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Epsilon Eta
ΕΗ
Founded2006; 18 years ago (2006)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
TypeProfessional
AffiliationIndependent
StatusActive
EmphasisEnvironment and sustainability
ScopeNational
PillarsAcademics, Community, Service
Colors  Kelly green,   Navy blue and   Sky blue
TreeOak
Chapters18
NicknamesEp Eta, Eta (University of Michigan)
Headquarters
United States

Epsilon Eta (ΕΗ), also known as Ep Eta, is an American professional gender-inclusive fraternity for students interested in careers in environmental science and sustainability.[1][2][3] Founded in 2006 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, it is the first nationwide environmental fraternity in the United States.[2] The fraternity has grown to include chapters across the United States.[4][5] There is no national organization as of December 2024.

History

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Liza Schillo, an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, founded Epsilon Eta Environmental Honors Fraternity in 2006.[2][6] It was established as a professional, gender-inclusive fraternity for individuals seeking post-graduate positions in the environmental field.[7][8] The fraternity's mission is "to promote a healthy and sustainable environment and connect students to industries, community service, and academia in pursuit of these goals."[8] Epsilon Eta has three pillars: academics, community, and service.[9]

Beta chapter at the University of Michigan was conceived by Julia Austin, Zach Fogel, Daly Kleaveland, and Julia Wang in the summer of 2014. They recruited Caitlin Climes, Sam McMullen, Josh Musicant, Dylan Nelson, and Matt Sehrsweeney to complete the group of nine founders. Beta chapter was chartered and initiated its first class in 2015.[10]

Originally meeting in a freshman environmental earth sciences seminar, nine sophomores formed an Epsilon Eta colony at the University of Pennsylvania in the October 2015; the colony later became Gamma chapter.[11][12] Other chapters followed in 2016 and 2017, with North Carolina State University becoming the seventh official chapter in 2017.[13] The twelfth chapter was established at the University of Delaware in 2018.[13] This was followed by chapters at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and San Diego State University in 2018, and Boston University and University of Maryland, College Park in 2019.[9][14]

By 2000, the Alpha chapter had initiated ninety members, and an executive committee was established to oversee the national fraternity.[8] However, in the fall of 2020 three of Alpha chapter's former members publicly criticized the group "for fostering white supremacy."[15] The fraternity's executive board and Alpha's members decided to close the chapter in September 2020. The Daily Tar Heel shared the chapter's statement: "As a historically exclusive and majority-white institution with semblances of Greek life, we have contributed to the preservation of white supremacy on UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus. Our actions have marginalized and silenced BIPOC voices. To address these injustices, we view abolition as the most direct course of action to dismantle white supremacy."[15]

Despite this setback, new chapters formed at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2020, the University of Arizona in 2022, and the University of Virginia in 2023.[16][5] The Alpha chapter was re-established at the University of North Carolina in September 2022 by Tayton Alvis, Sarah Masters, Zachary Miller, Gregory Mink, and Sanjana Venkatraman.[2]

Symbols

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The Greek letters Epsilon Eta stand for Science and Morality.[17] Epsilon Eta's colors are Kelly green, Navy blue, and Sky blue.[18][19] Its original emblem is a sky-blue shield edged in navy blue and decorated with a white three-pronged geometric knot entwined around an oak tree.[18] A later variation of the emblem features a light green shield with a dark green emblem of leaf veins on the right half and an overlaying tree in dark green across the center.[19]

Membership

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Membership to Epsilon Eta is not limited by major but initiates must be interested in the environmental field.[7] The fraternity's members are divided into regular, associate, and alumni.[8][18] Associate members are undergraduates who fail to meet the GPA or service hour requirements.[8] Regular members and alumni may wear the fraternity's insignia.[8]

Instead of "Bigs" and "Littles" like traditional Greek Life, some Epsilon Eta chapters use the terms "Oaks" and "Saplings".

Chapters

[edit]

Following are the collegiate chapters of Epsilon Eta. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are indicated in italic.

Chapter Chartered/Range Institution Location Status Reference
Alpha 2006–September 2020; September 2022 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, North Carolina Active [8][4][2][20]
Beta 2015 University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Active [7]
Gamma October 2015 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Active [21][11][a]
Delta January 27, 2017 Longwood University Farmville, Virginia Active [22][23][b]
Epsilon 2016 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon Inactive? [24]
Delta 2017 University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Active [25][26][b]
Iota 2017, Fall North Carolina State University Raleigh, North Carolina Active [17][27]
Kappa 2017 Cornell University Ithaca, New York Active [3][28][29]
Lambda 2017 University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, California Active [30][31]
Mu 201x ? Drake University Des Moines, Iowa Active [32][c]
Mu 2018, Spring University of Delaware Newark, Delaware Active [33][34][13][c]
2018, Fall University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Urbana and Champaign, Illinois Active [9][35]
Omicron 2018 San Diego State University San Diego, California Active [4][36]
Pi 2018 Boston University Boston Massachusetts Active [37][8][38]
Upsilon 2019, Fall University of Maryland, College Park College Park, Maryland Active [14][39]
Sigma 2019 Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, Florida Active [40][41]
2020 Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia Active [42][43]
Tau 2022 University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona Active [5]
Upsilon 2023, Spring University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia Active [16]

Notes

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  1. ^ Chapter colonized in October 2015.
  2. ^ a b Both the Longwood University and the University of Pittsburgh chapters call themselves the Delta chapter in their constitution/bylaws.
  3. ^ a b Both the Drake University and University of Delaware chapters refer to themselves as Mu chapter on their Instagram profile.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Home". Epsilon Eta - University of Delaware. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  2. ^ a b c d e Venkatraman, Sanjana (November 4, 2022). "Epsilon Eta: Building a Community for Students with a Passion for Environmental Interests". | UNC Environmental Spotlight | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  3. ^ a b "Cornell Students Launch 1st Sustainability Fraternity on Campus". Sustainable Campus | Cornell University. February 5, 2018. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  4. ^ a b c "About". EPSILON ETA SDSU. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  5. ^ a b c Lecky, Annabel (December 5, 2022). "UA welcomes Epsilon Eta, the first environmental co-ed fraternity to campus". The Daily Wildcat. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  6. ^ "Ex-Reynold Student Founds Environmental Honor Fraternity". Asheville Citizen-Times. 2006-12-14. p. 9. Retrieved 2023-02-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b c "Home". Epsilon Eta – Beta Chapter. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h "Epsilon Etta Pi Chapter Constitution | Boston University Engage". Boston University. December 5, 2021. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  9. ^ a b c Apostolakos, Pari; Bradley, Megan (2018-10-08). "Illinois welcomes professional fraternity". The Daily Illini. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  10. ^ "Founders". Epsilon Eta – Beta Chapter. 2021-01-07. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  11. ^ a b Wang, Jenna (November 19, 2015). "Environmental fraternity joins Penn greek life". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  12. ^ "Epsilon Eta at Penn". epsilonetapenn.org. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  13. ^ a b c Lowndes, Julia (April 3, 2018). "Environmental fraternity comes to campus | The Review". Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  14. ^ a b Neugeboren, Eric (2019-09-18). "Epsilon Eta fraternity focuses on educating campus about environment, sustainability". The Diamondback. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  15. ^ a b Haskett, Hunter (September 16, 2020). "'Not reformable': Members of UNC Epsilon Eta abolish the honors fraternity". The Daily Tar Heel. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  16. ^ a b "Epsilon Eta at UVA on Instagram: "We are so excited to announce that Epsilon Eta at UVA is starting up in the Spring! If you are interested, screenshot this post and scan the QR code to fill out an initial interest form. We will reach out to you at the start of next semester for interest meeting details and the (brief) application process and deadline. We CAN NOT wait to meet you all! 🌿"". Instagram. December 23, 2022. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  17. ^ a b "Welcome". Eta Epsilon Iota Chapter North Carolina State University. November 7, 2017. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  18. ^ a b c "Epsilon Eta Constitution and Bylaws". Heel Life, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 2006. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  19. ^ a b "Epsilon Eta Delta Chapter Constitution and Bylaws". University of Pittsburgh - Main Campus. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  20. ^ "Epsilon Eta Environmental Honors Fraternity". Heel Life, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  21. ^ "Epsilon Eta Gamma Chapter at the University of Pennsylvania". Epsilon Eta at Penn. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  22. ^ "Epsilon Eta - Lancer Link". Longwood University. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  23. ^ Farley, Miranda (January 28, 2017). "Humans of Longwood: Alex Lee". The Rotunda Online. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  24. ^ "Epsilon Eta". Epsilon Eta | University of Oregon. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  25. ^ "Epsilon Eta". Pitt Sustainability | University of Pittsburgh. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  26. ^ "Epsilon Eta, Environmental Honors Fraternity, Delta Chapter". University of Pittsburgh - Main Campus. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  27. ^ Griffonetti, Gabby (August 31, 2022). "Epsilon Eta provides development, community for students interested in conservation". Technician. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  28. ^ "Brotherhood". Epsilon Eta | Kappa Chapter. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  29. ^ "Epsilon Eta". Do It Yourself, Do It Together - Online exhibitions across Cornell University Library. 2020-04-21. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  30. ^ "Epsilon Eta - CalLink at UC Berkeley". University of California Berkeley. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  31. ^ "Lambda Chapter Epsilon Eta UC Berkeley". Epsilon Eta Berkeley. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  32. ^ Songer, Maia (2021-02-21). "Epsilon Eta offers Environmental Science opportunities at Drake". The Times-Delphic. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  33. ^ "Epsilon Eta | Student Central". University of Delaware. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  34. ^ "Founding Members". Epsilon Eta - University of Delaware. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  35. ^ "Epsilon Eta - Involved@Illinois". University of Illinois. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  36. ^ "Student Groups". San Diego State University. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  37. ^ "Epsilon Eta | Boston University Engage". Boston University. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  38. ^ Nguyen, Melina (March 4, 2022). "BU's only environmental fraternity returns to in-person events – The Daily Free Press". Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  39. ^ "Epsilon Eta - TerpLink". University of Maryland. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  40. ^ "Epsilon Eta at NSU". Nova Engage. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  41. ^ "Epsilon Eta at NSU on Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  42. ^ "Epsilon Eta at VCU 🌱 on Instagram: "We're on the hunt for some additional executive board members 🌱 Please apply if you're interested! All majors are welcome 🌎"". Instagram. May 12, 2020. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  43. ^ Chudoba, Liz (2020-09-24). "Welcoming Our New CMC Intern, Christell Azuaje". Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. Retrieved 2023-02-02. She loves being involved on her campus serving as the president of the Nature Appreciation & Community Healing Organization and of her university's environmental fraternity, Epsilon Eta.
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