Phrateres
Encyclopedia
Phrateres is a philanthropic-social organization
for female
college
students.
. However, the new group proved popular and soon membership was extended to any female student who wished to join. Members now included those who lived in dorms, commuted to campus
, as well as members of sororities. Word spread to other colleges, especially those on the West Coast
. The Beta Chapter was installed at the University of Washington
in 1929. The 1930s saw the installation of ten more chapters: Gamma & Delta in 1930, Epsilon in 1931, Zeta in 1932, Eta in 1933, Theta & Iota in 1935, Kappa in 1936, Lambda in 1937, and Nu in 1939. Phrateres now had chapters in seven states and one province in Canada
(Theta at UBC would remain the only Canadian chapter from 1935 to 1961). The 1940s brought four more chapters: Xi & Omicron in 1941, Rho in 1942, and Sigma in 1945, for a total of sixteen Active collegiate chapters (the most ever at one time). However, from 1945 until the late 1950s, three of those chapters closed: Delta, Eta, and Omicron. Their chapter names were later reused for newly installed chapters at different schools in 1950 (Delta), 1958 (Eta), and 1964 (Omicron). Along with those, the final four chapters were installed in the 1960s, including three more in Canada: Omega in 1961, Tau in 1966, Phi in the mid to late 1960s, and Psi in 1967.
From the 1930s to the 1990s, conventions were held every one to two years, with members of the host chapter housing delegates from other chapters. Chapters could win awards, such as "Most Active Chapter" and "Best Scrapbook."
The earliest known date of a chapter closing was the first Omicron in 1945 Only one other chapter closing is known with certainty: Lambda in 2000. Beta closed sometime in the 1970s and the second Eta chapter is known to have closed in the 1990s (the first Eta Chapter was closed by 1958, but evidence of activity has only been found up to 1949). Conflicting evidence either has Zeta closing in 1943 or the 1980s. Gamma also has two possible years: 1961 or 1968. Based on found documentation, the following chapters were Active as late as the year given: Xi in 1945, Iota in 1949, Epsilon in 1951, Kappa in 1956, Sigma in 1968, Omega also in 1968, Psi in 1969, Tau in 1970, Alpha in 1974, and Rho in 1985. Unfortunately, for five chapters, the closing year is unknown due to an almost total lack of documentation. The first Delta chapter was closed by 1950, when the second one was installed. As for the second Delta, Nu, the second Omicron, and Phi, the only chapter records are those of installations (but it is known that none of them were Active as of 1990).
In the 1990s, only three Active collegiate chapters remained: Theta, Lambda, and the second Eta (the former in Canada; the latter two in Arizona, both of which were co-ed by this time). Eta closed during that decade and Lambda closed in 2000. Now, the only Active collegiate chapter was Theta at the University of British Columbia
. The Phrateres International Board saw little purpose to its own existence (being that only one Active chapter remained) and disbanded in 2001. As of 2009, the Theta Chapter still exists at UBC in the form of a self-governing AMS (Alma Mater Society, UBC's student society) club.
of Phrateres. The chapter is seeking out alumnae members of any chapter who can provide information, including, but not limited to, oral history
or memories
, yearbook
s, manuals
, photos
, chapter newsletter
s, student newspaper articles
, anything from or about Phrateres International, etc. The basic goal
is to compile a complete listing of all the chapters that ever existed, including founding and closing dates, and histories
of each individual chapter.
As is apparent above, current historical
knowledge
is limited. Sources thus far have been Theta Chapter yearbook
s and newsletter
s in the UBC
archives, information available on the internet
through online search engines
, and Theta Chapter alumnae. Please contact phrateres[@]gmail.com with the subjject title "Phrateres History Project" if you are an alumnae and wish to help.
. It collected fees from each chapter, as well as published a regular newsletter, "The Phraterean" with notices from each chapter. The Lura Heeter Award was a scholarship
given to one collegiate
member each year (began as a memorial award within the Zeta Chapter in 1985).
When the board disbanded in 2001, it gave its remaining funds to the Theta Chapter. Monies from the Lura Heeter Award were given to the Zeta Alumnae Chapter.
The board was led by a Grand President:
, New Mexico
, Oregon
, Texas
, and Wisconsin
each having one chapter; Arizona
, Illinois
, and Washington each having two; and the remaining eight all in California
(three of which were in Los Angeles
alone). The remaining four were in Canada
, with one in Ontario
and three in British Columbia
, including Theta, the sole remaining active chapter.
. No records have been found for Mu, Pi, Upsilon, or Chi chapters, although the fact that three other letters were used twice supports their possible existence.
The two Arizona chapters (Lambda at U. of Arizona & Eta at A.S.U.) referred to themselves, respectively, as "Phi Lambda Phrateres" and "Phi Eta Phrateres." The Theta chapter at U.B.C. has records of being called "Phi Theta" but this practice has been discontinued.
Theta Chapter hosts an annual "Alumnae Tea" each February (celebrating date of installation at UBC
). Theta alumnae, some of whom are from the established Theta Alumnae Chapter, are always present. The collegiate
Theta Chapter is interested in hearing from any other Alumnae or Alumnae Chapters in existence.
Despite the short life of the collegiate Zeta Chapter at Carroll College, a strong Alumnae Chapter grew and is still in existence.
with a gala celebration. Contacting alumnae proved difficult, unfortunately. Many members had married and taken new names. As well, records often only included the street address of the woman while she had been a student
, providing no current mailing address or email address. Collegiate and alumnae members of the Theta Chapter were joined by spouses, parents, and a Rho Chapter alumnae, who had never been to Canada
before.
. The Theta Chapter was installed on February 1, 1935. It was the eighth chapter installed, but the first Canadian chapter.
From installation until the 1970s, membership was large enough to support as many as 12 Sub-Chapters. Each Sub-Chapter had its own president
and council
, with all Sub-Chapters falling under the control of an executive council comprising the Rho Sub-Chapter. Each Sub-Chapter also had a faculty advisor and recruited members separately. This promoted friendly competition between the Sub-Chapters.
In those earlier decades, students at UBC had to wait until their sophomore
year to join fraternities and sororities
. Freshman
female students were required to join Phrateres if they wanted to join a sorority later. After that first year, members either decided to stay solely in Phrateres, leave Phrateres for a sorority, or maintain membership in both. When the policy changed, and freshmen were allowed to rush, the Theta Chapter experienced a dramatic decline in membership (since the 1980s, membership has not exceeded 100). From that point onwards, Phrateres at UBC was no longer seen as an organization to unify all women students, as had been the vision of Dean Laughlin at UCLA in 1924. Sub-chapters eventually ceased and the club presently operates as one unified chapter.
, the club helps a variety of organizations.
Annual events include:
for the Delta Omicron chapter of Sigma Chi
at UBC
.http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/ubcsigs2/sweetheartaward.html&date=2009-10-25+23:26:03 (Delta Omicron was chartered in 1949, and first elected a Sweetheart the following year.)
Organization
An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...
for female
Female
Female is the sex of an organism, or a part of an organism, which produces non-mobile ova .- Defining characteristics :The ova are defined as the larger gametes in a heterogamous reproduction system, while the smaller, usually motile gamete, the spermatozoon, is produced by the male...
college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
students.
History
Phrateres was founded at UCLA in 1924 by the Dean of Women, Helen Matthewson Laughlin. The intention was to bring "independent" women students (i.e. those not in dormitories or sororities) into a collective group for the purposes of socialization and philanthropyPhilanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
. However, the new group proved popular and soon membership was extended to any female student who wished to join. Members now included those who lived in dorms, commuted to campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
, as well as members of sororities. Word spread to other colleges, especially those on the West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
. The Beta Chapter was installed at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in 1929. The 1930s saw the installation of ten more chapters: Gamma & Delta in 1930, Epsilon in 1931, Zeta in 1932, Eta in 1933, Theta & Iota in 1935, Kappa in 1936, Lambda in 1937, and Nu in 1939. Phrateres now had chapters in seven states and one province in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(Theta at UBC would remain the only Canadian chapter from 1935 to 1961). The 1940s brought four more chapters: Xi & Omicron in 1941, Rho in 1942, and Sigma in 1945, for a total of sixteen Active collegiate chapters (the most ever at one time). However, from 1945 until the late 1950s, three of those chapters closed: Delta, Eta, and Omicron. Their chapter names were later reused for newly installed chapters at different schools in 1950 (Delta), 1958 (Eta), and 1964 (Omicron). Along with those, the final four chapters were installed in the 1960s, including three more in Canada: Omega in 1961, Tau in 1966, Phi in the mid to late 1960s, and Psi in 1967.
From the 1930s to the 1990s, conventions were held every one to two years, with members of the host chapter housing delegates from other chapters. Chapters could win awards, such as "Most Active Chapter" and "Best Scrapbook."
The earliest known date of a chapter closing was the first Omicron in 1945 Only one other chapter closing is known with certainty: Lambda in 2000. Beta closed sometime in the 1970s and the second Eta chapter is known to have closed in the 1990s (the first Eta Chapter was closed by 1958, but evidence of activity has only been found up to 1949). Conflicting evidence either has Zeta closing in 1943 or the 1980s. Gamma also has two possible years: 1961 or 1968. Based on found documentation, the following chapters were Active as late as the year given: Xi in 1945, Iota in 1949, Epsilon in 1951, Kappa in 1956, Sigma in 1968, Omega also in 1968, Psi in 1969, Tau in 1970, Alpha in 1974, and Rho in 1985. Unfortunately, for five chapters, the closing year is unknown due to an almost total lack of documentation. The first Delta chapter was closed by 1950, when the second one was installed. As for the second Delta, Nu, the second Omicron, and Phi, the only chapter records are those of installations (but it is known that none of them were Active as of 1990).
In the 1990s, only three Active collegiate chapters remained: Theta, Lambda, and the second Eta (the former in Canada; the latter two in Arizona, both of which were co-ed by this time). Eta closed during that decade and Lambda closed in 2000. Now, the only Active collegiate chapter was Theta at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
. The Phrateres International Board saw little purpose to its own existence (being that only one Active chapter remained) and disbanded in 2001. As of 2009, the Theta Chapter still exists at UBC in the form of a self-governing AMS (Alma Mater Society, UBC's student society) club.
2009-10: Anniversary Year
The 2009-10 school year marked two important milestones for the Phrateres organization: the 85th anniversary of the founding of Phrateres at UCLA and the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Theta Chapter at UBC. The Theta Chapter organized a celebration that was held in 2010, which featured a wide range of Phrateres sisters whose ages ranged from over 70 years, to 19. This event marked how important this organization was, and continues to be in the development of the individual, as well as fostering lifelong friendships, sisterhood, and memories.History Project
The Theta Chapter is currently compiling a more thorough historyHistory
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
of Phrateres. The chapter is seeking out alumnae members of any chapter who can provide information, including, but not limited to, oral history
Oral history
Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews...
or memories
Memory
In psychology, memory is an organism's ability to store, retain, and recall information and experiences. Traditional studies of memory began in the fields of philosophy, including techniques of artificially enhancing memory....
, yearbook
Yearbook
A yearbook, also known as an annual, is a book to record, highlight, and commemorate the past year of a school or a book published annually. Virtually all American, Australian and Canadian high schools, most colleges and many elementary and middle schools publish yearbooks...
s, manuals
Owners manual
An owner's manual is an instructional book or booklet that is supplied with almost all technologically advanced consumer products such as vehicles, home appliances and computer peripherals....
, photos
Photograph
A photograph is an image created by light falling on a light-sensitive surface, usually photographic film or an electronic imager such as a CCD or a CMOS chip. Most photographs are created using a camera, which uses a lens to focus the scene's visible wavelengths of light into a reproduction of...
, chapter newsletter
Newsletter
A newsletter is a regularly distributed publication generally about one main topic that is of interest to its subscribers. Newspapers and leaflets are types of newsletters. Additionally, newsletters delivered electronically via email have gained rapid acceptance for the same reasons email in...
s, student newspaper articles
Article (publishing)
An article is a written work published in a print or electronic medium. It may be for the purpose of propagating the news, research results, academic analysis or debate.-News articles:...
, anything from or about Phrateres International, etc. The basic goal
Goal
A goal is an objective, or a projected computation of affairs, that a person or a system plans or intends to achieve.Goal, GOAL or G.O.A.L may also refer to:Sport...
is to compile a complete listing of all the chapters that ever existed, including founding and closing dates, and histories
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
of each individual chapter.
As is apparent above, current historical
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
knowledge
Knowledge
Knowledge is a familiarity with someone or something unknown, which can include information, facts, descriptions, or skills acquired through experience or education. It can refer to the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject...
is limited. Sources thus far have been Theta Chapter yearbook
Yearbook
A yearbook, also known as an annual, is a book to record, highlight, and commemorate the past year of a school or a book published annually. Virtually all American, Australian and Canadian high schools, most colleges and many elementary and middle schools publish yearbooks...
s and newsletter
Newsletter
A newsletter is a regularly distributed publication generally about one main topic that is of interest to its subscribers. Newspapers and leaflets are types of newsletters. Additionally, newsletters delivered electronically via email have gained rapid acceptance for the same reasons email in...
s in the UBC
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
archives, information available on the internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
through online search engines
Web search engine
A web search engine is designed to search for information on the World Wide Web and FTP servers. The search results are generally presented in a list of results often referred to as SERPS, or "search engine results pages". The information may consist of web pages, images, information and other...
, and Theta Chapter alumnae. Please contact phrateres[@]gmail.com with the subjject title "Phrateres History Project" if you are an alumnae and wish to help.
Phrateres International
The International consisted of the Board of Trustees: Phrateres alumnae living in the Greater Los Angeles areaGreater Los Angeles Area
The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, is a term used for the Combined Statistical Area sprawled over five counties in the southern part of California, namely Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and Ventura County...
. It collected fees from each chapter, as well as published a regular newsletter, "The Phraterean" with notices from each chapter. The Lura Heeter Award was a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
given to one collegiate
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
member each year (began as a memorial award within the Zeta Chapter in 1985).
When the board disbanded in 2001, it gave its remaining funds to the Theta Chapter. Monies from the Lura Heeter Award were given to the Zeta Alumnae Chapter.
The board was led by a Grand President:
- Helen Matthewson Laughlin, 1924–1957
- Lynne Love, ? - ?
- Marjorie Chilstrom, ? - ?
Collegiate Chapters
At present, records for 23 collegiate chapters have been found. Nineteen were in the United States, with ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
each having one chapter; Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, and Washington each having two; and the remaining eight all in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
(three of which were in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
alone). The remaining four were in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, with one in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and three in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, including Theta, the sole remaining active chapter.
Nomenclature
Chapters were named in the order of the Greek alphabetGreek alphabet
The Greek alphabet is the script that has been used to write the Greek language since at least 730 BC . The alphabet in its classical and modern form consists of 24 letters ordered in sequence from alpha to omega...
. No records have been found for Mu, Pi, Upsilon, or Chi chapters, although the fact that three other letters were used twice supports their possible existence.
The two Arizona chapters (Lambda at U. of Arizona & Eta at A.S.U.) referred to themselves, respectively, as "Phi Lambda Phrateres" and "Phi Eta Phrateres." The Theta chapter at U.B.C. has records of being called "Phi Theta" but this practice has been discontinued.
Alumnae Chapters
The collegiateCollege
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
Theta Chapter hosts an annual "Alumnae Tea" each February (celebrating date of installation at UBC
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
). Theta alumnae, some of whom are from the established Theta Alumnae Chapter, are always present. The collegiate
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
Theta Chapter is interested in hearing from any other Alumnae or Alumnae Chapters in existence.
Despite the short life of the collegiate Zeta Chapter at Carroll College, a strong Alumnae Chapter grew and is still in existence.
70+ Years
In 2006, Theta celebrated 70 years of Phrateres at UBCUniversity of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
with a gala celebration. Contacting alumnae proved difficult, unfortunately. Many members had married and taken new names. As well, records often only included the street address of the woman while she had been a student
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
, providing no current mailing address or email address. Collegiate and alumnae members of the Theta Chapter were joined by spouses, parents, and a Rho Chapter alumnae, who had never been to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
before.
History
The only remaining active chapter was often the largest during the heyday of Phrateres. In the mid-1930s, Clare Brown (President of the Women's Undergraduate Society) petitioned Mary Bollert (Dean of Women) to bring Phrateres to UBCUniversity of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
. The Theta Chapter was installed on February 1, 1935. It was the eighth chapter installed, but the first Canadian chapter.
From installation until the 1970s, membership was large enough to support as many as 12 Sub-Chapters. Each Sub-Chapter had its own president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and council
Committee
A committee is a type of small deliberative assembly that is usually intended to remain subordinate to another, larger deliberative assembly—which when organized so that action on committee requires a vote by all its entitled members, is called the "Committee of the Whole"...
, with all Sub-Chapters falling under the control of an executive council comprising the Rho Sub-Chapter. Each Sub-Chapter also had a faculty advisor and recruited members separately. This promoted friendly competition between the Sub-Chapters.
In those earlier decades, students at UBC had to wait until their sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
year to join fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
. Freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
female students were required to join Phrateres if they wanted to join a sorority later. After that first year, members either decided to stay solely in Phrateres, leave Phrateres for a sorority, or maintain membership in both. When the policy changed, and freshmen were allowed to rush, the Theta Chapter experienced a dramatic decline in membership (since the 1980s, membership has not exceeded 100). From that point onwards, Phrateres at UBC was no longer seen as an organization to unify all women students, as had been the vision of Dean Laughlin at UCLA in 1924. Sub-chapters eventually ceased and the club presently operates as one unified chapter.
Philanthropy
The Theta Chapter organizes and participates in various philanthropic events throughout the year. Having no official charityCharitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
, the club helps a variety of organizations.
Annual events include:
- Terry Fox Run: each September the chapter organizes a Terry Fox RunTerry Fox RunThe Terry Fox Run is an annual non-competitive charity event held in numerous regions around the world in commemoration of Canadian cancer activist Terry Fox, and his Marathon of Hope, and to raise money for cancer research....
on the westside of VancouverVancouverVancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. The current route takes participants through the Pacific Spirit ParkPacific Spirit Regional ParkPacific Spirit Regional Park is located in the University Endowment Lands, on Point Grey to the west of the city of Vancouver, British Columbia. It surrounds the endowment lands of the University of British Columbia on the shores of Georgia Strait in the Pacific Ocean...
. The 2005 Run commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Marathon of Hope. That year, the local run organized by Phrateres raised $26,000. - Show of Hearts Telethon: each February the Theta Chapter volunteers time to answer phonesTelephoneThe telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
during the Show of Hearts Telethon. The telethon is a fundraiserFundraiserA fundraiser is an event or campaign whose primary purpose is to raise money for a cause. See also: fundraising. A fundraiser can also be an individual or company whose primary job is to raise money for a specific charity or non-profit organization...
for Variety - The Children's Charity. Members usually take shifts from midnightMidnightMidnight is the transition time period from one day to the next: the moment when the date changes. In the Roman time system, midnight was halfway between sunset and sunrise, varying according to the seasons....
to 4 am12-hour clockThe 12-hour clock is a time conversion convention in which the 24 hours of the day are divided into two periods called ante meridiem and post meridiem...
and/or 4 am to 8 am. - 24 Hour Relay: each June the Theta Chapter participates in the 24 Hour Relay. This event is organized by the B.C. Lions Society for Children with Disabilities, a group under the umbrella of Easter SealsEaster Seals (Canada)In Canada, Easter Seals is a group of charitable organizations which provide opportunities for children with physical and/or mental disabilities. Founded in 1922 by a group of ten Rotary Clubs, it sought to emulate the success of the American Easter Seals program. In 1945, the first Canadian Easter...
. Teams campCampsiteA campsite or camping pitch is a place used for overnight stay in the outdoors. In British English a campsite is an area, usually divided into a number of pitches, where people can camp overnight using tents or camper vans or caravans; this British English use of the word is synonymous with the...
at Burnaby's Central ParkCentral Park (Burnaby)Central Park is a 90-hectare urban park in Burnaby, British Columbia, founded in 1891. The park is located on the Vancouver-Burnaby border, just west of the Metrotown shopping complex, and is bounded by Boundary Road on the west, Kingsway on the north, Patterson and Willingdon Avenues on the east,...
and send runnersRunningRunning is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
and walkersWalkingWalking is one of the main gaits of locomotion among legged animals, and is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined by an 'inverted pendulum' gait in which the body vaults over the stiff limb or limbs with each step...
on a 4 km route through the park, starting and ending in Swangard StadiumSwangard StadiumSwangard Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Central Park in Burnaby, British Columbia. Primarily used for soccer, football, and athletics, the stadium is home to the Simon Fraser Clan football team. The stadium was home to the Vancouver Whitecaps of the NASL...
. In the 2008 relay, held June 14-15th, the Theta Chapter fundraisedFundraisingFundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
$2,688.83 and the entire relay raised $1,315,304. All funds raised help send disabledDisabilityA disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
childChildBiologically, a child is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...
ren to specially equipped summer campSummer campSummer camp is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as campers....
s in British ColumbiaBritish ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. - Phrateres Party: during the second term of the school year, the chapter hosts a partyPartyA party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, or recreation. A party will typically feature food and beverages, and often music and dancing as well....
, benefiting a different organization each year. It is a costume partyCostume partyA fancy dress party or a costume party , mainly in contemporary Western culture, is a type of party where guests dress up in a costume.-Fancy dress parties in Britain:...
, and the theme since 2004 has been a FlintstonesThe FlintstonesThe Flintstones is an animated, prime-time American television sitcom that screened from September 30, 1960 to April 1, 1966, on ABC. Produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, The Flintstones was about a working class Stone Age man's life with his family and his next-door neighbor and best friend. It...
/general cavemanCavemanA caveman or troglodyte is a stock character based upon widespread concepts of the way in which early prehistoric humans may have looked and behaved...
medley, under the name "Bedrock"Bedrock (The Flintstones)Bedrock is the fictional prehistoric city, which is home to the characters of the animated television series, The Flintstones .- Size :...
. Until 2008, the party was held at a fraternity house on campus (most recently, Psi UpsilonPsi UpsilonPsi Upsilon is the fifth oldest college fraternity in the United States, founded at Union College in 1833. It has chapters at colleges and universities throughout North America. For most of its history, Psi Upsilon, like most social fraternities, limited its membership to men only...
and Delta Kappa EpsilonDelta Kappa EpsilonDelta Kappa Epsilon is a fraternity founded at Yale College in 1844 by 15 men of the sophomore class who had not been invited to join the two existing societies...
), with that fraternityFraternityA fraternity is a brotherhood, though the term usually connotes a distinct or formal organization. An organization referred to as a fraternity may be a:*Secret society*Chivalric order*Benefit society*Friendly society*Social club*Trade union...
and the Theta Chapter splitting the proceeds. In 2008, the Theta chapter opted to host the party themselves at the Pit Pub in the Student Union Building. The 2008 party proceeds went to Right to PlayRight to PlayRight To Play is an international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play programs to improve health, develop life skills, and foster peace for children and communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world...
. Previous to the "Bedrock" theme, the party was held annually under the "Boxer Bash" name.
Sweethearts
Since 1951, seven members of the Theta Chapter have been elected as the Sweetheart of Sigma ChiSweetheart of Sigma Chi
Often called the most beloved and popular of college fraternity songs, "The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" was written in 1911 by Byron D. Stokes and F. Dudleigh Vernor...
for the Delta Omicron chapter of Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
at UBC
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
.http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/ubcsigs2/sweetheartaward.html&date=2009-10-25+23:26:03 (Delta Omicron was chartered in 1949, and first elected a Sweetheart the following year.)
- 1951: Joan McLean
- 1952: Jane Shrum
- 1965: Pat Bolton
- 1974: Linda Mawhinny
- 1978: Joanne Bjarnason
- 1993: Sarah Lawler
- 1997: Hillary Calder