Pi Nu Epsilon

{{Short description|American musical performing arts honor society}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox fraternity | name = Pi Nu Epsilon | letters = {{lang|grc|ΠΝΕ}} | coat of arms = PiNuEpsilon key.png | image_size = 150px | alt = | caption = The Pi Nu Epsilon watchkey | founded = {{Start date and age|1927|01}} | birthplace = Armour Institute of Technology | affiliation = Independent | affiliation2 = | status = Active | type = Honor society | emphasis = Music, for non-Music majors | scope = National | mission = | vision = | object = | motto =  | virtues = | pillars = | slogan = | maxim = | tagline = | member badge =  | colors =  | symbol = Pentagon | flag =  | flower =  | tree = | jewel = | mascot = | publication = ''Pi Nuz'' | chapters = 2 active | members = | lifetime = | nickname =  | free = | free_label = | address = 2159 White Street<br>Suite 3, #104 | city = York | state = Pennsylvania | ZIP code = 17404 | country = United States | website = {{URL|pinuepsilon.com}} }}

'''Pi Nu Epsilon''' ('''{{lang|grc|ΠΝΕ}}''') is an American gender inclusive honor fraternity for students involved with music but who are non-music majors. It was established in 1927 at the Armour Institute of Technology in Chicago, Illinois.

== History == Pi Nu Epsilon was founded at Armour Institute of Technology in January 1927 as a music fraternity for non-music majors.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=http://www.pinuepsilon.com/faq/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Pi Nu Epsilon}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite news |date=1976-06-10 |title=Brookhart Named National Chairman |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-sun-brookhart-named-national-ch/182359581/ |access-date=2025-10-05 |work=The News-Sun |location=Newport, Pennsylvania |pages=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |date=March 1927 |title=Pi Nu Epsilon |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Armour_engineer/JIATAwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Pi+Nu+Epsilon%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA104&printsec=frontcover |journal=Armour Engineer |volume=18 |issue=3 |page=104 |via=Google Books}}</ref> Pi Nu Epsilon was founded by four members of the class of 1927, four members of the class of 1928, and Professor Emeritus Charles Wilbur Leigh.<ref name="Website">{{Cite web |title=History of Pi Nu Epsilon |url=http://www.pinuepsilon.com/history/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Pi Nu Epsilon}}</ref> The undergraduate founders were Thornton J. Clark, David G. Greenfield, W. McDowell Horn, Nicholas Markoff, Kent H. Parker, George Rezac, William E. Vevurka, and Willard Wilson.<ref name="Website" />

From the beginning, the fraternity focused on non-music majors and operated as a recognition society and service organization.<ref name="Website" /><ref>As a category, Recognition societies are grouped with Honor societies. Honor societies often maintain specific GPA or class rank requirements where recognition societies focused on achievement in campus or community service.</ref> It membership was limited to juniors or seniors who had been a members of music clubs, with distinguished service.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5" /> It had a strong service component, "in the furtherance of good music". The purpose of Pi Nu Epsilon is:

* To honor those outstanding men and women who have devoted their time and efforts to the musical organizations at the institutions of the respective chapters. * To stimulate interest in and to further the aims of the musical organizations at the institutions of the respective chapters. * To foster and develop a broader interest in music and musical affairs.<ref name="DUOCA">{{cite web |title=Drexel University Office of Campus Activities |url=https://www.drexel.edu/OCA/so/a-zDirectory.asp |accessdate=September 4, 2007}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=About Pi Nu Epsilon |url=http://www.pinuepsilon.com/about/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Pi Nu Epsilon}}</ref>

Pi Nu Epsilon aided the musical organizations at the ''Alpha chapter'' by sponsoring and promoting the musical activities on campus. It thrived for many years under the guidance of Dr. O. Gordon Erickson, who served as music director at Armour Institute of Technology from 1932 until his death in August 1953. In 1940, Armour Institute of Technology and Lewis Institute merged to form the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Pi Nu Epsilon was formally incorporated as a nonprofit organization in the state of Illinois on May 16, 1947.<ref name="Website" /> Later that month, on May 28, 1947, the ''Beta chapter'' was founded at Drexel Institute of Technology.<ref name="Website" /> ''Gamma chapter'' (later renamed ''Epsilon'') was founded on April 30, 1955 at Ursinus College.<ref name="Website" /> ''Delta chapter was'' founded on May 12, 1956, at Shippensburg University.<ref name="Shipweb">{{cite web | title = Shippensburg University Department of Music and Theater Arts | url=http://webspace.ship.edu/music/Music_Org_Page.html | accessdate = September 4, 2007}}</ref> Finally, ''Zeta chapter'' was founded on April 15, 1989, at Millersville University in Millersville, Pennsylvania.<ref name="Website" /> Slow expansion has continued, with the installation of ''Eta chapter'' at Thiel College on December 11, 2011.<ref name="Website" />

Its national headquarters is in York, Pennsylvania.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Chapters of Pi Nu Epsilon |url=http://www.pinuepsilon.com/chapters/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Pi Nu Epsilon}}</ref>

== Symbols == Pi Nu Epsilon's symbol is the pentagon, symbolizing the five music societies that had formed at the Armour Institute of Technology before the fraternity's was established.<ref name=":1" /> The name Pi Nu Epsilon was selected because the letters '''{{lang|grc|ΠΝΕ}}''' are the first three letters of the word "Pentagon” in Greek.<ref name=":1" /> The society's key is shaped like a pentagon.<ref name=":1" /> Its publication is ''Pi Nuz''.

== Activities == Pi Nu Epsilon offers social activities for its members and promotes campus music organizations.<ref name=":5" /> The society provides ushering at university performances, caroling at nursing homes, volunteer at local parades, fundraise for non-profit student radio stations and several chapters sponsor a "Battle of the Bands" competition.

The society holds an national convention each year, when national officers are elected.<ref name=":5" /> It also presents musical and vocal music awards annually.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=1984-05-15 |title=Brindle Awarded |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/public-opinion-brindle-awarded/182359209/ |access-date=2025-10-05 |work=Public Opinion |location=Chambersburg, Pennsylvania |pages=13 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In addition, the ''Beta chapter'' held an annual music competition for Philadelphia high school students.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=1961-02-10 |title=8 in S. Jersey Enter Drexel Music Tests |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/courier-post-8-in-s-jersey-enter-drexel/182360028/ |access-date=2025-10-05 |work=Courier-Post |location=Camden, New Jersey |pages=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1955-05-01 |title=Music Competition |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-music-competit/182360893/ |access-date=2025-10-05 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |pages=66 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1956-03-21 |title=Students in Semifinals of Contest |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/delaware-county-daily-times-students-in/182361367/ |access-date=2025-10-05 |work=Delaware County Daily Times |location=Chester, Pennsylvania |pages=74 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

== Membership == Pi Nu Epsilon draws a majority of members from campus bands, choirs and ensembles. Potential members must be an undergraduate who have been a member in a musical or performing arts organization for at least one semester.<ref name=":1" /> Examples of eligible student organizations include A Cappella choirs, chamber choirs, concert bands, concert choirs, dance ensembles, jazz band, jazz choirs, marching bands, pep bands, string ensembles, and theater groups.<ref name=":1" /> The fraternity is gender inclusive.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" />

== Governance == Pi Nu Epsilon is governed by a national council consisting of a president, vice president of internal affairs, vice president of external affairs, treasurer, secretary, historian, and chapter representatives.<ref name=":1" />

== Chapters == Following are the chapters of Pi Nu Epsilon, with active chapters indicated in '''bold''' and inactive chapters in ''italics.<ref name="Website" />''<ref name=":0" /> {{sticky-header}} {| class="wikitable sticky-header sortable" !Chapter !Charter date and range !Institution !Location !Status !{{Refh}} |- |''Alpha'' |{{DTS|January 1927}}–1980 |Illinois Institute of Technology |Chicago, Illinois |Inactive |<ref>{{Cite news |date=1950-12-11 |title=Massena Students Join Sorority |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/syracuse-herald-journal-massena-students/182361142/ |access-date=2025-10-05 |work=Syracuse Herald-Journal |pages=7 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Bairds13|page=741}}</ref>{{Efn|Chapter formed at the Armor Institute, which later merged to form the Illinois Institute of Technology.}} |- |'''Beta''' |{{DTS|May 28, 1947}} |Drexel University |Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |Active |<ref name=":6" /> |- |''Gamma'' (see ''Epsilon'') |{{DTS|April 30, 1955}} – 19xx ? |Ursinus College |Collegeville, Pennsylvania |Inactive |<ref>{{Cite news |date=1972-11-08 |title=Perkasie Local News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-herald-perkasie-local-news/182360415/ |access-date=2025-10-05 |work=News Herald |location=Perkasie, Pennsylvania |pages=5 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |- |''Delta'' |{{DTS|May 12, 1956}} – 2016 |Shippensburg University |Shippensburg, Pennsylvania |Inactive |<ref name=":4" /> |- |''Epsilon'' (see ''Gamma'') |xxxx ? – 2004 |Ursinus College |Collegeville, Pennsylvania |Inactive | |- |''Zeta'' |{{DTS|April 15, 1989}} – 2007 |Millersville University |Millersville, Pennsylvania |Inactive |<ref>{{Cite news |date=2002-10-12 |title=Legal Notices |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lancaster-new-era-legal-notices/182362100/ |access-date=2025-10-05 |work=Lancaster New Era |pages=22 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |- |'''Eta''' |{{DTS|December 11, 2011}} |Thiel College |Chicago, Illinois |Active | |} {{notelist}}

== References == {{reflist}}

Category:1927 establishments in Illinois Category:Honor societies Category:Illinois Institute of Technology Category:Student organizations established in 1927 Category:Music organizations based in the United States