…the Sigma Nu Gals were having a lovely evening at Tanglewood!

While doing research about Greek life at Western New England University for an upcoming online exhibition, we found an article reporting on the summer fun members of Sigma Nu Upsilon were enjoying. Greek life was the core of social activities for Western New England students in the 1950s, and the sorority kept students together even over the long summer. According to the article, sorority members attended a tea, a concert at Tanglewood, and even braved icy waters for a swim during a picnic at Robinson Park.

The Westerner, Nov 1952

We wish we had the photograph the article refers to – “Everyone posed around a very pretty table for the famous ‘birdie’,” but in its stead, we do have the below picture of Sigma Nu Upsilon members, circa 1950s.

Members of Sigma Nu Upsilon, circa 1950s

We hope everyone is having as much fun this summer as the Sigma Nu Upsilon women of 1952!

Did you know Western New England University used to have an active Greek Life on campus? Up until the 1990s, students could join a fraternity or sorority on campus as part of their extracurricular activities.

In the early years of Western New England, fraternities and sororities were responsible for activities ranging from formal dances, to organized sporting events. They played an essential part in creating a social component to students’ education, especially when the school was a not yet a residential college. They faded in popularity in the 1990s, when the campus was adding with more and more options for socialization and activities.

Epsilon Phi Sigma pledges with their paddles, 1957

Members of Sigma Nu Epsilon, circa 1950s.

A member of Tau Kappa Epsilon mowing the lawn, circa 1970s.

A member of Tau Epsilon Phi at a fraternity sponsored sporting event, circa 1970s.

A member of Phi Theta Kappa playing Frisbee, circa 1970s

While these groups no longer exist on campus, their memory and influence on the student body lives on, and will be examined in an upcoming online exhibition from the Archives this fall. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, check out the Archives’ previous online exhibitions – Homecoming at Western New England University, and The Freshman Experience.