National Fraternity

Sigma Phi Epsilon was founded at Richmond College, now the University of Richmond, on November 1, 1901, based on three Cardinal Principles: Virtue, Diligence, and Brotherly Love. Today, the Fraternity has grown to more than 255,000 lifetime members, including 14,000 undergraduates on 260 campuses in the United States, making us the largest national fraternity. The 255,000 lifetime members rank SigEp in the top four among national fraternities. Over the past two decades, SigEp has recruited more men than any other collegiate fraternity. SigEp maintains the highest first-year member retention rate, over 90%, of any national fraternity.

Tulane University

In 1989, the Sigma Phi Epsilon National Fraternity received permission to recolonize a chapter that had been dormant since 1941 at Tulane University.    Normally, this would be an easy task for SigEp, but Tulane had a Greek community considered by some to be stagnant and unable to support any more fraternities.  Undaunted, the first group of men selected to the Alpha Class of the Louisiana Alpha Chapter began their first rush in the spring of 1990.  Unlike the rest of the more powerful chapters on Tulane's campus, this chapter had no house.  Even while holding meetings in the University Center and having nocentral place from which to recruit, these men had a first rush of over 20 men.  This effectively doubled the chapter's numbers and established Sigma Phi Epsilon immediately on Tulane's campus.  This earned the Alpha Class initiation and chartering on April 21, 1990.   

Since the chartering, the Louisiana Alpha chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon has grown tremendously and is now the most dominant fraternity on campus.  The Louisiana Alpha chapter of SigEp is a leader among its peers in SigEp and in the Greek community of Tulane by succeeding in the classroom, philanthropy, intramural sports, campus involvement, and awards.  In the spring of 2005, LA Alpha swept the competition and welcomed thirty new brothers and improved its numbers to 93.  Louisiana Alpha is a leader both on and off campus while participating in and often leading several philanthropy projects in and around the city of New Orleans.  The LA Alpha chapter is looking forward to yet another successful year with rush taking place early in the spring semester.  The chapter will place a strong importance in community involvement while doing its part to help the city of New Orleans get back on its feet after the largest natural disaster in the history of the United States, Hurricane Katrina.