Perhaps most famous of all the chapter's elements is the Red Room. The location of the Red Room has moved through time and many brothers have helped maintain it, most recently a team led by Brother Dan Hower '08. In the 2005 edition of the Arrow, Brother Gene McCarthy '49 recounted its history:
Around 1946 or 1947, Linell Bock ‘46 and I excavated the area underneath the dining room of the chapter house in what would become known as the “Red Room”. The walls were painted red with normal white lighting. Back then, the University prohibited girls from being in the chapter houses. A false wall concealed the room and the lighting was connected to a switch at the front entrance to the house. If and when University officials (campus cops) came to the door, our porter would hit the switch back and forth to flicker the lights to let us know to close the wall and be quiet until they left. You have to realize this was right after WWII and the campus was flooded with returning veterans. There were approximately 14,000 men and 3,500 girls….and we needed to do something like this to get a leg up on the competition. It worked! Later, an addition was added to the Red Room that we called the Zebra Room. I have great memories of Robert Llewellyn '44 entertaining us and our guests in the Red Room with his great sense of humor.
The Omicron Arrow of 1957 described its history in this way, just prior to our mid-century remodeling project
Time changes all things. To The Omicron, time has meant progress—steps toward the number one position on campus. Most noticeable of this progress has been the improvement of the chapter house in these past two years.
There is now a new shower room in the basement. The site of the room, however, is one where progress has overtaken memories. For here once stood the Red Room and its Zebra Room annex.
From 1946 to 1955, the name of Red Room and Psi Upsilon were almost synonymous on campus. Here was the social center of the brothers and in many cases the campus.
During this period there may have been a sorority girl who did not hear of the Red Room, but she who did not was the exception. The fabulous Psi U Red Room was an institution.
Lest the legend of the Red Room be forgotten and so not passed on to succeeding classes, its history is presented here.
It was created by the first class back after World War II. Located to the left of the back stairway, the Red Room's entrance was a huge tin door, welcoming all with a "Greisedick" format.
The room itself was furnished with knotty pine walls and an identifying red ceiling. It was illuminated by four light bulbs, the total strength of which rarely exceeded 60 watts.
Benches were lined against the walls—very low benches designed to prevent injuries to the brothers. Huge Chinese flower bowls were placed throughout as waste receptacles.. The room was completed by its long bar.
Dances were always climaxed by a visit to the Red Room. It also proved to be a favorite gathering spot for Dads on Dad's Day weekend.
One of the walls, however, was merely a partition concealing the door to the exclusive Zebra Room. Smaller than the Red Room, the Zebra Room was trapizoidal in shape with zebra wallpaper and a red ceiling. A red light bulb and candles lighted it. It was also a gathering place of social civility.
Pneumatic drills have erased these two rooms, but their spirit remains. They are now legends and recall fond memories.