Our Mission

1. To educate and inform those in the chemical sciences of our presence and our willingness to contribute.
2. To create life-long associations with others in our field.
3. To help the members of Epsilon chapter strive for excellence, personally, professionally, and academically.

Our History

The Epsilon chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma was founded on the 15th or 22nd of Febuary, 1908. No one knows for sure since Epsilon's records have vanished twice during it's history. The first loss occured in the fall semester of 1908. The first Master Alchemist (President), W.B. Jadden, was upset with the other attendees of that year's conclave because they did not take his proposal for the Alpha Chi Sigma coat of arms seriously. He disappeared instead of returning to Indiana University, and all our original documents, including the Bylaws and our Constitution, were not to be seen again. To this day no one knows what happened to our first M.A. Most of our records were lost again in 1917 when World War I drafted most of our active members to fight her battles. Despite these rough beginnings, the Epsilon chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma survived to become what it is today.

Our original members included the infamous Jadden, N.O. Pittenger, C.O. Gamble, James Currie, D.G. Irions, O.W. Brown, G.E Beavers, R.E. Lyons, A.E Stickles, and R.W. Bridges. These men, along with faculty members L.S. Davis and F.C. Mathers, focused on chemistry and had speakers on various chemical topics at every meeting. These speeches dwindled over time until the only meetings with these speakers were at the annual, sometimes semi-annual, Smokers. Smokers were pledge dinners which introduced pledges to the actives. Cigars and cigarettes were purchased by the chapter and distributed to all who attended for smoking during the speech. Alumnus Paul Wible, 1948, remembered that "the smoke was so thick, the walls were hardley visible."

As the long-range effects of smoking were discovered, the Smokers ceased to exist and was instead replaced by B.O.C parties. The B.O.C. stands for "Blow Off Chemistry", meaning that anything goes at theses gatherings as long as it does not deal with chemistry. The B.O.C. parties continue today, but, of course, they now fall well within the guidelines set by our risk managment policy.

But the activities of this chapter haven't always been as wholesome and pure as they are today. Initiation is one such activity. When Epsilon began, initiation wasn't as structured as it is in its current state. Pledges were required to meet at the well house, an outdoor stone gazebo, wearing a lab apron, carrying some chrome and blue chemicals, and wearing a hexagon. Needless to say, many passersby made fun of these chemistry "freaks" as they prepared to be initiated.

Alumnus Dr. D.B. Appleton, 1927, said that on this "Hell Day" paddles were used on the pledges. If the paddles were still intact they were signed for the new members.

Another dark spot in our history was propostion 307 of the 1920's. This excluded Blacks, Asians, and Jewish men from joining the fraternity. This continued until faculty advisor Dr. Fredrick "Jerry" Schmidt resigned his post in protest in 1962. By 1963 these men were allowed to join.

Women were not allowed to join until 1971. Before this there was the chemical sorority of Iota Sigma Pi. Most members of this sorority did not go on to become chemists themselves, but instead became secretaries to chemists. Once allowed to join Alpha Chi Sigma, however, this was considered to be a waste of a chemistry degree and more of these women went on to become chemists.

The active membership size has fluctauated drastically since 1908. It hit a low in 1917 when almost all active members were drafted for World War I. It boomed when propostion 307 was overturned and again when women were allowed to join. But in 1986 Epsilon hit an all time low with a single active member. Epsilon would no longer exist if Beta Nu chapter, at Purdue, had not intiated some Epsilon pledges along with their own. This was a mere two years after we were instrumental in reactivating the Iota chapter in 1984.

Today, Epsilon chapter is a very diverse and active group of future chemists, doctors, and biologists. Active membership is again on the rise as we become as social as we are professional. The future of this chapter depends on the pledges of today and we take great pride in choosing those who will live by the objectives of our fraternity.


Famous Members of Epsilon

John R. Kuebler
Grand Recorder 1926-1959, Grand Editor 1922-1959, Grand Historian 1957-1969. The Kuebler award is given out at conclave to a member for outstanding service to the fraternity.

Herman T. Briscoe
First alumni secretary and published the Epsilon Endpiont. Departmental chairman who helped raise the academic standings of the department. For his accomplishments, the department created the Herman T. Briscoe Professor of Chemistry title, held by our former chapter advisor Dr. Dennis Peters since 1975.

Harry G. Day
Departmental chair for eleven years. Worked with Dr. Muhler and Dr. Nedergall to produce Stannous Floride in a usable form as the active ingredient in Crest Toothpaste. Besides the biggest lecture hall in the chemistry building being named after him, there is a scholarship named in his honor given out to undergraduates majoring in chemistry and biochemistry. Come by and visit him if you are in town!


Traditions

Epsilon chapter has several long-running traditions. We go out to eat at various restaurants around town after pledge meetings and have many active and pledge get togethers. We also have a long history of playing intramural sports, especially vollyball and basketball. Every year we also compete in the Mini 500 trike race in Assembly Hall during the Little 500 weekend.


Awards

• Walter T. Shcrenk memorial plaque for conclave attendance at the 42nd biannual conclave sponsered by the Beta Delta chapter-1994
• Walter T. Shcrenk memorial plaque for conclave attendance at the 44th biannual conclave sponsered by the Alpha Omega chapter-1998
• Certificate of appreciation for hosting the 13th biannual conclave-1934
• Certificate of appreciation for hosting the 41st biannual conclave-1992
• Certificate of appreciation for distingueshed and exceptional service to the fraternity in the reinstatment of Iota chapter-1984
• Three Star Award- 1991-1992, 1992-1993, 1993-1994, 1994-1995, 1995-1996, 1996-1997, 1997-1998
• Best Non-House AXE Chapter Awards for 1992-1994 Biennium and 1996-1998 Biennium
• 3rd Place in the 1993 Men's Mini 500 race
• 2nd Place in the 1998 Co-ed Mini 500 race
• 3rd Place in the 1999 Co-ed Mini 500 race
• 1st Place in the 1999 Men's Mini 500 race
• Thomas Van Aken Award for outstanding attendance of a non-officer member:
  • 1992?
  • Steve Whitcomb 1993
  • 1994?
  • 1995?
  • Christy Gesell 1996
  • Stacy Bennett 1997
  • Matt Earley 1998

Fun Facts to Know and Tell

1. The outside of the chemistry building is decorated with many alchemical and periodic symbols some of which are: gold, silver, copper, mercury, iron, tin, lead, antimony, zinc, bismiuth, nickel, platinum, arsenic, air, fire, sulphur, water, sal ammom iac, to purify, to sublime, to precipitate, mercury sublimed, mercury precipitated, caustic lime, and crystal.
   
   
2. The coat of arms for Alpha Chi Sigma can be seen above all the doors of the original chemistry building built in 1930. Herman T. Briscoe, chairman at the time and member, had a hand in this!