Deciding that a submarine would be the best means of delivering his mines in warfare, he built an eight-foot-long wooden submersible that was christened the Turtle for its shape. Large enough to accommodate one operator, the submarine was entirely hand-powered. Lead ballast kept the craft balanced.
Today, the Massive Twelfth District encompasses ten (10) states, four (4) time zones, and one thousand financial members. Geographically, the 12th District covers the largest contiguous landmass of any District under the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. umbrella, occupying approximately 1.6 million square miles. In recent years, the 12th District has enjoyed a rich history. Brother Dr. L. Benjamin Livingston, Pi Rho Chapter (San Bernardino, CA), was elected as Omega Psi Phiâs 1st Vice Grand Basileus in 1979. Subsequently, in 1982, Brother Livingston was elected 32nd Grand Basileus. He is the only Grand Basileus elected from the District.
On March 15, 1921, the first NPHC fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, was founded at Penn State. Omega Psi Phi operated a chapter home on Allen Street and was the lone NPHC fraternity until the late 1950's.There was rapid expansion of NPHC fraternities and sororities during the 1980's and 90's.n 1926, the first women's sorority arrived on campus in the form of Chi Omega sorority. Other sororities started to spring up on campus with Pi Beta Phi, Phi Mu, and Kappa Alpha Theta joining Chi Omega. Sororities occupied the cottages still found on campus to this day.