royal Ladies.

The Royal Ladies instilled their beliefs into the organization. They stressed scholarship and service to allow members opportunities to learn more about their role in the ever changing world. The diversity of the women in this organization allowed them to support and maintain individualism. Looking past their diversity, the members of The Royal Ladies showed the ability to build strong ties of sisterhood and run their organization as a whole unit. This is the area where The Royal Ladies stood out amongst the rest.

The Royal Ladies' initial goal was to become a Greek organization. After time, other goals were formed: to understand the true meaning of sisterhood, to develop life-long friendships, to be supportive of fellow sisters, and to grow both as individuals and a group by becoming involved on campus and in the community. The sisters of The Royal Ladies applied these ideals and goals in their daily life as they continued to learn, live and grow.

On April 23rd 1994 The Royal Ladies became the Gamma Colony of Delta Phi Epsilon. From that time on, the young women worked exceptionally hard to achieve the goal of becoming an official chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon. On May 13th 1995, The Royal Ladies became the founding sisters of the Beta Upsilon Chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon. To this day, the Beta Upsilon chapter strives to uphold and expand upon the foundations provided to us by this amazing group of women.

DELTA PHI EPSILON HISTORY

On March 17th 1917, five women at the New York University Law School took a pledge of sisterhood and loyalty. These five women thus founded the Alpha Chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon, one of the first non-sectarian, social sororities and the only one founded at a professional school. Five years later, on March 17th 1922, Delta Phi Epsilon was formally incorporated under the laws of the State of New York. On December 5th 1992, Delta Phi Epsilon expanded to an international sorority with the installation of the first Canadian chapter at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec.

Each year on March 17th, members of Delta Phi Epsilon celebrate Founder’s Day to honor our national founders. Minna Goldsmith Mahler, Eva Effron Robin, Ida Biensock Landau, Sylvia Steirman Cohn and Dorothy Cohen Schwartzman are the women to which each sister of Delta Phi Epsilon is indebted for the establishment of our sisterhood.

Delta Phi Epsilon was created to “promote good fellowship among the women students among the various colleges in the country … to create a secret society composed of these women based upon their good moral character, regardless of nationality or creed … to have distinct chapters at various colleges …” and to live our motto Esse Quam Videri: to be rather than to seem to be. Three quarters of a century after the founding of Delta Phi Epsilon, more than 45,000 undergraduate and alumnae members still embrace the beliefs and ideals set before us by our founders.

More Delta Phi Epsilon History and a timeline of Delta Phi Epsilon can be found at Delta Phi Epsilon International's homepage.

SYMBOLS OF DELTA PHI EPSILON

	Our Letters: Delta Phi Epsilon
Our Crest and Motto: Esse Quam Videri To be rather than to seem to be.
	Our Colors: Royal Purple and Pure Gold.
Our Logo: Dedication, Pride, Excellence.
	Our Mascot: The Unicorn
Our Flower: The Lovely Purple Iris
	Our Sisterhood Badge: An equilateral triangle in gold, surrounded by 21 pearls, our jewel.