The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

BETWEEN THE BRIGGS BUILDING AND THE COMMERCE & FINANCE
BUILDING ON THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT CAMPUS, IS A
TALL ELM KNOWN AS "THE THETA PHI TREE." DURING THE
LAST WEEK OF THE PLEDGING PERIOD OF THETA PHI ALPHA
SORORITY, THE PLEDGES STAND BEANEATH THIS TREE WITH
LARGE BLUE BOWS IN THEIR HAIR AND SING SONGS ABOUT THE
SORORITY WHICH THEY HAVE WRITTEN. THIS CUSTOM HAS
PREVAILED SINCE THE CHAPTER WAS FOUNDED IN 1951.
THIS TRADITION FIRST BECAME KNOWN TO ME WHEN A FRIEND
PLEDGED THETA PHI ALPHA AND HAD TO SING BENEATH THE
TREE. LATER, I MYSELF PLEDGED AND ALSO CARRIED OUT
THIS CUSTOM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT