From the very beginning of Kent State, President John McGilvrey was against the establishment of fraternities. He believed that “secret societies” were “undemocratic” and would divide the student body into factions.
When the college’s enrollment was smaller, compulsory assembly programs helped build camaraderie between faculty and students. Several clubs formed in the early years of Kent State, but eventually faded with waning enrollment at the beginning of the First World War.
Postwar, however, with enrollment on the rise, there was renewed interest from students in forming fraternal organizations. One early organization, begun in 1921, was the Alpha Epsilon Sigma Literary Society, created “to stimulate interest in essays, readings, talks, debates and music.” To avoid the disdain and scrutiny of the anti-fraternity members of the administration and faculty, the group abbreviated its name to A.E.S. This organization, however, soon dissolved due to lack of student support.
“Every Student in a Club”
It was this evidence of student apathy on campus that prompted a new policy by Kent State’s administration encouraging every student to engage in some sort of activity. Faculty leaders emphasized that extracurricular activities were essential in the development of well-rounded teachers. “Every student in a club” was their slogan, launched at an assembly on Nov. 21, 1922. On that day, several faculty members founded new student organizations, including a Lit Club (for discussion of contemporary books, poetry, drama and short stories), an Indoor/Outdoor Club (for hiking enthusiasts), a Social Science Club and a Current Events Club.
A small group of men on campus saw this movement as an opening for a different type of club.
“Kent Men’s Klub”
Within 24 hours of the assembly, a group of students organized Kent State’s first fraternity, Kappa Mu Kappa. The founders reasoned that, just after campaigning to encourage student activity, administrators would be in an embarrassing position if they were to try to block this new student endeavor. Just to be safe though, while remembering the fall of A.E.S., members agreed to refer to their fraternity simply as KMK. When pressed, they would say it stood for “Kent Men’s Klub.”
The Movement Grows
KMK’s secret identity did not remain a secret for very long, and in August 1923, Kappa Mu Kappa moved into a house on Summit Street. Soon afterward, Delta Phi Sigma and Gamma Tau Delta were founded. After KMK’s breakthrough, seven fraternities were founded in 1924 and 1925.
Full Circle
In 1925, at the Franklin Hotel, a victory banquet was held in celebration of the Kent State Silver Foxes football team’s first victory after 40 winless contests. President McGilvrey, featured speaker at the event, which was sponsored by Kappa Mu Kappa, showed considerable pride in the football team’s accomplishment. So, a person who had resisted the establishment of Greek organizations on campus – and had also refused to emphasize intercollegiate athletics – found himself speaking at an event honoring both. KMK made him an honorary member.
By the end of McGilvrey’s administration, 11 Greek organizations were established on the Kent Campus. KMK became Delta Upsilon in 1948. Today, Delta Upsilon has an active chapter at Kent State and there are more than 350 other student clubs and organizations on campus, including 35 social fraternities and sororities.
Dennis Campbell Jr. is the assistant director for fraternity and sorority life at Kent State. He shares the belief – along with the college administration of 1922 – that student organizations, including fraternities and sororities, are part of the fabric of university life and help to enrich the student experience. Campbell said, “The fraternity and sorority life enhances the student life like no other. The community is strong and provides leadership and personal growth opportunities while serving the community and giving to local and national charities.”
