history and origins

[Consul_2k]

as a Sigma chi we were founded at Miami in 1855 after splitting from the DKEs, jsut wondering if anyother were founded after splitting ways......I heard FIJI and SAE were the same way......interested in short explanations thanks

[goldenheart]

My fraternity (Sigma Phi Epsilon) was not founded by a split from another fraternity, but was founded because the Founders were refused a charter from Chi Phi Fraternity (on the basis that their college was too small for a chapter). Other interesting SigEp facts: our founders called Matthew 22:37-40 "the Rock" upon which our fraternity was built because Founder Jenkens claimed that, while he was contemplating the principles on which their new fraternity would be founded, an Angel of God appeared to him and pointed out that passage; 7 of our 12 Founders eventually became Baptist ministers; and you, as a Sigma Chi, might find it interesting that our orginal name was, as well, Sigma Phi.

[unregistered2]

Ever hear about what happened on Howard University's campus during the year 1912-1913?.......

[LeslieAGD]

Phi Sigma Epsilon was the original fraternity before it split into Phi Sigma Kappa and Phi Sigma Phi.

[ilovemyglo]

I always heard that Phi Delta Theta was begun after a pledge class of Beta Theta Pi was black balled. That is what they say at UL campus anyway.

[Tom Earp]

I am sure there is something in all of the backgrounds of all Greek Orgs. I was balled out of a National Fraternity started my own and have been a lXA since 1966
Theta Kappa Nu merged into LXA and made us even stronger. I knew at one time an original TKN and he was a real gentleman in more ways than just being nice. It was a great addition for LXA!

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Tom Earp LX Z#1
Pittsburg State U. (Kansas)

[SAEalumnus]

SAE actually was never part of any other organization. When we were founded on March 9, 1856 at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, there were three other fraternities on campus at the time: Delta Kappa Epsilon, Alpha Delta Phi and Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji). All eight of our Founders received bids from one or more of those chapters and our chief Founder, Noble Leslie DeVotie, received bids from all three. The Founders wanted from the beginning to design their own fraternity and the intention was always to be national although we were restricted originally to the South. After the Civil War only one chapter of SAE was still active (Washington City Rho in Wash., DC). During the effort to rebuild, each of Delta Tau Delta, Beta Theta Pi and Alpha Tau Omega attempted to get SAE to merge with them and all three were refused. So the history of Sigma Alpha Epsilon is actually quite the opposite of what you (Consul_2k) heard. We were founded not through a split from any other organization, but through the opposition of joining other organizations and the intention to be original from the start.

[33girl]

Originally posted by LeslieAGD:
Phi Sigma Epsilon was the original fraternity before it split into Phi Sigma Kappa and Phi Sigma Phi.

Actually, to pick a small nit...

In 1985 Phi Sigma Kappa and Phi Sigma Epsilon merged, keeping the PSK name. PSK had 77 chapters and PSE 35 at the time. The PSE chapters who were against the merger banded together and became Phi Sigma Phi. And some of the PSE chapters just chose to stay out of the whole thing and stay local at their campuses. (they usually went by "Phi Sigma")

Here's a link that tells about the merger:
http://omahafreenet.org/phisig/psehist/hist8.htm

[naraht]

The reference to Howard in 1912-1913 is a reference to the creation of Delta Sigma Theta which was definately a split from Alpha Kappa Alpha where the undergraduates wanted to take the Sorority one way and the Alumni did not.

My fraternity doesn't quite fit into these because since our founders were active members of social greeks who formed Alpha Phi Omega while remaining active in their Social Fraternities. Alpha Phi Omega is considered a "recognition" greek by Bairds which is basically everything that isn't social, professional or honorary. Of our 14 founders, 8 were SAE brothers, 5 were brothers from a local called Krescents and one was a GDI. Our primary founder remained active as an SAE alumnus until his death, so I have every reason to believe that SAE had no problem with his creation!



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Naraht
Alpha Phi Omega Alumni Volunteer