In the midst of last weekend’s Homecoming festivities, the Xi chapter of the Psi Upsilon (Psi U) fraternity celebrated its 160th anniversary and rededication ceremony.
The Wesleyan chapter, housed on the corner of High and College Street, was one of the first in the country, founded in 1843—10 years after the first chapter was established at Union College.
Invitees ranged from board members of the national Psi U organization to members of the Middletown Police Department, fire department and mayor’s office. Vice President for Finance and Administration Marcia Bromberg and Dean of Student Services Mike Whaley attended the ceremony, along with President Douglas Bennet, his wife Midge Bennet and Xi brothers from as far back as the 1930s.
“I was really pleased with the event and the turnout,” said fraternity President Brett Beach-Kimball ’05. “The house was looking its best and the alumni all seemed very proud to be a part of the Brotherhood.”
A nostalgic cocktail hour, reminiscent of Psi U in earlier years, preceded the event. A four-piece Dixieland Band played in the corner as Psi U Alumnae and families mingled with professors and current brothers of the fraternity.
The formal ceremony commenced as the invitees congregated around a microphone. Beach-Kimball introduced the speakers: Bennet, Chairman of the Xi Governance Committee Jim Killough, Chairman of the Xi Corporation Chip Stone ’49, President of the Xi Corporation Evan Drutman ’86, Chairman of the Harrington Literary Society and Wesleyan trustee Mike McKenna ’73 and Chairman of the Xi Capital Campaign Fred Maynard ’80.
Killough spoke about the purpose of the rededication, describing the ceremony as a reiteration of the fraternity’s goals on campus and drawing on his history of involvement with both the fraternity and Wesleyan.
Bennet followed, emphasizing the University’s commitment to producing leaders outside the Wesleyan community and noting that Psi U has been a particularly valuable source of such individuals.
“One of the University’s most distinguished fraternities, the Xi continues to produce leaders,” Bennett said. “I’m here to thank Xi for 16 decades of contributions well beyond your numbers.”
Bennet listed Killough, Stone, Drutman, McKenna and Maynard as among the Wesleyan leaders produced by the Xi chapter in the past. These men are not the only Psi U brothers who have remained active in the Wesleyan community; while only two percent of Wesleyan alumni are Xi brothers, one out of five trustees has been a member of the fraternity.
Eight campus buildings are named for Psi U alumni, including the Bacon Field House, Crowell Concert Hall, Reid Admissions House and Judd Hall. The fraternity is continuing its tradition, as current brothers are on the Honor Board, Student Judicial Board, Argus editorial staff and several athletic teams.
“We make a genuine effort to embody our core principles of service to others, the pursuit of wisdom, virtuous character and personal responsibility,” Beach-Kimball said. “This event was a way for us to reiterate our commitment to these values and acknowledge our beneficial relationship with the community.”
Drutman, the newly appointed alumni president of the Xi chapter, focused on future goals of the fraternity, commenting on the active participation in the community—such as hosting community events—that the fraternity plans to continue.
The ceremony also focused on potential house renovations. The Psi U building was built in 1843 and requires consistent upkeep. Maynard spoke of the house’s physical needs, describing a construction project that would refurbish the outside of the building.
All speakers highlighted the fraternity’s commitment to the community, reiterating the fraternity’s credo, “Lifelong Leadership Far Beyond Our Number.”
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