Gene Mitchell Gray was the first African American student who enrolled at UT as a result of a suit filed in 1951 in federal district court. Judge Robert L. Taylor ruled on the suit (in favor of the applicants for admission), but Judge Taylor did not put down an order to allow the plaintiffs to … Continued

The annual Greek Awards Banquet was begun in 1976. Chapters, individual fraternity and sorority members, and faculty receive awards for their accomplishments, service to the university, and community and philanthropic efforts during the past year.

In 1973 Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity presented to the public The Greek Belles, a pictorial directory of sorority pledge classes.

The first annual Greek Day was held in spring 1974 and was organized by Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity. Activities included beer drinking, rolling the keg, and tossing the keg contests.

Following a series of incidents on campus involving hazing and alcohol consumption by fraternities (the most serious of which resulted in a student being treated at UT for severe alcohol poisoning, which some members of the fraternity surmised was due to ingestion via an alcohol enema), Chancellor Cheek appointed a 24-member task force. It was … Continued

In 1940 most of the 14 UT fraternities joined in Greek Week in the spring quarter. The purpose of the new week was to extend the pledge experience to encompass aspects of university citizenship and an appreciation for the general fraternity system. In 1957 the Interfraternity Council initiated Greek Week for the purpose of promoting … Continued

On May 18, 2000, UT purchased 375 blocks of “green power” through KUB’s environmentally friendly utility program. Green power is produced through renewable resources, wind power, solar power, and landfill gas, and KUB estimated that purchasing one block of green power (150 kilowatt hours) was the equivalent of saving 3,600 pounds of coal from burning … Continued

Prior to 1974 UT vehicles had unique institutional state license plates, which were pale blue. In 1974 all vehicles, owned by the state or one of its agencies, were required to move to standard, dark green license plates issued by the director of transportation in Nashville.

Dr. Greene joined the faculty of the university’s Political Science Department in 1937 while serving as a research associate at TVA. He became department head in 1946 and held that position until 1971. He was also director of the Bureau of Public Administration from 1945 to 1971. He retired in 1975. Greene was a specialist … Continued

A university greenhouse (hothouse), measuring 20 feet by 13 feet, was built in 1880 at a cost of about $1,550. It was located on the Hill behind the Agricultural Building (to the south of the current site of the Science & Engineering Building). The location was part of the 1900 site of Barbara Blount Hall … Continued