Every RPI student and alum has invariably heard the term ‘Tute Screw; often used metaphorically and also embodied as an actual object. No one knows who coined the term or how long it has been in use, but the object itself has a documented origin. In the Fall of 1949, Sigma Phi Epsilon awarded the first ‘Tute Screw in a ceremony on the ‘87 Field. Three hooded fraternity brothers known as “The Order of the Royal Screw” presented the “trophy” to the freshmen class. The freshmen were so awarded as losers of the Grease Rush. The screw was then placed on 
display at the Sigma Phi Epsilon house.
Have you ever seen this object? Do you think Sigma Phi Epsilon still has it?
Note: A different ‘Tute Screw trophy has been awarded to the Meanest Man on Campus in recent years.
This is very interesting.
I have heard of the ‘tute screw’ which is described as a screw which goes in no matter which way you turn it. There is a legend that a student at RPI was given an assignment to make such a screw, and the resulting product was called the “tute screw”.
According the linked article, that student was Arnold Zimmer, Class of 1950.
It was in the SigEp Commons Room in 1975, the last time I saw it
I saw such a finely fashioned item held at one of our soph0more tests (Physics?) about 1972-3, and was amazed that even though we all had used the term, that the campus actually had a tangible item you could hold…
My organic chem prof Dr. Herbranson I think won the meanest man on campus, and I can tell you I thought he was.
I walked into the canonical F test we would all take simultaneously, and blasted through to try to get as much partial credit as possible, as this was my new strategy to attempt to do well on the test, just get something down and move on. Well 5-10 minutes into the test, he stops us, says he received a bomb threat at half-way through class, and we needed to turn in papers now so we had time to spare. I got partial credit on all the items I attempted, a clear D, but in 10 minutes I had answered 30-40% of the test. My friend Gary, answered one question, 7 points out of 7, so he received 100% and an A.
When I protested, Dr. H said how did he not know that I had called in the threat, and I would work hard to get the most points?
Mean, mean, mean sucker… I never would call in such a thing, but I was penalized as if I had. Tute Screw!
Thanx for posting this!
It is definitely still floating around. I saw it in 1999.
It definitely was around from 79-83. I saw it numerous times at Sig Ep. Was not a brother there, but had friends there and they proudly displayed it and trotted it out for special events. I recall a display case as well.