History

Zeta Psi (colloquially known as Zete) at Dartmouth College was founded in 1853 as the Psi Epsilon chapter of the national fraternity. It was the fifth fraternity founded overall at Dartmouth, predated only by Psi Upsilon, Kappa Pi Kappa, and the now defunct Alpha Delta and Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternities. Dartmouth’s Zeta Psi chapter went defunct in 1863 in the aftermath of the Civil War, and, aside from a brief stint of activity from 1871 to 1873, remained so until its restoration in 1920. 

Zete was derecognized by the College in 2001, but again received formal recognition in 2009. Zete’s reinstatement was heralded by an alumni fundraising campaign that raised millions of dollars to gut and renovate the physical plant. Some highlights of this renovation include a three-story addition housing the new Phi’s Room and an enlarged basement for the benefit of pong fiends and table flippers alike.

Today, Zete is known for its safe, inclusive basement scene and its kind, fun-loving brothers who are easily identifiable around campus in their house gear. Zete is also known for its termly Zeta Psider event and for their frequent hosting of bands and performance groups. Tails at Zete, some say, are “da bomb.”