Ice Carnival: Skating & Sports

Another great Ice Carnival event in the 60s-90s - ice skating races and relays, plus other sports.  I definitely remember participating in the tug-of-war in the early 90s.  These pictures really show the spirit and fun of this annual two-school event:

1966

1970

Clarkson Women & Sororities

In 1964 Clarkson started accepting women. The first class had nine and three left after the first semester. It took a few years, but in 1972 Clarkson women started joining the local sororities. At that time there were six: Alpha, Ago, Delta, Zeta, PhiK & Omega.

From The Clarkson Mosaic 1896-1995

In 1977 the first Clarkson sorority was founded, Phi Sigma Sigma, a national.  At first they participated in the same rush at the locals, and even accepted members from SUNY Potsdam (source: The Raquette 11/3/78) and appear in the Potsdam State yearbook from 1979-1981. 

In 1980 Phi Sig disaffiliated themselves with their national and changed their name to Phi Sigma Lambda, in order to continue to accept members from Potsdam State. The sisters don't appear in either yearbook in 1982, and then in 1983 they appear in the Clarkson yearbook only.  A March 8, 1983 Clarkson Integrator article titled "Phi Sigma Sigma Relives at Clarkson" says the sorority had 48 pledges.

Relay for Life 2016

Both schools held separate Relay for Life events recently, raising funds for the American Cancer Society. Relay teams camp out overnight and take turns walking or running around the track. Relay events are up to 24 hours in length and, because cancer never sleeps, each team is asked to have at least one participant on the track at all times. Read more here. 

The following is based on the online information (actual totals may be higher). The Clarkson event was March 26. 48 teams and 753 participants raised $44,018.27. You can see all the teams here. The following Greek social organizations raised over $1,000 each:

International Badge Day

Monday March 7, 2016 is International Badge Day!  Established in 1997 by the National Panhellenic Conference, today is a day for women throughout the world to wear their sorority badges or Greek letters in a celebration of sisterhood.

Here are some badges of current and past Greek social organizations in Potsdam, for more check this album on the Potsdam Greeks Facebook page.

Ice Carnival: Parade

I'm not sure about other eras, but in my Ice Carnival time in Potsdam (1988-1991) parade was a huge undertaking.  Each Omega member had to fold two boxes of tissues over Christmas break, so they were ready to be "stuffed and fluffed" into the chicken wire mold of whatever shape we were building for our parade float that year.  We constructed the float (which usually included movement), somehow found a trailer to put it on (and a suitable vehicle to pull it) plus came up with costumes and a song/dance/skit for the sisters who walking with the float.  All in freezing cold temperatures.  Yikes!

Here are some parade pictures from the 70s and 80s (still going through the yearbooks, more to come).  For those unfamiliar with ice carnival there was an overall theme each year, with each participating organization picking their own theme - so the float choices reflect that.  Another great spot for old photos is this album on the Clarkson Flickr account.

1971

Greeks at Tony Tuesday 2014

On Tuesday, October 21, 2014 student organizations at Clarkson had the opportunity to compete for cash awards on "Tony Tuesday."  Part of Spirit Week (the week before Family/Homecoming Weekend), Tony Tuesday is the day students are invited to dress like CU President Tony Collins to compete for cash prizes. Over $8,000 was given to the clubs and organizations that participated.

First place went to Phi Sig!

Relay for Life 2014

Both schools held separate Relay for Life events recently, raising funds for the American Cancer Society. Relay teams camp out overnight and take turns walking or running around the track. Relay events are up to 24 hours in length and, because cancer never sleeps, each team is asked to have at least one participant on the track at all times. Read more here.  See photos and fundraising totals from the 2013 events here.

Clarkson (top) and SUNY Potsdam Relay for Life

The following is based on the online information (actual totals may be higher).
The Clarkson event was March 28-29.  50 teams (756 people) participated and raised $34,886.  Four sororities and 13 fraternities participated, raising $16,509.  The top Greek teams:

Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority

ΦΣΣ

Since 1977

On September 17, 1977 a group of women at Clarkson became a pledge colony of Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority and moved into a the house at 71 Main Street.  They became the Gamma Mu chapter on December 3, 1977, the first sorority founded at Clarkson.  

1978 Clarkson Yearbook

Facebook page | Facebook group (private) | Instagram

In 1978 the sisters accepted a Potsdam State pledge, "in recognition of the tradition which has always integrated the women of both schools." (Nov. 3, 1978 Racquette).  In the Spring of 1979 they moved out of their house at 71 Main as their landlord, Clarkson College, only wanted Clarkson students living in the house.  That summer they found a house at 116 Main Street.  That house was not zoned for a sorority but the Town Planning Board allowed them to stay temporarily.

Fall '13 in Review

The Fall 2013 semester is just about over, so I figured a summary would be useful.  Here are some highlights of what happened in Greek Life in Potsdam this semester.  For more photos check out the Fall '13 album on the Potsdam Greeks United Facebook page.  Have information to share about what your House did this semester?  Please email me or post it via a comment.

Inter-Fraternity Council at Clarkson

A few interesting updates to physical houses in Potsdam:

• OPiO's house at 16 Leroy Street was accepted for inclusion on the state and national Registers of Historic Places.
• Sigma Chi moved into their new on-campus house
• Sig Ep watched construction progress on their on-campus house 
• Delta Upsilon members and alumni participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for their new on-campus house 
• The brothers of Phi Kappa Sigma (Clarkson) spent their first semester at 30 Elm Street
• BT is back at their old house at 42 Bay Street

"Normal" pledging resumed at SUNY Potsdam with pledges spending some time at the house and then at a special on-campus dinner with a slide show on Greek Life.  Sororities and Fraternities on both campuses welcomed new members and Delta Upsilon fraternity at Clarkson was re-colonized with 21 new Founding Fathers on September 26.

Phi Kappa Sigma (Clarkson) received the Outstanding Chapter Award from their national.

Charitable and Community Efforts:

SUNY Potsdam All Greek Council at the Dance-a-thon

• The All Greek Council at SUNY Potsdam held a "Smash and Splash" event and raised money for Helping Hands of Potsdam
• SigEp brothers attended orientation at the Potsdam Humane Society so they can volunteer at the shelter.
• OPiO held a canned food drive
• Sigma Chi held their annual Derby Days event raising money for Children's Miracle Network with Delta Zeta coming in first and Zeta Gamma Sigma ($1,500+ raised) second 
• Sigma Chi brothers participated in wheelchair races at Potsdam hall. They helped raise over $1,500 towards wheelchairs for those in need. 
• DU brothers cleaned up the playground of a local Head Start program 
• Clarkson Greeks participated in Tony Tuesday at Clarkson with many donating their cash prizes to charnity
• The brothers of SigEp met and played basketball with a group of people from the NYSARC, a non-profit organization that supports people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities 
• Arethusa sisters held a "pie a professor" fundraiser to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis.
• SigEp held a 24 hr Bike-a-thon in Cheel Arena to raise money for Shepherds for Lost Sheep, an organization that provides dogs to military veterans. 
• SigEp worked with CUSA & CUB at Clarkson to raise $2,300 for the Children's Miracle Network at Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown with the Raveyard Halloween event
• SUNY Potsdam's All Greek Council held a Dance-a-thon, raising $2,300 for the Potsdam Holiday Fund, article
• SigEp & KDChi held a "House of Horrors" event during Halloween with proceeds going to charity
• Phi Sig & Sig Ep sold baked goods over Clarkson's Parents/Homecoming Weekend to support Children's Miracle Network 
• The brothers of DTT volunteered and helped out at many local businesses for the town's "fright night" in October

Alumni Notes:

• 12 Omega alumni completed the 200-mile Ragnar Adirondaks relay race
• Phi K (Spring '06) alumni Jessica Gingras received the "Rising Star Award" from Vermont Business Magazine.
• An interesting article of a 1950s Clarkson hockey player - one of the first black college hockey players, and a member of Sigma Delta 
• Terry Cook (Omega) and her husband Vince (DK) received an award in recognition for contributions to The Q Center in Syracuse
• Omega and SUNY Potsdam alumni Julianne Noviczski Carnevale (Spring '89) passed away after a long illness

July 2013 Reunions

Over the weekend of July 13th & 14th, both Clarkson and SUNY Potsdam held their annual Alumni Reunions.  Many Greek houses also held reunions at the same time.  Did yours?  If you'd like your photo to be added here please email it to me.

Sigma Delta celebrated 109 years and their almost completed on-campus House at Clarkson.

 
Phi Sig celebrated their 35th anniversary at Clarkson