How Exactly Did “Greek Life” Start?
The American college fraternities are a relativity modern institution. They formed in the 1700s when universities and colleges reflected their founders’ religious roots, many were thoroughly protestant and emphasize religious instruction. Within these institutions “Literary Societies” formed as a means of student-to-student communication and interaction beyond the walls of the college and the control of the faculty. These Literary Societies are the root of the modern college fraternity.
In 1776, John Heath, a student studying Greek at The College of William & Mary, found himself rejected by the two Latin secret societies on campus. Determined to create his own society, Heath, along with a few friends, established the first collegiate Greek-letter society, Phi Beta Kappa . As a Greek scholar, Heath chose Greek letters to honor the ancient tradition of scholarship, philosophy, and leadership, using them as symbols to represent the values and principles of his new society. The society’s motto, Philosophia Bios Kybernethes—translated as "Philosophy [is the] guide to life"—uses the Greek letters Phi, Beta, and Kappa, each representing the first letter of the words in the motto.