1960 - 1986

 

The sixties were known for student protests and campus riots, yet at Gustavus, those things were never much of a problem. The eppies continued to bring excitement to the campus with many programs and parties. In 1962, they sponsored a concert by the Four Freshman. In 1963, it was a talk by Dr. Carl Young-Quist, and in 1965, the Johnny Mathis show was an Eppie sponsored activity on campus.

In 1973, the Theta Xi Gamma Society became the sister sorority to the Eppies. For many years prior to this time the Eppies had been sponsored with the Iota Beta Sorority, but in 1969, the fraternity had sold the IBs for a keg of beer and had since gone without a sister sorority

 

When the Eppies and Thetas became associated with each other, the fraternity became involved with in many of the activities of the Theta's. There were mutual parties together and some of the initiation nights were combined. It was also at this time that the Theta-Eppie Shrine Circus trip was started. This is an annual trip to the Shrine Circus in the Twin Cities where the Eppies and Thetas take 4th and 5th grade students from the St. Peter area to see the circus.

 

In 1978, the Epsilon Pi Alpha fraternity celebrated its 50th anniversary. A banquet was held in Mankato with 150 alumni and their guests enjoying a fun evening with the present active members. Fifty years of history and memories were remembered with everyone having a good time.

 

The 80's were a fairly quiet time for the Eppies, with the changes in the fraternity system instigated in 1979. The fraternity kept a fairly low profile while continuing traditions like the barn bust, the canoe trip down the St. Croix River, and the other events and activities that they have enjoyed for years.