Delta Nu Psi has been Keene State College's only co-ed fraternity since being founded over 20 years ago by three great friends. An influential brotherhood of men and women dedicated to friendship, equality, and improving the community, we have greatly affected Greek Life on KSC's campus. After two decades of memories and achievements, Delta Nu Psi has proudly opened a new chapter to our history by becoming apart of the national fraternity Psi Upsilon.

Psi Upsilon is the fifth oldest fraternity in the United States and is filled with a rich history and strong value based way of life. Psi Upsilon was founded in 1833 at Union College and over the years spread through out the nation. There are over 40 chapters, the Delta Nu chapter of Keene State College being the newest.
Psi Upsilon has many historical alumni including 2 presidents, the first FBI director, the Prime Minster of Canada, director Michael Bay, author of the "DaVinci Code" Dan Brown, and the founders of Coors Brewery Jeffery and Peter Coors. The former brothers and sisters of Delta Nu Psi are extremely proud to become apart of such a respectable and well known family that have the same morals, beliefs, and values that we have had for over 20 years.

Psi Upsilon's motto: "unto us hath befallen a mighty friendship" couldn't explain the mergence of the former Delta Nu Psi and Psi Upsilon any better.

Dan "5 O'Clock" Finch
Sean "General Boots" Spendley

In the early 1800s, as at other schools, literary societies played an important role in the life of Union College. The faculty encouraged these groups; they presented debates and orations, produced plays and maintained libraries. They also provided forums for discussion and social interaction, which could not be found in the classroom. There was much rivalry for membership, literary supremacy, and political dominance on campus. The oldest of these, the Adelphic Society, was founded in 1792 and lasted into the nineteenth century. The Philomathean Society, which began in 1798, still exists.

Psi U Founders: Robert Barnard '37, Samuel Goodale '36, Sterling G. Hadley '36, George Washington Tuttle '36, Edward Martindale, (no photo for Merwin Henry Stewart '37), and Charles Washington Harvey '37.

The Delphian Society was started in 1819 and was known as more secretive and close knit than other societies. In 1833, five sophomore and two freshman members had become close friends. Their names were Samuel Goodale, Sterling Goodale Hadley, Edward Martindale, George Washington Tuttle, Charles Washington Harvey, Merwin Henry Stewart, and Robert Barnard. By the fall of 1833, the group of seven men had begun to meet regularly to read poetry and to exchange essays they had each written. It became a tradition to meet one night each week for these literary exercises. One night, after a particularly enjoyable session, Samuel Goodale said to Sterling Goodale Hadley, "Goodnight thine cordially." In response, Hadley said, "Goodnight thine always." This ritualistic farewell was repeated at each session thereafter.

By November, the seven men realized that they had something special: a group of people, with common interests and aspirations, sharing special times. They wanted somehow to capture these moments and make them permanent, not just as a club for themselves, but as a special association that would welcome new members, and that would continue long after they graduated from Union. Following the examples of the organizations founded at Union and Hamilton, they decided to found Psi Upsilon.

The Arms of the Fraternity are described in heraldic terms as a black shield bearing hands and letters of gold as in our badge, around which emblems run what is known as a double tressure, flory counter flory, of silver.

The 'double tressure' alludes to the 'tie that binds,' the secrets, ideals, and aims of the Fraternity.

The black 'shield' was chosen not only because it is more effective than any other hue in line engraving (which was the chief use of the coat-of-arms), but also because it is the background of the badge.

The 'crest' consists of an owl surmounting Roman fasces. The owl was assigned by the Greeks to Pallas Athena as an emblem of her supernatural wisdom, and by the Romans to Minerva, Goddess of Wisdom. The 'fasces,' which the owl surmounts, was a term given to a bundle of elm sticks or branches bound together with leather thongs or lashes, and containing an axe with its blade projecting from the side. These were carried by 'lectors' (public officials attending Roman magistrates), and were symbols of power.

The colors of the Fraternity are represented by a garnet ribbon on the dexter side of the shield, and by a gold one at the left, from which, united below the shield, depends by a ring the Psi Upsilon badge. The supporters are two silver griffins, typifying watchfulness and strength.

The motto, selected from Plato, translates to: "Unto us has befallen a mighty friendship." For a Greek-letter fraternity, a Greek motto is necessary.

Seal of the Executive Council
The seal of the Executive Council consists of the shield and crest of the Fraternity, surrounded by an oval ribbon or garter of gold, inscribed with the the Council's Greek motto.



The Colors
The Fraternity colors of garnet and gold were chosen at the Convention in 1878. Garnet was chosen to honor the parent chapter, being the college color of Union, and the gold refers to the badge. In early years, chapters had their own colors.



Regulation Badge
The badge is a diamond-shaped pin of gold. Within a gold border, a black enameled field bears the clasped hands, with a "Psi" above and "Upsilon" below. The Psi Upsilon badge is worn over the heart on a shirt or vest under a suit jacket.



Official Flag
The flag of the Fraternity is composed of three vertical divisions or strips of equal width. The middle stripe is garnet, the others gold. The center strip bears in gold the Greek letters 'Psi' and 'Upsilon,' and the clasped hands, as on our badge. On the staff of the flag is to be perched a white owl. The flag was designed and adopted with the heraldry work of 1894.



Founders Plaque
The Founders' Plaque was designed by William Ordway Partridge, Lambda '83 (Columbia University). The plaque features the names of the seven founders below a replica of the Psi Upsilon badge. Bronze replicas were distributed to the chapters in 1908. Unfortunately, the newest chapters do not have plaques, as they could not be recast.

Mission of Psi Upsilon Fraternity

Lifelong friendship
Psi Upsilon unites its members in a diverse brotherhood of firm and enduring friendship that will last a lifetime.

Moral leadership
Psi Upsilon's system of self-governance nurtures development of mature decision-making, individual responsibility and moral leadership.

Intellectual engagement
Psi Upsilon fosters individual and chapter support for the academic mission of the college and creates opportunities for co-curricular learning and personal development.

Responsible social conduct
Psi Upsilon’s members are guided by principles of responsibility, civility and courtesy.

Service to society
Psi Upsilon encourages service to college, community, country and Fraternity.