Epsilon Rho Chapter
Todd Shelton | 1/18/2005 Purdue UniversityOn July 2, 1862, President Lincoln signed the Morrill Act, by which the federal government offered to turn over public lands to any state that agreed to use the proceeds from their sale to maintain a college for the purpose of teaching agriculture and the “mechanic arts.” In 1865, the Indiana General Assembly voted to participate in this plan and took steps to establish such an institution.
The Indiana General Assembly decided on May 6, 1869, to locate the institution near Lafayette and accepted $150,000 from John Purdue, $50,000 from Tippecanoe County, and 100 acres of land from local residents. Legislators established the institution and named it Purdue University, after benefactor John Purdue.
On September 16, 1874, classes began with six instructors, 39 students and a mission to provide agriculture and mechanic arts education.
Boilermakers
On October 26, 1891, the Purdue football team was, for the first time, called “Boiler Makers” by a Crawfordsville reporter who wrote about Purdue’s 44-0 trouncing of Wabash College. Soon after, Lafayette newspapers picked up the name, and in October 1892 The Purdue Exponent gave it the stamp of approval. In the early days of Purdue football, the team was called other names as well, including “haymakers,” “railsplitters,” “sluggers,” and “cornfield sailors.”
The fifth version of the Boilermaker Special, Purdue’s official mascot that resembles a train locomotive, was dedicated September 25, 1993. The Boilermaker Special V replaced the Boilermaker Special III. A smaller version of the mascot, the Boilermaker Special IV or X-tra Special as it is nicknamed, also makes appearances at special events.
Purdue Pete was created in 1940 when “Red” Samuels and “Doc” Eppell, founders of University Book Store, asked Art Evans to develop an advertising logo for the store. Like magic, this one-dimensional form evolved into a human shape, and in 1956 Purdue Pete started his remarkable life as entertainer and energizer of Boilermaker athletics.
Quick Facts:
Re-chartering Chapter Officers:
- Number I: Scott Clifford
-
Number II: Steve Pallotto
-
Number III: Jesse Baron
-
Number IV: Kellen Van Hulle
-
Number V: Ian Davis
-
Number VI: Yami Yamazaki
-
Number VII: Alan MacDonald
-
Number VIII: James Hemdal
-
Number IX: Robert Ribeiro
Re-chartering Date: October 2, 2004
Original Chartering: April 11, 1986
Chapter Address:
Kappa Alpha Order
1001 Stewart Center
Box 715
West Lafayette, IN 47907
|
