Gamma Epsilon Pi


Gamma Epsilon Pi was an American business honor society for women. It was established in 1918 at the University of Illinois. Gamma Epsilon Pi consolidated with Alpha Gamma Pi and Phi Sigma Chi, two similar organizations, in 1922. In 1933, the society merged into Beta Gamma Sigma, previously an all-male society.

History

Gamma Epsilon Pi was founded at the University of Illinois on March 26, 1918. It was an honor society for female business students. The founders were five junior women in the College of Commerce who felt that a similar organization to Beta Gamma Sigma was needed for women.
The society merged with Alpha Gamma Pi and Phi Sigma Chi in 1922. Alpha Gamma Pi was established at University of Wisconsin and Phi Sigma Chi was established at University of Washington at approximately the same time. The name and badge of Gamma Epsilon Pi were adopted for the merged group; a new constitution and ritual were created.
On April 29, 1933, the group merged into Beta Gamma Sigma, which began allowing female members in February 1932. The 983 members of Gamma Epsilon Pi became lifetime members of Beta Gamma Sigma.

Symbols

The society's badge was in the shape of a key bearing the Greek letters ΓΕΠ. This pin exhibits a golden post and swinging signboard bearing the letters Γ, Ε, and Π, arrayed in the center of a gold key. In print this insignia may be set on a black shield.
The society's colors were coral and grey. Its publications were The Signboard and The Post.

Membership

Active membership was limited to junior and senior women who ranked in the top fifteen percent of the women enrolled in the school's College of Commerce.

Chapters

The chapters of Gamma Epsilon Pi include the follow; all chapters merged with Beta Gamma Sigma.
ChapterCharter date and rangeInstitutionLocationStatus
Alpha – University of IllinoisChampaign, IllinoisMerged
Beta – Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IllinoisMerged
Gamma – University of CaliforniaBerkeley, CaliforniaMerged
Delta – University of PittsburghPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaMerged
Epsilon – University of IowaIowa City, IowaMerged
Zeta – University of KansasLawrence, KansasMerged
Eta – University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MinnesotaMerged
Theta – University of OklahomaNorman, OklahomaMerged
Iota – Washington UniversitySt. Louis County, MissouriMerged
Kappa – University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CaliforniaMerged
Lambda – University of MontanaMissoula, MontanaMerged
Alpha Beta – University of WashingtonSeattle, WashingtonMerged
Alpha Gamma – University of WisconsinMadison, WisconsinMerged
Alpha Delta – University of TexasAustin, TexasMerged
Alpha Epsilon – Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, New YorkMerged
Alpha Zeta – New York UniversityNew York City, New YorkMerged
Mu – University of NebraskaLincoln, NebraskaMerged
Nu – Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OhioMerged