Barnard, a women’s college established in 1889 when the doors of nearby Columbia University were closed to women, now enjoyed a more equal relationship with its Ivy League neighbor, and, since 1891, boasted four sororities. For several years, the New York City Alumnae chapter had kept a close eye on the school, “hoping for the right girls, the right time and the right circumstance to bring about the consummation.” The initiation took place on Saturday, May 9, 1903, at the home of Delta chapter sister Marion Reigel.
In the Spring of 1903 a great tradition was born at Barnard College: “The Greek Games,” pitting first- and second-year students against each other in a set of athletic competitions harkening back to the original Olympics. Such a campus-wide athletic competition signaled a growing trend on most college campuses: an ever-widening pool of activities, sports, clubs, and even designed to express “college spirit.” Indeed, as universities and colleges expanded, the culture of college itself became more insulated and more time-consuming for some collegians.
Jessie Addoms – International Executive Board
