The Kappa Nu fraternity was founded in 1912 as an independent local organization on the Montana State College (now Montana State University) campus. The local organization was not affiliated with the national Kappa Nu fraternity, founded in 1911 in New York State. Kappa Nu was part of the first group of Greek letter organizations on the MSC campus, along with Delta Chi, founded in 1911. As a reaction to the building of a women's dormitory on campus, male students turned to the fraternity structure to create male-centered social spaces. Between 1913 and 1916, faculty backlash over exclusivity reduced fraternities on campus to club status. This led Kappa Nu to change its name to the "K.N. Club." This ruling was overturned in 1916 by the establishment of the chancellor system in the Montana University System. The University of Montana's decision to permit fraternities on its Missoula campus prompted administrators to allow fraternities back on campus at MSC. Throughout its active period, Kappa Nu hosted social events and dinners at locations around Bozeman, including their house and the Elks Lodge. In 1918, Kappa Nu petitioned the national Sigma Alpha Epsilon organization to gain national affiliation. Sigma Alpha Epsilon recognized the fraternity as an official chapter on October 29, 1919. From then on, Sigma Alpha Epsilon absorbed all facets of the Kappa Nu fraternity into its new chapter.