NEW YORK UNIVERSITY’S FRATERNITIES IN A NUTSHELL

INACCURATE TO FAULTLESSNESS

UPDATED FOR 2014-15

NYU while not seemingly fratty has more than its share of fraternity history. Several national fraternities were founded there including Zeta Psi and Alpha Epsilon Pi and several others were home to the first expansion--  including Psi Upsilon, Delta Chi and Kappa Sigma. The two oldest continuous chapters of fraternities in the nation (more on that later) are in residence at NYU.  Some fraternities came and went, lost in NYU’s upheavals: St. Anthony Hall (technically but not functionally united into a New York based Columbia chapter), Alpha Delta Phi, Delta Chi, Delta Upsilon and Alpha Phi Delta. Theta Nu Epsilon is an underground fraternity that is probably more akin to NYU's secret societies or independent clubs and thus not covered here (though there is a footnote at the bottom). At least several fraternities have been absorbed by others.  All in all, it has been an amazing record of consistency for NYU fraternities over these many years. Unlike many other colleges in America, NYU was a campus where fraternities thrived through the 1960's and  through most of the Vietnam era relatively intact.

The biggest challenge for NYU's fraternal traditions to date was the relocation of the main undergraduate campus from University Heights in Bronx to Washington Square in the Village in the mid 1970's.  NYU went from a traditional university with a campus, a fraternity row, and high profile and popular sports to the university's present incarnation where none of those things exist.  The University Heights campus was all male through most of the 20th century and remained virtually that way until its closing.  Today the university's students are mostly female. An administration which was remarkably warm to fraternity life became hostile. Skyrocketing tuition caused many fraternities to slash dues to unsustainable levels.  

Since the 1980's epic battles were waged between fraternity alumni (a particularly important guiding force in the fraternity hostile environment of NYU) and administration. Eventually most fraternities returned, though on a much reduced scale. Students today appreciate the need for community and networks in the massive, competitive and impersonal university and city.Fraternities can supply guidance to get more out of college (parties, wing men, road trips to other school chapters, group trips, leadership opportunities, networking and housing with predictable housemates... things of that nature).

Fraternities also provide more directly related academic and career benefits like mentoring, academic support and information, career and graduate school advice and job leads, a lifetime network at the chapter level, a lifetime network nationally and worldwide, and opportunities to get involved and contribute to the community without becoming over-extended.  While still lacking real university support, NYU fraternities are bringing in the highest numbers they have for the past ten years.  Those numbers aren’t evenly distributed however; there are winners and losers.


But first: NYU's 2014-15 Fraternity of the Year. Congratulations AEPi!

Now, 2014-15 In Order of Appearance...

Alpa Epsilon Pi (aka AEPi),      Zeta Beta Tau (aka ZBT),   Sigma Alpha Mu, (aka Sammy),  

Pi Kappa Alpha (aka Pike),   Kappa Sigma (aka Kappa Sig),       Phi Gamma Delta (aka Fiji),    

Sigma Phi Epsilon (aka Sig Ep),       Tau Kappa Epsilon (aka Teke),       Delta Phi,        

 Zeta Psi (aka Zate),       Psi Upsilon (aka Psi Up),          Delta Kappa Epsilon, (aka Deke)     
      

Phi Kappa Sigma,         Phi Iota Alpha, (Phiota)    Lambda Upsilon Lambda (aka LUL)     

Iota Nu Delta,    Nu Alpha Phi,              Pi Delta Psi,           Lambda Phi Epsilon          

Alpha Phi Alpha (aka Alphas),  Omega Psi Phi (aka Omegas),  Kappa Alpha Psi (aka Kappas), 

Phi Beta Sigma (aka Sigmas),         Lambda Chi Alpha (aka Lambda Chi)

The following descriptions are all in good fun and humor but in certain ways are a useful guide to fraternities if you can pick out the important information. And information is after all very important to you in the selection of a fraternity.  These are networks that will last you for life, and maybe beyond, in the fratcastles in the sky. Most of the information was supplied from members of the fraternities themselves, usually after a few drinks. If you want to fight about it meet us in Lafayette. We'll have on a hat with Greek letters.

Alpa Epsilon Pi (aka AEPi)

National Org: Large national

Types of guys: Jewish

Size: very large

Oldness/tradition:  20th century

Partying: Jewbilation (means lots of partying)

Hazing/pledging: moderate/high

Diversity: different kinds of Jewish count as diversity? Tri-state

Alumni will:  get you an internship or job with AIPAC, Goldman Sachs, in the U.S. state department or at the law firm of Cohen, Cohen and Cohen.   

House:  on campus

Tier:  upper

TV/Film character:   Dean Gordon "Cheese" Pritchard from Old School 

Princeton Review recognizes NYU as the nation’s Jewishest (?) school, particularly in undergrad enrollment.  AEPi is the Jewiest (to use a phrase borrowed from Jon Stewart) fraternity at NYU, or anywhere else this side of Tel Aviv.  Do the math.  If math is not your strong suit, you may want to skip the rest of this review and just rush TKE. (Go Teke!)  For those who are still reading, AEPi national brags about being at least 95% Jewish but they ain’t go nothin’ on the Alpha chapter. Yes, in these very environs, AEPi was founded at a then WASPy NYU eventually to become the biggest Jewish college fraternity in the country and they are also the biggest fraternity at NYU. All you hopeful issue of David’s loin, don’t go lining up just yet though.  It’s not so easy to get on this Schindler’s list of fraternities. (Too soon?) But those that do get chosen have pull with alumni trustees and tie-ins with everything from Chabad and the Israel on Campus Coalition, to Hillel and Birthright. The national young alumni chapter is to be found in Murray Hill. Or maybe it IS Murray Hill. AEPi treats ZBT as its friendly little brother and they cooperate on various events.

Zeta Beta Tau (aka ZBT)

National Org: Medium, national

Types of guys: Jewish neeks, nerds of various kinds

Size:  medium

Oldness: 20th century

Partying: very moderate

Hazing/pledging: none

Diversity: Generally the same kind of Jewish guys and the Judeo-phile. Northeast (we are in NY)

Alumni will: meet with you in Hillel and discuss your future as a Long Island dentist

House: none

Tier:  lower to middle

TV/Film character:   George Kastanza  from Seinfeld

“Who we be? ZBT" is the NYU chapter’s catchphrase.  Seriously?  I’ll give that two snaps up. "Who we be? Another Jewish fraternity" would be the better catchphrase.  Once known as the fraternity for the uppity chosen on campus, "zillions billions and trillions" got into some hot water and had to leave for a spell. Fun fact #1: brothers are called “Zebes”, rhymes with, well you know. Fun fact #2: ZBT goes further back at NYU than they seem to since they are the successors of Phi Sigma Delta, another Jewish fraternity that they subsumed.  Now they are back, although thoroughly a step down Jacob's ladder from AEPi.  They don't pledge. And they have the second highest GPA.  These guys however are not all books and papers. Far from it.  When summer rolls around, watch out - they plow through girls and there’s no stopping them.  But, don't think Swingers, think Rachel Corrie.  (Too soon again?) That’s right, pack your Uzi and a change of socks.  Half of ZBT spends their summers in Israel and an NYU alumnus picks up the tab.  With all that going on, why pay to summer in the Hamptons?

Sigma Alpha Mu, (aka Sammy)

National Org: Small to medium, coastal/national

Types of guys: Jewish

Size:  Large

Oldness: 20th century

Partying: low

Hazing/pledging: Can’t call their mother during “hell week”

Diversity: Jewish and occasional token gentile Judeo-phile, occasional gay. Northeast 

Alumni will: give you a free trip to Jerusalem

House:  none

Tier:  lower

TV/Film character:  Kyle Schwartz (Kyle from South Park's cousin)
 
Sammy may or may not be operating underground at NYU but it got officially pulled for some mischief.  As you may know, uncharitable people, taking advantage of rhyme say "If you can't go Greek go TKE".  Well Jewish fraternities say if a Jew wants to go “Hammy then go Sammy".   This is not to say that Sammy is less Jewish (they also officially partner with Chabad, Hillel, Birthright and Israel on Campus Coalition nationally like AEPi and ZBT) but at NYU Sammy exists (or doesn’t exist, matters who is asking) only because ethnic organizations still don't always accept ALL of their kind. They still reject some, and that is where Sammy fits in. It wasn’t always this way. And Sammy undoubtedly is stinging with resentment. Sammy, back now at Columbia, is knocking on the IFC door of official recognition again so that may change their status in the not-too-distant future.

Pi Kappa Alpha (aka Pike)

National Org: Very Large, National

Types of guys: Jewish and non religious Middle Eastern biz majors, Jersey Shore wannabes

Size:  very large,  

Oldness: 20th century ,

Partying:  heavy,

Hazing/pledging: hard

Diversity:  Do swarthy men in shiny shirts and unpronounceable last names count as diversity?  Lots of guys from business, pre-business and surprisingly large number of Tischies, gay guys and particularly bi-sexuals. Occasional WASP who gets a release letter or goes non-payment.  Tri-state.

Alumni will:   tell you where to score some blow or addy and how to submit your first report as a junior analyst 

House:  on campus

Tier:  upper

TV/Film character:     Ali G from the Ali G Show

Known colloquially as PKA also Pike and members as Pikes.  Peace in the Middle East! Jews too cool for school, Israelis and a handful of other swarthy guys of (sort of Muslim) Middle Eastern origin and a few Indians (red dot not feather) as well as a couple of guys who lost their way going to some other fraternity.  Pike=stereotype threat: high alert.  It wasn’t always “business, blow, and b----es (or brolove, depending on the mood)”; Pike for years as a Southern based fraternity (founded at the Virginia) had exclusive racial and ethnic policies and emphasized being sedate gentlemen.  Then a well meaning change in policies triggered the law of unintended consequences and an equally narrow change in profile swept Pike like a devastating wave of techno music.  Now, at a Pike party everyone is Italian from Jersey, even the Jewish guys, the Middle Eastern guys and yes the Italians.  Okay they are not really Italians any more than Snooki and JWow but you get the idea.  Pikes will not drug and rape YOUR date contrary to the popular image. Their own dates, well... In reality there are plenty of guys in PKA that defy the regional Pike stereotype but who cares?  So lather up, get out your shiny dark button-down shirt, hair gel and axe body spray and head over to the penthouse. Just beware that those paddles aren’t for show. Pike goes it alone because they can, to the pounding beat of techno. Thump, thump thump...

Kappa Sigma (aka Kappa Sig)

National Org: Very Large, National

Types of guys: were athletes, preppy types, brooks bros catalog, most of the athletes, campus pols and future ambitious (read greedy) people. today barely active.

Size: Large (rapidly declining)

Oldness:  19th century  

Partying: moderate to high (rapidly declining)

Hazing/pledging: low to moderate

Diversity: Athletes, Stern, Econ, Poli Sci, Pre Med, Pre Law, Gallatin and lots of LSP guys transferring to the aforementioned.  WASPs, Buppies, Catholic school athletes, Catholic school Latinos (esp athletes), Middle Eastern junior potentates. Besides that the odd Steinhardt, non theater Tischie. National 

Alumni will:  Will write you a rec, find you a job, fill out your scholie application and make you a member of their New World Order if they like you.

House:  Off campus (rumor is it lost its house)

Tier:  Upper, rapidly declining

TV/Film character:  Patrick Bateman  from American Psycho
 
For the last few semesters Kappa Sig, once the most promising house (and they had a house) was a beast. But they flew too close to the sun, recently crashing as their wax wings melted, a fall more precipitous than any chapter, including Psi Upsilon. Historically, it all started as one of the big old fraternities, and for its early years it shared that identity with only Delta Upsilon before they left campus. Notably, the founder of the NYU chapter shot black people in the head randomly for kicks during Reconstruction. He went on to be national president. Kappa Sig also shared exclusive policies with fraternities PKA and the smaller elitist fraternities at NYU. Long a business, law, military man and politicians fraternity Kappa Sigma at NYU also begin to create a schizo niche of members in engineering, medicine and the then-Division- I  sports teams. At the close of the Heights campus in the mid 70's, Kappa Sig lost its base. Sports were gutted. Engineering, architecture and ROTC closed. Kappa Sig could not make a comeback in the late 80's and 90's like some NYU fraternities. After several attempts Kappa Sig called it a day at NYU. Fortunately for them an NYU local fraternity merged with them several years ago and they have been back chasing varsity and club athletes, former prep, suburban and Catholic school athletes, Sternies, poli sci, econ majors, journalism, professional and grad tracked preppy-geeks (pre law and pre med); in general the moderately beefy or wiry, the blue blooded and the preternaturally ambitious. Inroads to the Middle Easterners that PKA misses- the Islamic Center crowd that occasionally smokes, drinks and chases poon but wouldn’t be caught dead in shiny clothing or PKA. A rumor of an East Asian Kappa Sig couldn’t be confirmed but if he's there he's an athlete.  Very Goyish, very “straight”, and all in all tight knit, fun and occasionally rowdy. Business minded but also friendly. Extremely alum driven. Alum allies in administration and just as many enemies probably. They aren’t recognized by the IFC and NYU OSA and no intention on changing that; it would hamper parties and aggressive rush tactics (the pledging is NYU's shortest but intense and they pull in extra classes). Had a house in E. Village features pool table, bar/kegerator, piano, pong, taxidermy, fireplace and reputedly only two books- the "Preppy Handbook" and something by Tucker Max neither of which they see as satirical.  Kappa stayed close to the practice field or court and other fraternities, especially FIJI and the small fraternities. Then Kappa Sig had an internal split, due to reasons unknown. And everything was gone. What recruiting goes on today is at a local male bathhouse, I kid you not.  

Phi Gamma Delta (aka Fiji)

National Org: Medium to Large, National

Types of guys:  former athlete white guys, the occasional East and South Asian

Size: medium  

Oldness: 19th century  

Partying:  moderate 

Hazing/pledging:  moderate to hard

Diversity:  Variety of  majors including some Tischies, white athletes punctuated w east Asians, south Asians, Jews and a token black some years.

Alumni will:  show up for some pool or flag football if they're young enough. Will drink and bond.

House:  off campus

Tier:  upper

TV/Film character:    Cliff from Deadman on Campus

Interesting tidbit: NYU was the chapter that invented the term FIJI known in some parts also as Phi Gam.  Phi Gam or rather FIJI is generally traditional.  That’s not traditional like Delta Phi and Zeta Psi’s best bros try to be and Psi Upsilon will be remembered as being or DKE would like to be if they could have installed their chapter using a time machine and could find a pledge class now. NYU FIJI is traditional as in being a traditional fraternity in background and behavior.  Besides that, it is hard to pin FIJI down. There are no set of majors that dominate FIJI and it is just fine that way for them. With more than their share of former high school athletes they dominate NYU IFC games and rec leagues.  They are traditional like they've been around for longer at NYU than the newer to campus national fraternities (TKE, Sig Ep and PKA).  More importantly, they have always had a core, even in the thinnest of times, of guys who would lay the paddle and shut up about it when they needed to; and that core would be as "at home" in Texas or Cornell FIJI as they are not "at home" at NYU.  All in all, they are truly affable guys.  What varies for FIJI is the level of success they have keeping that active core's standards up.  Some substandard material slips in on a regular basis (universal problem at NYU fraternities) but FIJI straightens most of them out, and FIJI keeps its "right" up and stays jabbing. Good terms with everyone especially Kappa Sig, and smaller fraternities. Former rivalry with Psi Up was legendary.

Sigma Phi Epsilon (aka Sig Ep)
National Org: Very Large, National

Types of guys: techies and nice guys   

Size: medium  

Oldness: 19th century

Partying: low

Hazing/pledging: None

Diversity: Variety of majors, White guys with dose of Asians,  Jews and a few Hispanics

Alumni will:  Not want to talk to the current bros cuz what's a fraternity without an, ahem, "process".

House: none 

Tier: lower to medium

TV/Film character:   Sheldon Cooper PhD  from the Big Bang Theory

"Hey you know that guy?  He's a Sig Ep.”  Upon hearing that your mind may draw a blank, even if you knew who the person was before they said that.  Sigma Phi Epsilon, aka Sig Ep, proves if you are going to rage you should rage hard.  They didn't.  Consequently Sig Ep got into some hot water.  As one of the younger and less influential fraternities relatively speaking, it couldn't get out of said hot water, and as thus boiled in mediocrity.  After extricating themselves and losing a little skin (and by skin we mean respect from their older bros) they became a non pledging fraternity, a dubious distinction they share with ZBT. Are some Sig Eps slightly nerdy and partying averse?  Not in a harmful way.  That was just their "comeback" face. Now they are just nondescript which is probably another phase, since their national office tolerates fun like an Asian tolerates lactose.  Word is that these guys are actually looking to bring an experienced dungeon master in to the fold.  If you think you’re man enough to handle that challenge, rush this frat!  Really what they have is core of hard workers and if that equates to dungeon master status then every fraternity needs a few D&D experienced dudes. The future is uncertain. The core of smart, hard working and passably cool guys may or may not be enough to take them back to being the force they once were. If in a few years things settle down and the paddles and alumni come back you will be glad that you rushed them. If not who knows. Good terms with everyone, how can you dislike them?

Tau Kappa Epsilon (aka Teek)
 
National Org: Very Large National

Types of guys:  multi-culti

Size:  small, officially dormant

Oldness:  20th century

Partying:  low

Hazing/pledging:  none

Diversity: They were “opportunity program” diverse, including a few gay guys. National 

Alumni will:  take you to a hip hop club and tell you about a diversity program at their job or school

House:  none

Tier:  lower

TV/Film character:     Troy and Abed  from Community
 
Tau Kappa Epsilon, the large fraternity with the most unfortunate nickname TKE ("TEEK").  We've mentioned that damning rhyme before- if you can't go Greek go...   Nationally what has made that phrase devastating is that TKE went on one of those campaigns to be the "largest fraternity in the country" (it isn't the largest but is in the top ten). In this time TKE rushed any and everyone it could get its hands on, cutting dues and fees and maintaining no particular identity. TKE's best image was not so much as a fraternity but as a slick, impersonal nationally-run sales force; their websites are still shiny and made by the corporate office. At NYU where black fraternities and sororities left campus years ago after a nasty dispute (they still recruit citywide) TKE initially got a some black and Hispanic students along with a few white students who appreciated the multicultural atmosphere.  Unfortunately for TKE, some of the historically black fraternities returned to NYU with their city chapters and Hispanic fraternities were fully embraced by the university in the late 90s.  TKE didn't really get good numbers before at NYU before that, but now they have dropped to perilously low numbers that only the tiny old NYU fraternities maintain. A year or so ago, functionally, there were no brothers on campus.  Word is they are planning to make a run at their multi culti forgotten about sweet spot again so don't write them off. Rivalries and friendships with other fraternities postponed.

Delta Phi
 
National Org: Small, Regional

Types of guys:  regular guys not many athletes diverse majors

Size:  small

Oldness:   19th century

Partying: moderate to hard

Hazing/pledging: moderate to hard

Diversity: WASP, ethnic Catholic, Jewish w a dose of Asian and generally well to do. Variety of majors. National

Alumni will:  be there if they try to kick you off campus and will meet up for drinks and pass along job leads and a sense of unrivaled continuous chapter fraternal history

House:  off campus

Tier:  upper

TV/Film character:     Andy Bernard aka Nard Dog from Office Space
 
Delta Phi, aka sometimes St. Elmo, never known as DPhi so we’ll call them that. The third chapter and arguably the oldest continuing social Greek fraternity chapter in the nation, as they are given to remind people, DPhi is just a touch snooty.  They would be far more sustainably snooty if they could stop snubbing the guy that comes to their rush.  But, in the midst of NYU's hoi polloi, DPhi has a warm and milky brotherhood and more history at NYU than any other fraternity, though that's arguable, again, with Psi Upsilon. (It’s not really arguable we just like to piss off DPhi who will tell you like us that Psi Up is in the coffin.  We even think that Delta Phi should officially chop off Psi Upsilon’s head like the Highlander and inherit all of its remaining powers of snootiosity.) DPhi has generally had excellent and tenacious leadership and great alumni guidance in what is otherwise a loose but apparently fun brotherhood.  The fraternity has an off campus apartment, one of only a few fraternities that do and it is appropriately in the West Village and is rumored to have plans to add on a Turkish bath.  This reference is of course to  the infamous Leroy Mansion (not a mansion by any means, though plenty of Frosh girls come through to get service from these young butlers).  Having said all that, these guys still have a place in NYU lore for holding up the middle finger to NYU administration and striking out on their own whenever they need to.  Delta Phi is a righteous little brotherhood but beware, for mostly NARPs they really swing the wood and make their process a challenge. Generally friendly with everyone except GDI's but they aren't alone in that regard.

Zeta Psi, (aka Zete) 

National Org: Small, Regional

Types of guys:  Quiet assorted guys not many athletes

Size: small/moderate 

Oldness: 19th century 

Partying: low 

Hazing/pledging: moderate   

Diversity: Italian, Irish, other ethnic Catholic, Jewish, Asian occasional Wasp, any middle class Tristate neighborhood.   Lots of pre-professional program students, some business.

Alumni will: be there if they try to kick your chapter off campus,  

House: none

Tier: middle

TV/Film character:   Peter Gibbons from Office Space 

They just seem like the guys PKA turned away for refusing to take their balls out and show them a la the movie “In the Company of Men”.  And good for them! They are in fact an honorable old fraternity with the further honor of being founded at NYU in the early years of the university by one of the secret societies.  One of the small, regionally based fraternities, bracketed with Psi Upsilon and Delta Phi, just with less gilding, and more mousiness.  To their credit, they keep the ghastly red-shirt-black-tie-to-a-Wall-Street-interview types away mostly.  Okay they don’t.  But they teach most of the guys to dress and behave more appropriately which is almost as good.  They are inward looking and seemingly tight knit.  Small brotherhood, so small you might not see them.  But size doesn’t matter, or at least that's what THEY say.  Friendly with everyone in an isolated sort of way.

Psi Upsilon (aka Psi Up)

National Org: Small, Regional

Types of guys:  were rich WASP, then Jewish, then South Asian and hippie women

Size:  how long will they keep their charter with >two members

Oldness:   19th century oldest

Partying:  alum own neighborhood bar and party but not with active members

Hazing/pledging:  moderate to hard historically

Diversity: allowed women members, considered going all Asians and/or gay before end

Alumni will: be discussing the good old days over dinner far from any actives, some while wearing a monocle

House:  none

Tier:  none, dizzying fall from empyrean heights though

TV/Film character:     Gilbert (pronounced "zhil-BEAR") Dauterive aka Bill's cousin from King of the Hill

Normally at this time of year there is a buzz throughout Psi Upsilon as they eagerly await the new class of smooth young boys to attend rush.  However, no longer content to practice ancient traditions shared between the men and boys of ancient Greece, the oldest fraternity at NYU and one of the oldest and most distinguished in the country has gone co-ed, at least for now.  Fears of inappropriate “fraternization” between male and female members that had surfaced around the idea of going co-ed turned out to be unfounded.  Addressing the issue, a female member was recently quoted as saying “At first I was apprehensive about pledging.  I expected to get hit on constantly.  It’s not like that though, these guys are my sisters.  We’re like a house of sisters.  It’s an amazing thing!” All jokes aside, for years Psi Upsilon ruled the NYU roost, with most members of the secret societies, the best physical houses, and the bluest of blue bloods. The last decade or so hasn't been easy. With most WASPs gone from NYU Psi Up became largely Jewish.  After a battle of Psi Up vs NYU, Inc. wound up with Psi Up losing the historic Poe House, numbers plummeted. They brought in a Sikh fellow who promptly tried to use his relationship as the last active person in Psi Up to go co-ed and “recruit” women, apparently for himself rather than Psi Up, making said women recruits say “yuck”. Now however, this fraternity, which is no longer in the IFC or recognized by NYU, exists in the rare atmosphere occupied only by DKE, aka “the imagination”.  There may be one or two brother-sisters walking about campus but they aren't doing anything related to their organization.  This strengthens Delta Phi's assertion that Psi Upsilon, the fraternity that was about as old as the university itself, is really no longer active thus making Delta Phi the oldest continuous chapter of any fraternity in the nation. Dwell on THAT. A dead Psi Up is better than bleeding over their illustrious history.  Rivalries and friendships a thing of the past.


Delta Kappa Epsilon, (aka Deke)




National Org: Medium, National

Types of guys: Jews, Italians, Irish and a few WASPs and a couple of Buppies and other assorted folks in assorted majors from econ to business to experimental theater and comic book illustration

Size: small, were perilously close to being dead

Oldness: chartered in 90's

Partying: do alumni count?  A couple of three man cliques that hit the town.

Hazing/pledging: formerly moderate to hard

Diversity: Besides the core, a number of Asians and Gay guys, a token African, and a couple of Buppies

Alumni will: be at the Yale club trying to talk to Deke alum from other chapters

House: none

Tier: Lower

TV/Film character:   Colonel Carl Jenkins from Starship Troopers

Also known as DKE, Deke and members Dekes. Presidents Bush I, Bush II and Ford were Dekes and some Dekes speculate so was George Washington and King George III.  EVERYONE is a Deke, just ask a Deke. Wait, there are no Dekes.  The second youngest of NYU mainstream fraternities DKE was established in the 90's which for NYU's venerable fraternity community is like being inaugurated this morning, around brunch.  And then no one showed for dinner. Dekes' fault is that they had that type of diversity where mostly people knew each other and cared about the national fraternity but didn’t particularly care about or like each other. DKE failed to realize having tools for members is perfectly acceptable when everyone is a tool but not when just a good portion are tools. The chapter’s leadership tended to be climbers and resume puffers in recent years which sealed their fate.  This year, their national office with the help of non-NYU alum went spelunking into the depths and DKE has crawled back from the depths. You can still see the dirt on their shirts but it's a good dirt. If the national office keeps their hand in they will hack it above ground, in a cliquey way (some of them despise each other polly with good reason).  Otherwise dissension will continue to freeze the comeback. Many people in the fraternity community were glad to see them go, particularly the smaller fraternities and unfairly wish that they return to the depths.

Phi Kappa Sigma


National Org: Small, Regional

Types of guys:  Nondescript, with no real history

Size:  Very small

Oldness:   Celebrating their one week anniversary on campus

Partying:  Hey guys, we’re new, what’s a party?

Hazing/pledging:  none

Diversity: 6 nondescript Jewish and White kids in Tisch, GSP and God knows

Alumni will: Hey guys, we’re new, what’s alumni?

House:  none

Tier:  starting from the bottom there’s no place to go but up, or down

TV/Film character:   Howard from Big Bang Theory
 
The Phi Kaps have fashion themselves as Skulls, thereby choosing ultra generic imagery of collegiate fraternities unfortunately worn further into the dust by B movies and spoofs of B movies.  It would be sad but likely that these "skulls" will be biting that same dust at NYU. It is an interesting decision to start a fraternity of 6 guys at a school where fraternities don’t pull many people even with niches, and at a school with some of the longest fraternal history known to American college man (species nohomo alwayserectus).  History means something, alumni mean something, respect means something, pledging means something and size means something in the fraternity world; and no less so at NYU. There are four other small regional fraternities with far more prestige as chapters and as overall fraternities to chose from at the university.  They have no friends or enemies cuz it's not enough going on for other fraternities to be interested at this point.

Phi Iota Alpha



National Org: Small to medium, regional

Types of guys:  Hispanic guys, especially from South American background who are serious about cultural, historical and political issues while also supporting revolution. A good number of Latino HEOP and LUCHA participants.

Size:  Medium

Oldness:   Mid 90’s

Partying:  Fiesta like there’s no mañana

Hazing/pledging:  military

Diversity: Latinos from different countries of origin and maybe the odd mixed kid, Italian and Filipino. NYC and immediate surroundings.

Alumni will: Plot the revolution with you and join in on pro Latino causes.

House:  none

Tier:  middle

TV/Film character:   There is no such thing as a Latino male TV/Film character

Phi Iota Alpha, aka Phiota has had less problems staying on campus as a recognized group than its friendly Latino fraternity rival LUL.  Whatever the reason for that, Phiota is probably the fraternity that you want to join if you also want to get a minor in Latin American and Third World history or you hope, at least spiritually, to replicate the life of Che Guevara.  Phiota is the oldest Latino college fraternity, and reaches even further into Latin American history, taking their philosophical cues from Latin American libertadores. They have a defined identity like other fraternities but they also are politically aware and involved (well at least a core of members are involved). This Latino fraternity has a definite agenda in a way that only the Jewish fraternities on campus do, though obviously Phiota doesn’t have the same pull.  Most students will recognize Phiota as the guys in red, gold and blue (the Bolivaran colors chosen apparently to blind the gringos), likely protesting things like  “Find the Immigrant Day”.  Insert joke here.

Lambda Upsilon Lambda

National Org: Small to medium, Regional


Types of guys:  Hispanic guys, especially from Caribbean background, HEOP and LUCHA.


Size:  Small

Oldness:   Mid 90’s

Partying:  Fiesta like there’s no mañana, unless there is an   GRE, LSAT or MCAT class

Hazing/pledging:  military, special forces

Diversity: Latinos from different countries of origin and maybe the odd mixed kid, Italian and Filipino. NYC and immediate surroundings.

Alumni will: Plot the revolution with you and join in on pro Latino causes, especially if one of those causes is getting into a big name graduate school.

House:  none

Tier:  middle

TV/Film character:   There is no such thing as a Latino TV/Film character

LUL is not an esoteric Greek phrase but the initials of a Latino group formerly at Cornell, "Los Unidos Latinos", transliterated to Greek initials Lambda Upsilon Lambda.  Still does not erase that it sounds like the gay fraternity on the Revenge of the Nerds. “How Chew Doooin’?”  But these are some pretty hard and determined guys and they help their members transition into the white collar world; no red-dress-shirts-and-black-polyester-tie combos to be found. LUL worked with the Alpha chapter of the first black fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha to develop a new Latino fraternity which targeted top tier schools and made their goal uplifting of Hispanics through upward mobility and community responsibility.  Part of what LUL adopted from Alpha Phi Alpha was its business like and conservative demeanor, the “talented tenth” philosophy (if there was a talented tenth affirmative action program.) They also adapted the black fraternity's regimented pledging process, adding to it to give a Latin flavor (is that made by Goya?) and character. Pledging includes “stepping” and hand-signs are used.  LUL also uses the approach of both citywide and campus based chapters, and after some work in the 1990’s they developed the Omicron chapter at NYU.  Seeing some of their bizarre pledging ritual might scare off the faint of heart.  Take courage interested young Latinos, the infamous wood swinging and open handed “thunderclaps” of historically black fraternities are set aside for more regimented and synchronized stuff.  These guys get out to good parties, and throw some pretty good ones too, often in concert with Phiota and the Latina sororities.

Not ranked:

Ethnic and lifestyle fraternities under the Multicultural Greek Council have recently expanded to include Iota Nu Delta, Nu Alpha Phi, Pi Delta Psi, Lambda Phi Epsilon (these are a South Asian, two East Asian and a Gay fraternity respectively.) Suffice to say that these fraternities are VERY South Asian, East Asian or Gay.  And no we are not going to reference Harold and Kumar because that would be trite.

East Asians and Indian students from New York are more likely than anyone to get passed up for a bid or are made to feel uncomfortable or even more likely, just feel uncomfortable themselves.  Moreover, these students are likely as not to be inner city guys who have more in common with Phiota or LUL members from Queens than the typical members of “mainstream” fraternities. In a short time they’ve done a remarkable job at making a home for their mixture of urban and ethnic culture. Think of a turban (or a Hello Kitty skully) and wife beater and a sag. These fraternities are patterned more after black fraternities in some ways in terms of pledging, programming, “stepping”, calls and hand signs. Their interaction tends to be thoroughly anchored in their ethnic communities on and off campus. We make jokes of course but they are really solid orgs. Shame their members didn’t give it more of a go with the traditional fraternities though.

The new gay fraternity has mostly included the more “campy” gay guys.  (We actually don't know what "campy" means but it seemed to fit.) Demographics work in their favor, perhaps too much so. They are like a white fraternity in Sweden. At what is practically a gay school full of gay cliques, is there a need for another gay group? Not that there is anything wrong with that. 

Four of the traditionally black fraternities recruit from NYU: Alpha Phi Alpha aka Alphas, Omega Psi Phi aka Omegas, Kappa Alpha Psi aka Kappas, Phi Beta Sigma aka Sigmas.  They operate citywide, usually based at Columbia. NYU graduate school members play a significant role as do their alumni. Some of these fraternities once had chapters going back almost one hundred years at NYU but the administration today has been pretty hostile to them. Other than that, it really is a separate story.

And notably, back from over from Polytech with the re-merger, Lambda Chi Alpha aka Lambda Chi (nice looking house in Brooklyn, strong alumni, engineers that are slightly nerdy, largely Asian, no pledging) and they are recruiting in WSq.  It is too early to tell how any of this will pan out.

The two business fraternities (both Alpha chapters) operate as de facto co-ed Asian "fraternities" as well, i.e., Alpha Kappa Psi and Delta Sigma Pi.  Phi Chi Theta while technically co-ed operates has been re-purposed as an Asian sorority.  Apparently this follows a national trend that started a decade ago where Asian students throughout the country followed some coordinated plan to bloc rush these organizations and utilize them as ethnic GLOs. Good for them but it would be much cooler if they renamed each Fu Manchu, Mandarin and Yellow Claw.  Not really our subject but it is worth mentioning that NYU may be the only place where business fraternities get suspended for hazing (look it up) and have on campus fraternity housing.

Conclusion: Both city and school can be very isolating so it not surprising that micro-communities thrive.  Despite or because of its size and location the school can leave students unmoored and even disaffected. NYU doesn’t have a much to bring it together like big time athletics or a traditional campus or fraternity.  As for the city, the best places to go in the city "card hard", thus putting fun in your face but just out of reach.   Without these communities a lot of people would be left out.  In New York where status, hook ups, networking and all things exclusive are a way of life these organizations make a big difference.  Just find the organization that fits and you'll be fine.

Note: Everything is subject to change, especially the the housing situation. From year to year and sometimes semester to semester, due to housing policies and the vagaries of rental agreements in lower Manhattan a fraternity may find itself in an NYU house close to Washington Square. It may be in possession of two floors of a dodgy walk up or they walking around with their asses in their hands.  Such is big city fratting. 

Also note: TNE, and Eucleian and Philomathean and one or two clubs draw heavily from from Greek life or put members into Greek organizations that they have relationships with. These organizations are formally independent but have strong informal pull with some faculty and administrators; they are by function secret societies with a very long history.  There is also a new university sponsored society called the Red Dragons but it publishes its roster and therefore is not secret and from the list does not seem to draw much from Greek life and any cross membership is incidental. It appears the re-instituted Red Dragon was brought about by some administrators who worried about the actual secret societies being independent and having too much informal pull.