Sigma Pi

Sigma Pi
ΣΠ
FoundedFebruary 26, 1897; 127 years ago (February 26, 1897)
Vincennes University
TypeSocial
Former AffiliationNIC
StatusActive
ScopeNorth America
PillarsBrotherhood, Aristocracy, Morality, Chivalry, and Righteousness
ColorsPrimary
  Lavender and   White
Auxiliary:   Gold
SymbolOwl
Flag
FlowerLavender Orchid, alternates of White Rose and Lilac. Goldenrod as auxiliary
JewelEmerald
PublicationThe Emerald
Chapters97 active chapters, 45 alumni clubs, 131 inactive chapters[1]
Colonies5
Members5,000+ collegiate
118,000+[2] lifetime
Headquarters1101 Kermit Drive, Suite 730
Nashville, Tennessee 37217
United States
Websitewww.sigmapi.org

Sigma Pi (ΣΠ) is a collegiate fraternity with 232 chapters at American universities. As of 2021, the fraternity had more than 5,000 undergraduate members and over 118,000 alumni.

Sigma Pi headquarters are in Nashville, Tennessee.

The fraternity was founded on February 26, 1897, by William R Kennedy, James T Kingsbury, George M Patterson, and Rolin R James at Vincennes University. The group was initially known by the Greek letters Tau Phi Delta (ΤΦΔ), but was renamed Sigma Pi in 1907. The change of name was instigated by Robert George Patterson, then a student at Ohio State University. Patterson had wanted to join the Sigma Pi literary society at Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois, but the latter group had rejected his request to expand to OSU. In 1907 Patterson approached Tau Phi Delta members, claiming to represent a historic fraternity called Sigma Pi that dated to the 18th century. Tau Phi Delta accepted Patterson's invitation to merge and adopted the named Sigma Pi.

Later, Patterson's “history” of Sigma Pi was shown to be false, but the organization kept the name.

The organization oversees several charitable programs, including the Altruistic Campus Experience[3] and maintains the Sigma Pi Educational Foundation "to assist needy and deserving students to complete their education; and to aid aged or disabled former students who are in need or worthy of assistance."

  1. ^ "Sigma Pi Fraternity Chapter Listing". Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  2. ^ The Fraternity continues to seek expansion with several newly chartered chapters and developing colonies.
  3. ^ Staff, Vector (2013-04-16). "Sigma Pi: The ACE Project". The Vector. Retrieved 2021-02-18.