Greek life at the University of Georgia

Last updated
Greek Life Office
Ugaarch.svg
TypeFraternities
Sororities
Headquarters Athens, Georgia
Location
Associate Dean
Claudia Shamp
Website Official site

Greek life at the University of Georgia comprises more than three dozen active chapters of social fraternities and sororities. While most of the groups are chapters of national organizations, including members of the North American Interfraternity Conference, National Panhellenic Conference and National Pan-Hellenic Council, independent groups and those with other affiliations also exist. The Greek Life Office was located in Memorial Hall for many years but moved to the Tate Student Center in late 2008 as a result of the expansion to the Tate Center.

Contents

According to the 2017 UGA Factbook, students with Greek affiliation made up 26 percent (7,591 students) of the undergraduate student body as of Fall 2017, including 21 percent (2,587) of the males and 31 percent (5,004) of the females. [1] Perhaps the most prominent features of Greek life at the University are the large, mostly Greek Revival and Victorian, mansions maintained by the national fraternities and sororities as chapter houses and lodges lining Milledge Avenue and South Lumpkin Street and the ubiquitous t-shirts worn by students on campus commemorating Greek social events.

History

A historic picture of Phi Kappa Hall PhiKappaHallSide.jpg
A historic picture of Phi Kappa Hall

While the first collegiate fraternities were founded in the early 19th century, Greek letter fraternities did not find their way to the University of Georgia until after the American Civil War (the Mystical Seven Secret Society was founded at UGA in 1846, but it was Hebrew in nomenclature, not Greek). This was due, in large part, to the existence of the long-established literary societies, Demosthenian and Phi Kappa which served many of the social needs of the early student body. The first Greek letter fraternity to charter at the university was Sigma Alpha Epsilon in 1865. By the 1870s, a number of fraternities existed on campus, presenting a challenge to Demosthenian and Phi Kappa. The trustees of the university, in a move common during that time, outlawed the groups in favor of the literary societies. While some continued sub rosa , many died out. In 1878, Patrick Hues Mell was asked to become chancellor of the university, and did so only on the condition that the fraternities be allowed back on campus. The modern Greek system at the university then began to take shape, and eight groups were represented by the end of Chancellor Mell's tenure. Mell himself was said to have accepted honorary membership in Sigma Alpha Epsilon. [2] [3]

Since then, women's fraternities—also known as sororities—have joined the system, as well as numerous groups focused on particular ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The first sorority to charter at the school was Phi Mu in 1921. The University of Georgia was home to the first chapter of the Alpha Sigma Rho, the first Asian-interest sorority. The second chapter of Alpha Sigma Rho was established at nearby rival, Georgia Tech. [4]

Demosthenian Hall at the University of Georgia DemosthenianHallUGA.jpg
Demosthenian Hall at the University of Georgia

Many leaders in the state of Georgia and the United States have had their roots in the University of Georgia's Greek system, and many campus leaders also emerge from the Greek houses.[ citation needed ] The overall grade point average of Greek undergraduate students is consistently higher than the campus as a whole. Approximately 84% of Greek women earned a GPA of over a 3.0. [5]

Housing

Perhaps the most prominent features of Greek life at the University of Georgia are the large, mostly Greek Revival and Victorian, mansions maintained by the national fraternities and sororities as chapter houses and lodges lining Milledge Avenue and South Lumpkin Street. Some members of the community have raised concerns about Greek houses, particularly fraternity houses which often fall into disrepair, becoming a bad influence on neighborhoods. The latter sentiments resulted in a 2006 moratorium passed by the Athens-Clarke County government that prevented new construction of fraternity and sorority houses in areas zoned for multi-family residences and commercial businesses until August 2006. [6] [7] Now all new Greek housing built in those zones require special approval. [8]

In 2005 the University announced that five of the fraternities on Lumpkin Street would need to be relocated by June 2008. The school plans to build academic buildings on the house sites, which the University owns and the fraternities lease. UGA offered to relocate the Lumpkin fraternities and two others to River Road, located on east campus. Kappa Alpha, Chi Phi, and Alpha Tau Omega did not take up the offer and have decided to move off campus. In October 2008, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Tau Epsilon Phi and Sigma Nu broke ground for the new Greek Park located on River Road. The four new houses were complete August 2009 for fall rush. Sigma Chi, having signed a renewable 40-year land lease with the University in 1996, [9] continued to maintain their house next to the Zell B. Miller Learning Center. However, in fall of 2012, Sigma Chi's housing lease was up for negotiation with UGA administration. The fraternity's property was to be relocated off-campus to accommodate new academic buildings for the Terry College of Business. [10] Construction of the new Business Learning Center began its planning phase in early 2013.

Government

Fraternities and sororities have formed governing councils which are advised by the Office of Greek Life. The Interfraternity Council or IFC, which governs fraternities, was originally known as the Panhellenic Council. It changed its names in the 1940s to distinguish it from the governing council for the sororities, which is also called the Panhellenic Council. Several former IFC presidents have gone on to achieve political prominence, including Governor and United States Senator Herman Talmadge, Governor Ernest Vandiver, Governor Ellis Arnall and State Senator David Shafer.

A number of University of Georgia organizations began as IFC projects. The Pandora yearbook was first published by the IFC. Homecoming was created by the IFC. The Miss UGA Scholarship Pageant and Miss Georgia Football Pageant were both sponsored by the IFC. The IFC also operates the IFC Scholarship Fund, which was created in the 1940s from war bonds purchased by the fraternity chapters.

Honorary organizations and secret societies

The university is home to a chapter of the Order of Omega, an honor society which selects the top 3% of Greek students for membership. [11] A group unique to University of Georgia is the men's secret society known as the Order of the Greek Horsemen which annually inducts five fraternity men, all leaders of the Greek system. Its purpose and function remains a closely guarded secret, and those who keep it have shown themselves willing to go to extraordinary lengths to do so.

The Panhellenic sororities also have secret societies known as Trust of the Pearl, which inducts five accomplished sorority women each spring. It has been said, by those who are in the know, that members of the Pearl often wear a single strand of pearls and red (or very rarely, dark pink) g-strings when they gather in public. Another secret society within the Panhellenic sororities at the university is the Palladia Secret Society. Twelve women are invited to join the Palladia. A lesser known secret society at the University of Georgia is Silver Rose Society. It is said to have started in 1983. [12] the Mystical Seven Secret Society was founded at UGA in 1846.

The origin of secret societies at the University of Georgia are filled with mystery. The first known reference to secret societies at the University of Georgia was somewhere between 1866 and 1871. It was known that secret societies existed before the Civil War, but it isn't clear if the societies existed previously. Urban legends have it that secret societies at the university stem far before the 1860s. The university was established in 1785. Many point to the university's founder, Abraham Baldwin, for the origin of societies. Baldwin was an alumnus of Yale University, home to one of the most well-recognized secret society in the nation, Skull and Bones and its brother organization at UGA, the Gridiron Secret Society. [13]

List of chapters

Sororities

The following groups are considered to be a part of the University of Georgia's Greek Life. They are listed in order of their chapter's founding at the University of Georgia.

OrganizationNicknameLocal founding date
Phi Mu 1921
Chi Omega Chi O1922
Alpha Gamma Delta Alpha Gam1923
Kappa Delta KD1924
Sigma Delta Tau Sig Delt (or SDT)1924–1929, 1945–present
Alpha Delta Pi ADPi1933
Delta Delta Delta Tri Delt1934
Alpha Omicron Pi AOPi1935
Delta Phi Epsilon DPhiE1935–2007, 2015–present
Kappa Alpha Theta Theta1937
Alpha Chi Omega AChiO (or Alpha Chi)1938
Pi Beta Phi Pi Phi1939
Kappa Kappa Gamma Kappa1948
Zeta Tau Alpha Zeta1949
Delta Zeta DZ1961–1971, 1987–present
Sigma Kappa Sig Kap1964
Delta Gamma DG1968
Gamma Phi Beta Gamma Phi1983
Alpha Phi APhi2017

Fraternities

The following groups are members of the Interfraternity Council (IFC). They are listed in order of their chapter's founding at the University of Georgia.

OrganizationNicknameLocal founding date
Sigma Alpha Epsilon SAE1865
Chi Phi 1867
Kappa Alpha Order KA1868
Phi Gamma Delta FIJI1871
Phi Delta Theta Phi Delt1871
Sigma Chi Sigmachi1872
Sigma Nu SNu1873
Alpha Tau Omega ATO1878
Delta Tau Delta Delt1882
Chi Psi 1890
Kappa Sigma Kappa Sig1901
Zeta Beta Tau ZBT1905 (as Phi Epsilon Pi)
Pi Kappa Alpha Pike1908
Lambda Chi Alpha Lambda Chi1915
Pi Kappa Phi Pi Kapp1915
Tau Epsilon Phi Tep1918
Alpha Epsilon Pi AEPi1926
Alpha Gamma Rho AGR1927
Sigma Pi 1948
Theta Chi 1948
Phi Kappa Tau Phi Tau1949
Sigma Phi Epsilon Sig Ep1963
Phi Kappa Theta Phi Kapp1965
Tau Kappa Epsilon Teke1972
Phi Kappa Psi Phi Psi1976
Beta Theta Pi Beta1984
Delta Sigma Phi Delta Sig2003
Beta Upsilon Chi BYX2005

Historically black sororities and fraternities

The following groups are members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). The University of Georgia has active chapters of 8 of the 9 historically black Greek letter organizations in NPHC. None have traditional Greek mansions or houses in Athens. [14] [15]

Fraternities

Sororities

Other fraternities and sororities

The following groups are members of the Multicultural Greek Council. None have traditional Greek mansions or houses in Athens.

Delta Phi Lambda and Lambda Phi Epsilon, along with Sigma Beta Rho, went on to establish the Multicultural Greek Council at the University of Georgia. Currently eight other national organizations have joined the Multicultural Greek Council and have been servicing the University community through various events and community service. The Multicultural Greek Council is composed of Delta Phi Lambda, Lambda Phil Epsilon, Sigma Beta Rho, Lambda Theta Alpha, Lambda Sigma Upsilon, Sigma Sigma Rho, Lambda Theta Phi, Gamma Eta, Delta Phi Omega, Delta Epsilon Psi, Alpha Sigma Rho, and Xi Kappa.

Christian Greek-letter social organizations include Beta Upsilon Chi fraternity and Sigma Alpha Omega sorority.

Xi Delta is an independent local social sorority and is not associated with any specific culture or heritage.

Zeta Beta Tau, a chapter of Phi Epsilon Pi from 1905 until its merger into ZBT in 1970, previously closed in 2004, was re-established and recognized as a colony by IFC in 2010.

Greek-letter service organizations include Gamma Sigma Sigma sorority and Alpha Phi Omega co-ed fraternity. UGA is also home to a chapter of Phi Sigma Pi honor fraternity.

Co-ed business fraternities on campus include Delta Sigma Pi and Alpha Kappa Psi. With its historic house at 545 S. Milledge Ave., the Alpha Epsilon chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi is one of only 10 housed AKPsi chapters nationwide. [16] [ circular reference ]

The Alpha Tau chapter of Gamma Phi Delta sorority, chartered at the University of Georgia in 2009, is a sorority for business and professional women. Gamma Phi Delta is open to all majors.

The UGA School of Music accommodates two professional musical organizations, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity and Sigma Alpha Iota sorority. Kappa Kappa Psi, national co-ed band service fraternity, installed a chapter in 1999.

In 2000, UGA's chapter of Sigma Alpha, the professional agricultural sorority, was chartered. As of 2015 there are approximately 90 members currently enrolled at UGA. It is considered one of the premier College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences organizations.

Inactive organizations

Notable alumni

Business

Education

Entertainment

Government

Journalism

Military

Sports

Related Research Articles

Dartmouth College Greek organizations

Dartmouth College is host to many Greek organizations, and a significant percentage of the undergraduate student body is active in Greek life. In 2005, the school stated that 1,785 students were members of a fraternity, sorority, or coeducational Greek house, comprising about 43 percent of all students, or about 60 percent of the eligible student body. Greek organizations at Dartmouth provide both social and residential opportunities for students, and are the only single-sex residential option on campus. Greek organizations at Dartmouth do not provide dining options, as regular meals service has been banned in Greek houses since 1909.

Professional fraternities, in the North American fraternity system, are organizations whose primary purpose is to promote the interests of a particular profession and whose membership is restricted to students in that particular field of professional education or study. This may be contrasted with service fraternities and sororities, whose primary purpose is community service, and general or social fraternities and sororities, whose primary purposes are generally aimed towards some other aspect, such as the development of character, friendship, leadership, or literary ability.

While the traditional social fraternity is a well-established mainstay across the United States at institutions of higher learning, alternatives – in the form of social fraternities that require doctrinal and behavioral conformity to the Christian faith – developed in the early 20th century. They continue to grow in size and popularity.

While the traditional women's fraternity or sorority was founded well before the start of the 20th century, the first ever Christian sorority was founded at UCLA in 1925 by ten women and named Alpha Delta Chi.

East Carolina University is home to sixteen social fraternities, ten social sororities, five historically African-American fraternities, and four historically African-American sororities. There are also sixteen honor fraternities, and twelve service or religious fraternities/sororities.

The Syracuse University fraternity and sorority system offers organizations under the Panhellenic Council, the Interfraternity Council (IFC), the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations, the National Multicultural Greek Council, and the National Pan-Hellenic Council.

The College of William & Mary fraternity and sorority system recognizes chapters of national organizations belonging to the Panhellenic Council, the Interfraternity Council (IFC) and the National Pan-Hellenic Council, and also recognizes one local fraternity without Greek letters and the local chapter of one national fraternity that abandoned membership in an inter-Greek consortium. The school also offers a variety of honor and co-ed service fraternities as well. The first collegiate fraternity within the present borders of the United States, the Latin-letter F.H.C. Society, was founded at the College of William & Mary on November 11, 1750. The new country's first Greek-letter fraternity was founded at the College on December 5, 1776, though the Phi Beta Kappa Society no longer is a social fraternity but, instead, the leading American academic honor society. Some fraternities and sororities are limited to graduate students at William & Mary, while others may only be joined at the undergraduate level. Still other Greek-letter organizations operate without recognition or approval from college administrators.

The expansion of Greek letter organizations into Canada was an important stage of the North American fraternity movement, beginning in 1879 with the establishment of a chapter of Zeta Psi at the University of Toronto. In 1883 the same fraternity established a chapter at McGill University. Other early foundations were Kappa Alpha Society at Toronto in 1892 and at McGill in 1899, and Alpha Delta Phi at Toronto in 1893 and at McGill in 1897. The first sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, was established at Toronto in 1887. In 1902, the first international chapter of Phi Delta Theta was established at McGill University as the Quebec Alpha. The development of the fraternity system in Canada has made great progress in these two universities. In 1927 Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities reported the existence of 42 chapters at the University of Toronto and of 23 chapters at McGill University. A few chapters were also reported from the University of British Columbia, Carleton University, Dalhousie University, University of Manitoba, Queen's University, University of Western Ontario, McMaster University, Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Waterloo, Brock University and University of Alberta.

Greek Life at the University of Massachusetts Amherst comprises many active chapters of social fraternities and sororities. While most of the groups are chapters of national organizations, including members of the North American Interfraternity Conference, National Panhellenic Conference and National Pan-Hellenic Council, independent groups and those with other affiliations also exist.

Fraternities and sororities at University of Virginia

Fraternities and sororities at University of Virginia, include the collegiate organizations on the grounds of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. First founded in the 1850s with the establishment of a number of fraternities, the system has since expanded to include sororities, professional organizations, service fraternities, honor fraternities, and cultural organizations. Fraternities and sororities have been significant to the history of the University of Virginia, including the founding of two national fraternities Kappa Sigma (ΚΣ) and Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ).

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ "CHAPTER 4: PATRICK HUES MELL: THE CHANCELLOR, 1878-1888". Archived from the original on 2005-05-07. Retrieved 2006-06-27.
  3. ↑ "Life of Patrick Hues Mell". Archived from the original on 2007-01-22. Retrieved 2006-06-27.
  4. ↑ "Chapters & Colonies". Alpha Sigma Rho. Archived from the original on January 26, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-10-09. Retrieved 2006-06-27.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ↑ http://www.redandblack.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/02/20/43f91b3839c99?in_archive=1
  7. ↑ http://www.redandblack.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/02/13/43efefe17fab5?in_archive=1
  8. ↑ OnlineAthens.com | UGANews | Greek building curbed 08/03/06
  9. ↑ Joe Mason (2006-11-01). "Frats question building costs". The Red and Black. Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-12-08.
  10. ↑ "UGA in talks to buy out Sigma Chi's lease". Red & Black. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  11. ↑ Greek Life Forms & Policies
  12. ↑ "Top College Secret Societies". Universitychic.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2011. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  13. ↑ Walter Reed, Thomas Walter Reed (1974). "Uncle Tom" Reed's Memoir of the University of Georgia (1. Vintage Books ed.). Athens, GA: U. of Georgia P.
  14. ↑ https://www.redandblack.com/uganews/greeklife/disparity-in-greek-housing-due-to-chapter-sizes-funding/article_de0e0c86-cfdf-11e3-b16a-0017a43b2370.html
  15. ↑ https://www.visitathensga.com/event/classic-city-tour-of-homes/14672/
  16. ↑ List of Alpha Kappa Psi chapters
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