ΣΦΕ (Sigma Phi
Epsilon), commonly nicknamed
SigEp or SPE, is a secret letter, social college
fraternity for male
college students in the United States
. It was founded on November 1, 1901, at
Richmond College (now University of Richmond) and its national
headquarters remains in Richmond, Virginia
. It was founded on three principles:
Virtue,
Diligence,
and
Brotherly Love. It is the largest
social fraternity in the United States in terms of current
undergraduate membership, the fourth largest in terms of total
members initiated, and has the highest first year retention rate of
92%.
[443544]
Founding History
Founder Carter Ashton Jenkens
Carter
Ashton Jenkens, the son of a Baptist minister, was an 18-year-old
divinity student when, in the fall of 1900, he transferred from
Rutgers
College
of New Jersey to Richmond College
, a Baptist institution in the Virginia
capital.. In the year that Jenkens had spent at Rutgers, he
had been initiated into the
Chi Phi
Fraternity. At Richmond, Jenkens was quickly drawn in to a
close-knit group of friends which included Benjamin "Ben" Gaw,
William "Billy" Wallace and Thomas "Thos" Wright. . By the fall of
1901, the four friends were meeting regularly in the third-floor
room in Ryland Hall shared by Gaw and Wallace. They called their
unofficial group the Saturday Night Club. Soon, two others were
asked to join the group: William Carter and Billy Phillips.
The Origin
By early October, 1901, Jenkens had persuaded his friends to join
him in trying to establish a chapter of Chi Phi at Richmond. The
group of friends, which by mid-October had grown to twelve men, was
composed largely of students who were spurned by the existing
fraternities on campus for their high sense of morality (seven of
the twelve were studying for the ordained ministry) and for their
rural, middle-class backgrounds. Jenkens had convinced the others
that their chapter could be different from the other fraternities
on campus and assured them that Chi Phi's principles were in line
with their own. The group's request for a charter, however, was met
with refusal as the national fraternity felt that Richmond College
was too small to host a Chi Phi chapter. Insulted though undaunted
by the rejection, Jenkens and his friends knew that their bonds of
friendship constituted something worth preserving, so they sought
to perpetuate their values and their loyalties by founding their
own fraternity.
Original Name and Meeting with the Faculty
After several secret meetings throughout October 1901, the new
fraternity took shape and on November 1, 1901, the fraternity's
first membership roster was publicly posted at the school, listing
the twelve founders in this order: Carter Ashton Jenkens, Benjamin
Donald Gaw, William Hugh Carter, William Andrew Wallace, Thomas
Temple Wright, William Lazelle Phillips, Lucian Baum Cox, Richard
Spurgeon Owens, Edgar Lee Allen, Robert Alfred McFarland, Franklin
Webb Kerfoot and Thomas Vaden McCaul. After much discussion, the
group settled on a secret motto and called their fraternity Sigma
Phi. Soon thereafter, Jenkens, Gaw and Phillips met with a faculty
committee to seek official recognition for their new fraternity.
The faculty members were reluctant to recognize Sigma Phi for the
following reasons: 1) there were already five fraternity chapters
on the Richmond campus, drawing members from a base of less than
300 students, 2) more than half the new fraternity's members were
seniors whose graduation would leave the group with only five
members and, 3) another national fraternity already existed using
the name Sigma Phi. The three founders responded to the faculty's
points one by one: 1) although there were already fraternities at
Richmond, this new fraternity would be different; it would be
founded not upon false notions of social hierarchy and snobbery
but, rather, upon biblical notions of God's love and the principle
of peace through brotherhood, 2) new members would quickly be taken
in from the undergraduate classes to increase the new fraternity's
size and strength and, 3) the name of the fraternity was still
under debate within the group, so since the name Sigma Phi was
already taken by a national fraternity, the name would be changed.
With these assurances from the founders, the faculty committee
approved the new fraternity's request for official recognition.
Shortly afterwards, the founders met and decided to rename the
fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon.

Badge and Colors Chosen by Founders
Under Jenkens' inspiration and leadership, the new fraternity was
formed around a spiritual philosophy of brotherly love, a
philosophy that Jenkens referred to as the "rock" of the
fraternity. Specifically, the founder described these words of
Jesus: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and thy
neighbor as thyself" ( ) as "the greatest truth the world has ever
known." The colors red and purple were chosen to represent the
fraternity while the golden heart was chosen as the fraternity's
symbol. Finally, the principles of Virtue, Diligence and Brotherly
Love, known to members as "The Three Cardinal Principles", were
woven by Jenkens into the very fabric of the new fraternity.
Jenkens also designed the fraternity's distinctive badge. The badge
of Sigma Phi Epsilon was designed as a golden heart surmounted by a
black enameled heart-shaped shield. Upon the shield are inscribed,
in gold, the Greek-letters of the fraternity, ΣΦΕ, and below these
letters, a skull and crossbones. The meaning of these symbols is
divluged during the initiation ritual and known to members only.
The founders' badges, bordered by alternating garnets and rubies,
were designed and ordered before the addition of "Epsilon" to the
fraternity's name. Thus, they had only a "Sigma" and a "Phi"
inscribed on the lobes of the heart, with the now-familiar skull
and crossbones below. A last minute telegraph sent to the jeweler
in Goldsboro, North Carolina requested that an "Epsilon" be added
"somewhere" on the already-complete badges. The resourceful jeweler
removed the bottom-most gemstones from the founders' badges and
put, in their place, a black enameled "Epsilon." The badges of
founders William Hugh Carter and Thomas Vaden McCaul, illustrating
this unique piece of the fraternity's founding, are on display at
the Sigma Phi Epsilon headquarters at Zollinger House.
Balanced Man Program

In 1991 Sigma Phi Epsilon implemented a four year, continuous
development 'Balanced Man' program, which abolished pledging
altogether, instituted year-round recruitment, encourages
lifestyles based on the three cardinal principles, and includes a
number of tasks geared towards creating diverse experiences that
promote the ideals of "a sound mind and a sound body". First
adopted at the New Hampshire Alpha chapter at Dartmouth College,
the program has been adopted by approximately 81% of Sigma Phi
Epsilon chapters. SigEp headquarters credits the Balanced Man
Program as the driving force behind the continued growth and
success of the fraternity. Some of these accomplishments include
SigEp's 90% undergraduate retention rate, a major improvement in
the national average SigEp GPA (3.04, Fall 2007), and SigEp's
status as the nation's largest fraternity by undergraduate
membership. Other fraternities have since chosen to adopt similar
programs, such as Beta Theta Pi's "Men of Principle", Sigma Alpha
Epsilon's "True Gentleman", Pi Kappa Alpha's "True Pike", and more
recently Lambda Chi Alpha's "True Brother Initiative".
The Balanced Man Program consists of four challenges labeled Sigma,
Phi, Epsilon, and Brother Mentor. Each challenge contains required
tasks that progressively develop a member's self, chapter, and
community. A new SigEp brother is welcomed with the introductory
phase of the program, the Sigma Challenge, and must complete a
program based on self-discovery, chapter activities, and community
service. After completing the Sigma Challenge he enters the Phi
Challenge, which is centered on building balance. Here, more
advanced tasks await him that include becoming a member of other
on-campus organizations and taking a leadership role in the
chapter. The third challenge in the Balanced Man Program is the
Epsilon Challenge, centered on being an effective campus and
community leader; at this level the brother has a full
understanding of the Fraternity, the brother is also expected to
hold an executive or chairman position in both the Chapter, and at
least one outside organization. The Brother Mentor level is an
additional level introduced with the Balanced Man program. Brother
Mentor signifies a brother's commitment to his chapter by
completing all three levels of the Balanced Man and by going beyond
and completing the challenges set forth by the Brother Mentor
program. These include a very large community service requirement
and tasks that better the chapter as a whole. All challenges in the
Balanced Man program are self-paced. They can also be tailored to
suit the chapter's and the individual brother's needs.
Chapters are accepted into the Balanced Man Program only after an
overwhelming majority of the chapter votes to convert from pledging
model to Balance Man Project Chapter. New Sigma Phi Epsilon
chapters are started as Balanced Man Program Chapters. Once a
chapter becomes a Balanced Man Program chapter they are not
permitted to return to the pledging model of member development.
The fraternity has a goal nationally that 90% of the undergraduate
chapters will use the Balanced Man Program for member development
by 2011.
Controversy of Balanced Man
Many of the remaining pledging model chapters openly protest the
Balanced Man Program. Pledging model chapters claim that the
Balanced Man Program members do not form the bonds that a pledging
model chapter has. Pledging model chapters also contend that
Balanced Man Program chapter members tend to know less about the
history of the fraternity or its unwritten traditions and lore. The
remaining pledging model chapters also claim that the Balanced Man
Program has lessened the stance of SigEp among greek communities at
many colleges and universities. They assert that the Balanced Man
Program is focused more on increasing enrollment nationally than
building a strong brotherhood that is concurrent with SigEp's
founding principle of Brotherly Love. Finally, many pledging model
chapters claim that the Balanced Man Program cheapens the process
by not creating any obstacles to become a SigEp.
Controversially, Pledging model chapters are being actively
converted to the Balanced Man Program through a process of charter
revocation and reinstatement . Every new and re-chartered chapter
must adhere to the Balanced Man Program. Currently over 75% of
SigEp chapters use the program. As with any organization as large
as this fraternity some chapters do a better job with their member
development program than others. The statistics have shown that
chapters using the Balanced Man Program have better grades. Risk
Management violations from Balanced Man Program chapters are fewer
than those from Pledging Model chapters.
All chapters are expected to offer a four year member development
program regardless of whether they use the Balanced Man Program or
pledge model development.
Additional modern programs
Sigma Phi Epsilon also promotes the Residential Learning Community
(RLC) Program. Under this program, each fraternity adopts a
resident scholar and a faculty fellow. The resident scholar is a
graduate student (not necessarily a member of SigEp) who lives in
the facility and advises the undergraduate chapter on operations,
academics, and community involvement/philanthropy activities. The
faculty fellow is a member of the college or university faculty who
advises the undergraduate chapter, holds office hours in the house,
and gives occasional lectures.
The Sigma Phi Epsilon Leadership Continuum is an award-winning
series of distinct and progressive leadership opportunities aimed
at teaching to and reinforcing SigEp values of a Brother from the
day he joins to the day he graduates. Through self-discovery,
analysis, and interaction, Brothers develop skills necessary to
lead balanced lives and to continue leading the fraternity world.
Consisting of EDGE, Carlson Leadership Academies, Ruck Leadership
Institute, Grand Chapter Conclaves, and the Tragos Quest to Greece,
the Leadership Continuum is a tailorable, structured continuous
development plan for the college man.
EDGE New Member Camp
The fraternity offers its own innovative program for first-year
members, EDGE. EDGE is about making healthy choices that match your
personal values and those of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Participants build
greater self-awareness about the consequences of their actions and
those around them through interactive discussions and reflective
activities. Participants have fun through challenging experiences
as ropes courses, physical challenges, and activities based upon
camaraderie. Participants choose the lifestyle they wish to lead
and receive training on overcoming obstacles with regard to alcohol
and drug abuse, personal wellness, and goal achievement. The
program involves a highly regarded faculty of senior
undergraduates, distinguished alumni, and renowned guest
speakers.
Philanthropy
Sigma Phi Epsilon is currently partnered with
YouthAids [443545] as their officially sanctioned
philanthropy. All SigEp chapters are encouraged to raise funds to
donate to YouthAids through events and awareness programs. Also,
following Hurricane Katrina, SigEp national headquarters encouraged
individual chapters nationwide to donate to a relief fund. For
every dollar donated by a chapter, Nationals, partnered with
several businesses, donated to relief efforts. Together, the
fraternity raised $16 million for the cause.
SigEp firsts
Sigma Phi Epsilon can claim many innovations and achievements in
the world of national fraternities. SigEp was first
- To charter a chapter in all 50 states.
- To provide financial assistance to brothers for graduate school
through the Resident Scholar program.
- To establish a housing trust for all chapters and create a
National Housing Corporation.
- To eliminate racial requirements from the Greek Society.
- To receive a grant from the federal Department of Education to
enhance member development programs.
- To establish a traveling staff to assist chapters in effective
operations.
- Fraternity whose Educational Foundation built an endowment
greater than $15 million.
- To partner with the White House’s Office of National Drug
Control Policy[443546].
- In the spring of 2005 Sigma Phi Epsilon also became the first
national fraternity to have a national grade point average
surpassing 3.0. Nationally, the fraternity has stated that it hopes
to raise this to 3.15 by 2011.
Notable SigEps
Academia
Vanderbilt
University
University]]
Arts, entertainment, and media
Business
- Tom Barrett - Chairman & CEO,
Goodyear Tire &
Rubber Company
- Curt Carlson - Founder Carlson Companies, TGI Fridays, Radisson
Hotels
- James L. Clayton - Founder & Retired CEO,
Clayton Homes
- Kenneth T. Derr - Chairman, Chevron Oil
- Richard DeVos - President &
Co-Founder, Amway Corporation
- Jeffrey O. Henley - Chairman, Oracle Corporation
- Jeff Gerhardt - Teacher, Inventor,
Broadcaster and Entrepreneur.
- John Kotter - Professor, Harvard
Business School
- Terry J. Lundgren - President & CEO, Federated Department Stores
- Alexander Muse - President &
CEO, Architel
- Kent C. "Oz" Nelson -
Retired Chairman & CEO, United Parcel Service

- Harold A. Poling - Retired Chairman & CEO,
Ford Motor Company Motor
Company
- William Schreyer - Retired
Chairman & CEO, Merrill Lynch
& Co.
- Jim Shaffer - Author, the Leadership
Solution; Founder, the Jim Shaffer Group
- Robert Stempel - Retired Chairman
and CEO, General Motors
Corporation
- Dave Thomas -
Founder, Wendy's
- Fred L. Turner - Chairman, McDonald's Corporation
- Christian Claudio – Puerto
Rican Olympic Team Member, Author, Public Speaker,
Co-Founder Pac Banc Mortgage
- Richard Bennet, Former Vice
President of May Company
Government and politics
- Steve Bartlett - Former U.S.
Congressman, Dallas
, Texas
- Ronald H. Brown - Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce (first
African-American member of
SigEp)
- Ward Connerly - Civil Rights
Activist, Regent of the University of California
- John E. Douglas - Former Chief, FBI
Investigative Support Unit
- Brian Dubie - Lt. Governor, State of
Vermont

- John Engler -
Governor, State of Michigan

- Alexander
Wiley - Republican Senator, Wisconsin
1939-1963
- John Arthur
Love - Governor, State of Colorado

- Scott McClellan - White House Press Secretary,
2003–2006
- Roy R. Romer - Governor, State of Colorado

- Cecil H. Underwood - Governor, State of West Virginia

- Vito John Fossella, Jr.
- U.S. Congressman, Staten Island
and Brooklyn
, New
York
, 1997-Present
Military
Science and medicine
Sports
- Bill Brown - Pro Bowl running back, Minnesota Vikings
- Hubert A. Caldwell - Olympic crew, 1928 gold
medalist
- Sean Casey - First Baseman, Boston Red Sox
- Bill Doba - Former
head football coach, Washington State University

- John Fina - Tackle, Buffalo Bills
- Richard J. Gannon - Quarterback, Oakland Raiders, NFL MVP 2002
- Orel Hershiser - Pitcher,
Los Angeles Dodgers, Cy Young
Award Winner, 1988, World Series Champion
- Tom Hicks - Owner of the Dallas Stars , Texas Rangers and Liverpool FC
- Gene Keady -
Former Head Coach, Purdue University
Men's Basketball
- Bob Lilly -
Pro Football
Hall of Fame
Tackle, Dallas
Cowboys
- Dallas Long - Olympic shot putter,
1960 silver medalist & 1964 gold medalist
- Keith Moreland - Outfielder
Chicago Cubs
- James Naismith - Inventor of the
sport of basketball
- Davey O'Brien - Heisman Trophy winning quarterback, 1938
- Jon Rauch - Current
Major League Baseball Pitcher,
Morehead
State University

- Alma Richards - Olympic high
jumper, 1912 gold medalist
- Roy Riegels -
Member of the Rose Bowl Hall of
Fame, famed for 1929 Rose Bowl
where he was dubbed "Wrong Way"
- Johnny Robinson -
Strong safety, Kansas City
Chiefs, All-Time All-AFL
Team
- Alvin F. Rylander - Olympic crew, 1928 gold
medalist
- J. C.
Snead - Professional golfer
- Bob Todd Ohio State baseball
coach.
- Bill Cubit- Head football coach,
Western Michigan University
Chapters
References
- Photoplay, 'I Saved My Brother's Life,' by Helen Martin, p. 94,
February 1967.
External links