Xenos Young Clark
The Morrill Act Senator Justin Smith Morrill (R-VT) was a United States Senator from Vermont. With the Land Grant Act of 1862, Morrill sought to foster the growth of engineering, agricultural, and military science. Prior to the passage of the Act, American colleges offered a fixed curriculum and were the domain of the American elite. The Act opened higher education to the sons of poor and under-educated immigrants. A prime example is Founder Henry Hague. At the age of 10, Brother Hague immigrated with his family from Ashton-under-Lyne, England to New Hampshire. His father was a cotton spinner in England, a trade he continued in America. At best, wages for cotton spinners in the old and new worlds were meager. Brother Hague was not afforded a legacy; he worked many jobs to save for his tuition prior to entering MAC in 1871. The positive effect of The Morrill Act is summed up by the following from the Ploughman article, “Many of these young men entered college relying on their own exertions to get an education. They could not have attended any more expensive college, nor could they have gone through here without
Jabez William Clay
facilities afforded by the farm for earning something as they went along. During their four-year course, the members of the class have earned $10,488 or an average of $582.67 since entering college.” In terms of 2021 dollars, the students collectively earned more than $260,000 or an average of $14,700. Our Founders and early initiates, as the article demonstrates, were high achievers. They were leaders of their class and men. Though men of humble beginnings, they were able through the Morrill Act to obtain a college education, graduate, and go on to lead successful lives, and excel in diverse careers. In founding Phi Sigma Kappa, Brothers Barrett, Brooks, Campbell, Clark, Clay, and Hague sought men like themselves, high achievers, and through instilling in them the importance of Brotherhood, Scholarship, and Character made them better. The foundation laid by our Founders is strong. The evidence of its strength is clear. Phi Sigma Kappa is on the eve of celebrating our sesquicentennial, 150th anniversary.
THE SIGNET
Henry Hague
SAMPLE LISTING OF LAND GRANT COLLEGES WITH PHI SIG CHAPTERS Maryland (Eta) Penn State (Kappa) Cal/Berkley (Omega) Minnesota (Beta Deuteron) Iowa State (Gamma Deuteron) Tennessee (Xi Deuteron) Ohio State (Pi Deuteron) Kentucky (Phi Deuteron) Washington State (Chi Deuteron) Oregon (Psi Deuteron) Purdue (Delta Triton) Connecticut (Iota Triton) Rhode Island (Lambda Triton) Idaho (Phi Triton) Michigan State (Xi Tetarton) Utah (Gamma Pentaton) Arizona (Phi Pentaton) Clemson (Upsilon Septaton) Auburn (Omega Septaton) Texas A&M (provisional chapter)
SPRING 2022
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