Phi Delta Theta- Indiana University

The first Greek letter organization was Phi Beta Kappa, founded Dec. 5, 1776 at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. 63 years later, Beta Theta Pi was founded at Miami University in Ohio. In protest against the president of the university, members of Beta Theta Pi and other students blocked the entrances of the main educational and administrative building in what became known as the Great Snow Rebellion. A year later, after the president expelled most of the students involved in the uprising, Phi Delta Theta was formed. Six men staying in a dormitory the day after Christmas formed the Greek-letter society. Robert Morrison, a senior, proposed to fellow classmate John McMillan Wilson they bond together to form a secret society. They invited juniors Robert Thompson Drake and John Wolfe Lindley; sophomores Ardivan Walker Rodgers and Andrew Watts Rogers into the fold. The first meeting was held in Wilson's room at Old North Hall, now called Elliot Hall. During the early meetings, the founders wrote The Bond of Phi Delta Theta, which is the fundamental law of the Fraternity. It has remained unchanged ever since. The Founders also designed the badge, consisting of a shield, eye and scroll with the Greek letters on it. Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi were the first three fraternities founded at Miami University, so they are known as the Miami Triad. History of Indiana Alpha: The first branch of Phi Delta Theta was founded at Indiana University in 1849. On October 11, 1849, Founder Andrew W. Rogers, President of the Ohio Alpha chapter, granted the brothers the charter of the Indiana Alpha chapter of Phi Delta Theta. In doing so, the second fraternity at Indiana University (the first being Beta Theta Pi in 1847) was created. At the time of the charter of Indiana Alpha, however, Beta Theta Pi had disbanded, so Phi Delta Theta was the sole fraternity at IU and in the state. The Indiana Alpha Chapter has the longest continuous existence of any in the Fraternity

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