Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity

Overview

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ) is a North American Greek-letter social college fraternity. Founded on March 9, 1856, at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, it remains one of the oldest and largest fraternities in the United States. Sigma Alpha Epsilon is the only national fraternity founded in the Antebellum South.

Founding and Early History

The fraternity was established by eight founders: Noble Leslie DeVotie, Nathan Elams Cockrell, Samuel Marion Dennis, John Barratt Rudulph, Abner Edwin Patton, Wade Hampton Foster, Thomas Chappell Cook, and John Webb Kerr. DeVotie led the group, writing the ritual, creating the grip, and choosing the name. Rudulph designed the fraternity badge. None of the founders were members of other fraternities, although DeVotie had been invited to join all other fraternities at the University of Alabama.

By the end of 1857, Sigma Alpha Epsilon had expanded to seven chapters. Its first national convention took place in the summer of 1858 at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, with four of its eight chapters in attendance. By the early 1860s, SAE had grown to fifteen chapters.

Civil War and Reconstruction

During the Civil War, most members fought for the Confederacy, with a significant number losing their lives. The war nearly devastated the fraternity, leaving only one chapter active by its end. However, in 1865, the establishment of the chapter at the University of Georgia marked the beginning of SAE's revival. The fraternity began to expand again, with the first post-war convention occurring in 1867 at Nashville, Tennessee.

Expansion and Growth

In the late 19th century, Sigma Alpha Epsilon experienced rapid growth under the leadership of Harry Bunting and his brother George. They promoted better chapter standards, re-established old chapters in the South, and established new ones in the North and West. Their efforts led to the founding of nearly fifty new chapters. William Collin "Billy" Levere, initiated at Northwestern University in 1894, continued this momentum, bringing the fraternity to maturity over the next three decades.

Modern Developments

Sigma Alpha Epsilon made notable changes in recent years. In 2014, it became the first fraternity to eliminate pledging, a tradition associated with hazing incidents. Today, SAE is committed to promoting high standards of friendship, scholarship, and service. Its chapters are active in philanthropy, and the fraternity emphasizes leadership development through programs like its Leadership School, first held in 1935.

Symbols and Structure

Sigma Alpha Epsilon's colors are royal purple and old gold, with the lion as its symbol and the violet as its flower. The Roman divinity associated with the fraternity is Minerva. It has chapters and colonies in all fifty U.S. states and provinces in Canada.

Levere Memorial Temple

The fraternity's headquarters is housed in the Levere Memorial Temple, a Gothic structure built between 1929 and 1930. The building serves as a symbol of fraternity history and houses a museum dedicated to fraternity artifacts.

Impact and Mission

Today, Sigma Alpha Epsilon has initiated more than 362,500 members, making it one of the largest North American fraternities. Its mission emphasizes the development of character and leadership, promoting lifelong brotherhood among its members. Despite challenges faced by the fraternity, it continues to foster community and personal growth on college campuses across the United States.