The Machine - History

History

The Alpha Rho Chapter of Theta Nu Epsilon was founded at the University of Alabama in 1888. For 21 years the chapter operated and its biggest function on campus was an annual promenade.

The Alpha Rho Chapter was illegitimately founded; it was a chapter formed without formal permission of the society. In 1902, it contacted the governing authority of the society, the Alpha Chapter at Wesleyan University, and was accepted as a legitimate chapter. As a legitimate chapter, it was accepted by the administration and university community, and in 1905, the chapter hosted its first annual promenade, which was a successful public event. In 1909, on February 14, The Alpha Rho Chapter created a new society, this one for members of the senior class, called The Skulls. The Skulls replaced the Theta Nu Epsilon chapter. Both the earlier and later organizations were publicly recognized by the university, and appeared each year in the university yearbook.

The Skulls was considered a legitimate student group until 1922. The organization officially ceased to exist at that time.

Esquire magazine devoted its April 1992 cover story to an exposé of the Machine.