Psi Upsilon recently announced the creation of its Bicentennial Fund, a four million dollar permanent endowment to underwrite the organization and its chapter house at 242 High Street. The endowment will consist of money donated by fraternity alumni to the organization and will allow Psi Upsilon to begin focusing on a series of 11 bicentennial initiatives that it recently announced as part of its commitment to serving Wesleyan.
According to Jim Killough ’57, head of the fraternity’s Governance Committee, the creation of the fund is “another significant step forward in our 162 year-old mission of providing service and leadership to Wesleyan, far beyond our number.”
Killough added that the endowment will allow Psi Upsilon to continue its commitment to self governance, one of its core principles.
“We know from our history that the daily practice of self-governance is what enables each of our members to provide service, intellectual and financial capital to Wesleyan and the world over the course of their lives,” Killough said.
The 11 initiatives to which the fraternity has pledged itself are the result of an extended review started under former Wesleyan University Provost and Kenyon College Psi Upsilon brother Willie Kerr and completed over the past three years by a group of Psi Upsilon alumni known as the Harrington Leadership Society.
“We hope these initiatives will help [Psi Upsilon] remain vibrant on campus, and continue its tradition of service to the school in the years ahead,” said Win Chamberlain ’65, a member of the Executive Committee of the Harrington Leadership Society.
A review panel of non-members has been formed to guide future development of the initiatives. The panel consists of prominent Wesleyan graduates and leaders from outside the University, including two former Rhodes scholars, three former or current chairmen of the Wesleyan Board of Trustees, a dean at the Harvard Business School, two federal judges, faculty and members of the fraternity’s national board of directors.
The fraternity is going to begin implementing several of these initiatives in Fall 2005. These include “Help make diversity work,” “Encourage true critical thinkers,” “Seek leaders everywhere,” and “Help Wesleyan realize its good intentions.”
Current undergraduate president Andrew Bleeker ’07 said the brothers look forward to the endowment so they can have additional resources to serve the fraternity’s Credo: Service to Others Before Self, Personal Responsibility, Pursuit of Wisdom and Virtuous Character.
“Thanks to the support of our strong brotherhood, we look forward to continuing to serve the Wesleyan and Middletown communities as we move towards our Bicentennial,” Bleeker said.
According to Bleeker, Psi Upsilon is currently involved in several community service projects, including mentoring programs, Habitat for Humanity and weekly commitments at St. Vincent De Paul Soup Kitchen and the preschool at the local YMCA.
The major work on the physical structure of the fraternity house will begin this spring, according to Fred Maynard ’80, who heads up capital improvements projects for the Bicentennial.
The announcement represents a significant step for the fraternity, which celebrated its 160th anniversary with a rededication ceremony in November 2003. At the ceremony, the brotherhood reaffirmed its commitment to the University and began preparing to raise the endowment. In attendance were members of the fraternity’s board of directors, alumni and high-ranking members of the University, including University President Doug Bennet.
At the ceremony, Bennet gave his appreciation for Psi Upsilon’s service to Wesleyan and the importance of its continued contributions.
“Thanks also to the hundreds of you who add to the intellectual and financial fiber of our community,” Bennet said. “This is a fine and unsurpassed heritage.”
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