A letter to the Highlands community from the Epsilon Chapter of Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity
If you’ve ever walked down Locust Lane and done a double-take at the large, distinctly pink stucco house on the corner of East Fairmount Avenue, you’re not alone. That rosy landmark known as the Pink Elephant has been a fixture of the Highlands neighborhood since 1927, and the men who call it home would love for you to know a little more about who they are.
We’re the Epsilon Chapter of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity at Penn State, and we have a story worth telling.
A Fraternity With Deep Roots, and Good Values From Day
One
Delta Sigma Phi was founded in 1899 at the City College of New York, and from the very start it stood for something different. At a time when most fraternities were exclusively Christian or exclusively Jewish, Delta Sig was founded on the radical-for-its-time idea that men of different faiths could share brotherhood. It was one of the first national fraternities to welcome both Christians and Jews as founding members, a principle of inclusion that still defines who we are today.
Penn State’s chapter has its own remarkable history. In 1905, our forerunner, the Keystone Chapter, the fifth chapter ever established by Delta Sigma Phi, was founded right here in State College. After going dormant for a time, a group of twelve Penn State men reorganized as a local fraternity called Zeta Theta in 1914. They thrived: winning Penn State’s first-ever collegiate intramural championships in 1916 and 1917, earning recognition for strong scholarship, and building a tight brotherhood. When World War I came, nearly every brother answered the call to serve. When the armistice was signed and the brothers returned home, they approached Delta Sigma Phi about rejoining the national organization. On April 20, 1920, the original Keystone Chapter was rechartered as the Epsilon Chapter, the name we proudly carry today.
The Pink Elephant: A Highlands Landmark Turns 100 in
2028
The house itself deserves its own story.
In the early 1920s, the chapter occupied a house on the north side of the 200 block of East Nittany Avenue — where a vacant lot now stands. As membership grew, the brothers set their sights on something bigger and better. In the late 1920s they acquired the southwest corner lot of Locust Lane and East Fairmount Avenue and commissioned a new chapter house. The project was entrusted to architect Frederick C. Disque, who designed the building in the Italian Renaissance style, complete with the pink stucco exterior that would earn it its beloved nickname. Disque also designed several other homes in the Highlands area, leaving a lasting mark on the neighborhood’s architectural character.
The house was completed and occupied in early 1928, and it has been a home to Penn State men ever since.
In December 1955, disaster nearly ended that story. The Sunday morning after the chapter’s ‘Pledge’ Formal, a fire broke out and destroyed a significant portion of the interior. In a remarkable display of community spirit, both Greek and non-Greek organizations stepped in to help. The University provided temporary housing in a recently shuttered dormitory while repairs
were made. By April 1956, the house had reopened, rebuilt even stronger than before. By today’s estimates, those repairs would cost over half a million dollars.
Today the house is a contributing property to the Homes-Foster/Highlands Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The building has three full floors and a basement. The first floor features a soaring two-story clubroom (twenty feet high), a large dining room, a library and study room, and a kitchen. In 1952, a housemother’s living suite was added to the house; live-in housemothers called it home until 1972. That suite is now the Alumni Room, used for meetings and gatherings. Inside you’ll
find original 1928 furnishings that are approaching their 100th birthday, including two sixteen-foot dining tables and matching buffet that have hosted generations of Delta Sig brothers. The second and third floors hold 25 bedrooms with bathroom facilities. At its peak the house was home to 51 brothers; today, with some rooms used as single occupancy, it houses
around 38 men.
In 2028, the chapter will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the house, a milestone we’re already looking forward to marking with our alumni, our neighbors, and the broader State College community. Stay tuned for events and celebrations as that centennial year approaches.
Who We Are Today
The Epsilon Chapter currently has between 60 and 80 brothers, representing a wide range of Penn State programs, including business, engineering, and the liberal arts. Admission to the fraternity requires a first-year GPA of 2.50 or higher and a minimum of 14 Penn State credits. Our recent semester GPA averages have been around 3.20, placing us in the top ten among Penn State’s roughly 36 active fraternities. We take academics seriously, without apology.
Beyond the books, our brothers are active across campus and in the community:
Service & Philanthropy: Delta Sig brothers participate in Penn State’s THON, the student-run dance marathon that raises money for pediatric cancer research. We also run programs focused on interfaith dialogue and character development, including a Bible studies program and a Men to Menches Jewish studies program, a meaningful nod to the interfaith founding spirit of our
national fraternity.
Intramural Athletics: From our earliest days winning collegiate intramural championships in the 1910s, athletic competition has been part of our identity. Today’s brothers compete in intramural sports across multiple disciplines each semester. Our brothers won the most recent intramural basketball league as well.
Social Traditions: Our chapter carries on traditions dating back decades. The Sailors’ Ball, one of Delta Sig’s signature events nationally, was first held at Epsilon in the spring of 1938. We also celebrate Alumni Homecoming, Parents Weekend, and Founder’s Day each year, keeping the ties between our generations strong.
Looking Ahead: For the 2026–2027 academic year, the chapter is focused on continued growth in membership, deepening our community service efforts, and building toward the 2028 centennial celebration of our historic house. If you have ideas for ways we can better connect with the Highlands neighborhood, we genuinely want to hear from you.
A Big Year for Recognition
At the 2025 Greek Columns Award Show, Penn State’s annual ceremony recognizing outstanding Greek life achievements, the Epsilon Chapter had a standout night, bringing home four awards, the most of any IFC chapter:
● Most Improved Chapter
● Advisor of the Year: Christopher Temple
● Standards of Excellence: recognized in seven categories
● Respect & Belonging Impact Award: for our Bible studies and Men to Menches (Jewish
studies) program
We’re proud of this recognition, and even more proud of the work that earned it.
Come Say Hello
The brothers of Delta Sigma Phi want to be good neighbors. If you’ve ever walked past the Pink Elephant and wondered what goes on inside, we’d love to show you. Whether you’re a longtime Highlands resident, a Penn State parent, or someone who’s simply curious about the house on the corner — reach out. We welcome the chance to connect.
You can find us at 508 Locust Lane, State College, PA
The Pink Elephant has been part of this neighborhood for almost a century. We intend to keep it that way, and to keep being the kind of neighbors this community deserves.
Feel free to reach out:
Jackson Dewhurst, Chapter President
(410)-980-1656
The Epsilon Chapter of Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity — Penn State University | 508 Locust Lane, State College, PA | deltasigpsu.org
My name is Jackson Dewhurst, I am a sophomore student at Penn State studying industrial engineering while also pursuing a Smeal business certificate. I was born in Fairfax, Virginia and raised from four in Howard County, Maryland. I am interested in project management and supply chain optimization. I have been very involved in my fraternity, Delta Sigma Phi, since joining in spring 2025. I served on our rush committee every semester I was eligible and as our THON chair for THON 2026. I am currently the chapter president for the 2026 calendar year. I am also heavily involved in THON and Jewish studies through Chabad.