What a weekend! What a house! Psi earned this year's Lion Trophy, and there's little wonder why. The alumni support, the relationship with the university, and the actives and chapter operation all come together in one solid organization of gentlemen, scholars and jolly good fellows; but maybe it's the moms, wives, housemother and her staff that handle the details and make Psi the winner it is -- right down to the red and white M&Ms with "Roll Tide" on one side and "DKE" on the other (photo at left).

It was a three-fer weekend for Psi. It was Homecoming, it was dedicating its new $6.5 million chapter house, and it was receiving the Lion Trophy...again. During the weekend, the chapter hosted its annual Psi Day Tea on the Friday before Homecoming. More than 100 people attended the afternoon event that saw the Lion Trophy front and center in the foyer, on a pedestal made just for it. Friday night, the chapter hosted a band and a party in its "swamp," the basement level room with the fraternity's letters painted largely on the floor in front of a permanent stage used by this band and clearly many others to come. The large room, with large-screen TV and comfortable furniture is anything but a swamp.

Saturday morning, the ribbon that was later to be cut was tied across the front porch, and alumni and parents arrived to watch the Homecoming parade that marched down the street that runs between the DKE House and Bryant-Denny Stadium, the home of University of Alabama football since 1929 -- a mere pup compared to the chapter, which was chartered in 1847, just three years after DKE was founded at Yale. The parade was followed by a breakfast at the house, and more then 250 people enjoyed wonderful southern cooking prepared by the housemother's staff. The brothers then headed to the chapter room for a chapter meeting. Alex Fleming '08, Brother Beta, gave a state of the chapter update, the progress of the fundraising campaign to pay off the house was outlined and several brothers made contributions then and later to help that effort, the Lion Trophy was officially presented to Psi -- for the eighth time in the Trophy's 52-year history of being presented. Psi has earned the Trophy more than any other chapter of DKE. Beta / North Carolina has earned the Trophy five times, and Beta Phi / Rochester has earned it three times. No other chapter has earned it more than twice.

A reception followed on the main level of the house and on its extensive back patio, where a tent and cash bar were set up. University President Robert Witt visited the chapter house to take part in the ribbon cutting, as did†Senior Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Kathleen Cramer and Dean of Students Tim Hebson. The Lion Trophy, per DKE tradition, was filled and passed around. Many in the crowd, including the Brother Beta's grandmother, enjoyed a drink from the loving cup that was originally a gift from the Fraternity to Edward G. Bartlett '46, Phi / Yale, the last living founder of DKE. It was presented to him in 1894, upon the 50th anniversary of the founding of DKE; and upon his passing his family gave it to the Fraternity. Since 1955, it has been presented as the top award to the Fraternity's best chapter as defined by the qualifications for the honor.†

After the ribbon cutting and the passing around of the Trophy, it was off to the game, just across the street, where the Crimson Tide savored a 30-24 win over Houston. Another party was hosted at the house Saturday night, closing a memorable weekend at Psi.

The competition for the 2008 Lion Trophy is now on. Details are here.