ΣΦΕ (Sigma Phi Epsilon), SigEp, a social fraternity founded in 1901 at Richmond College, now the University of Richmond, has the largest undergraduate numbers of any social fraternity in the United States. It is founded on three principles: virtue, diligence and brotherly love. In 1992, the fraternity began promoting the adoption of the 'Balanced Man' program, which abolished pledgeship, instituted year-round recruitment and advocated dry housing and lifestyles for its membership. While not all Sigma Phi Epsilon chapters (or SigEp) have adopted the program, over 70% have, and it is credited with the ongoing success of the fraternity on a national level.
SigEp (as it is more affectionately known) also promotes the Residential Learning Community Program. Under this program, each fraternity adopts a resident scholar and a faculty fellow. The resident scholar is a graduate student (not nessicarily a member of SigEp) who lives in the fraternity and advises the undergraduate chapter on operations, risk management, academics, and community involvment/philantrhopy activities. The faculty fellow is a member of the college or university faculty that also advises the undergraduate chaper as well as holds office hours in the house as well as occasional lectures (if the chapter house has sufficient space).
Notable SigEps
- Joe Don Baker - Actor
- Steve Bartlett - Former U.S. Congressman, Dallas, Texas
- Robert L. Bartley - Editor, The Wall Street Journal
- Col. Karol J. Bobko - Space Shuttle Commander, NASA
- Ronald H. Brown - Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce (first African-American member of SigEp)
- Kenneth T. Derr - Chairman, Chevron Oil
- Douglas C. Engelbart - Inventor of the computer mouse
- John Engler - Governor, State of Michigan
- John Fina - Tackle, Buffalo Bills
- Richard J. Gannon - Quarterback, Oakland Raiders
- Theodore S. "Dr. Seuss" Geisel - Author
- John S. Goodman - Actor
- Orel L. Hershiser - Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Thomas O. Hicks - Owner, Dallas Stars & Texas Rangers
- Robert L. Lilly - NFL Hall of Fame Tackle, Dallas Cowboys
- Terry J. Lundgren - President & CEO, Neiman Marcus
- Kent C. "Oz" Nelson - Retired Chairman & CEO, United Parcel Service
- Carroll J. O'Connor - Actor
- Harold A. Poling - Retired Chairman & CEO, Ford Motor Company
- Roy R. Romer - Governor, State of Colorado
- R. David Thomas - Chairman & Founder, Wendy's International
- Fred L. Turner - Chairman, McDonald's Corporation
- Cecil H. Underwood - Governor, State of West Virginia
- Edward H. Vick, Jr. - President, Young & Rubicam Advertising
- Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. - Former Chief of Naval Operations & Member of Joint Chiefs of Staff
External links
Sigma Phi Epsilon