Fraternities and sororities at the University of Richmond

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At the University of Richmond, there are many fraternities and sororities of varying social, academic, honor, and service natures. Currently, there are eight recognized social fraternities and eight social sororities, along with a number of non-social fraternities and sororities. The fraternity system began in 1870 when Kappa Alpha was organized at Richmond College and has continued to the present day. Sororities at the University of Richmond arrived in 1987.

Social fraternities[]

Recognized social fraternities
Name (local chapter name) Year chartered Notes
Alpha Phi Alpha (Upsilon Gamma) 2009 [1]
Delta Kappa Epsilon (Rho Beta) 2002
Theta Chi (Omicron) 1915 Chartered May 29, 1915, from Zeta Xi (est. 1908). Charter revoked November 1996 due to low membership and chapter debt, rechartered in 2013.[2][3]
Kappa Alpha Order (Eta) 1870 Chartered on March 18, 1870.
Kappa Sigma (Beta Beta) 1898 Chartered on March 5, 1898. Charter revoked December 3, 2012 because of multiple violations, rechartered 2017.
Lambda Chi Alpha (Alpha Chi) 1918 Chartered May 10, 1918, from Sigma Delta Chi, a local fraternity organized in 1916. Charter suspended January 1999 due to violations, rechartered January 31, 2010.
Phi Gamma Delta (Rho Chi) 1890 Chartered January 27, 1890. Closed January 27, 2012 due to low membership, rechartered January 2016.[4]
Sigma Phi Epsilon (Virginia Alpha) 1901 Chartered November 1, 1901. Founding chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon.
Unrecognized and inactive social fraternities
Name (local chapter name) Year chartered Notes
Alpha Delta (ministerial/social local fraternity) 1928 Alpha Delta organized as a club in April 1923 and became a fraternity in spring 1928. Colonized as Alpha Kappa Lambda in fall 1960 but never chartered.
Alpha Epsilon Pi (Upsilon Rho) 1954 From the Upsilon Rho local fraternity. Chartered May 15, 1954 and closed 1965. Rechartered 1966 and closed sometime after 1968.[5]
Alpha Tau Omega (Alpha Alpha) 1878 Chartered September 15, 1878 and closed between 1882 and 1884.
Beta Theta Pi (Alpha Kappa) 1871 Chartered December 1871 and closed between 1895 and 1896.
Zeta Beta Tau (Phi Rho) 1970 In 1970, the Phi Sigma Delta national fraternity merged into Zeta Beta Tau. Chapter closed September 19, 1972.[6]
Zeta Xi (local) 1909 Established summer 1908, chartered spring 1909, merged into Theta Chi 1915
Kappa Sigma Kappa Chartered between 1875 and 1884. Closed 1890, upon which most of its members transferred to Phi Delta Theta.
Pi Delta Sigma (local) 1930 From P.I.N.E.S. Club, organized in May 1926. Chartered as a local fraternity on December 4, 1930. Merged into Sigma Alpha Epsilon on February 4, 1938.[7]
Pi Kappa Alpha (Omicron) 1891 Closed between 1893 and 1896. Rechartered 1901 and charter revoked August 2006 due to violations.[8]
Sigma Alpha Epsilon (Virginia Tau) 1884 Chartered October 15, 1884 and closed 1887. Rechartered February 4, 1938 from Pi Delta Sigma local fraternity and suspended indefinitely July 24, 2015 due to risk management violations.[9]
Sigma Delta Chi (local) 1916 Merged into Lambda Chi Alpha in 1918.
Sigma Chi (Alpha Beta / Epsilon Rho) 1880 Chartered as the Alpha Beta chapter in fall 1880 but had its charter revoked within a few weeks. Rechartered as the Epsilon Rho chapter on April 13, 1958, from Chi Sigma local fraternity and suspended indefinitely March 8, 2019 due to hazing.
Upsilon Rho (local) 1952 Merged into Alpha Epsilon Pi in 1954.
Phi Alpha (Rho) 1925 Chartered February 6, 1925 and merged into Phi Sigma Delta on April 19, 1959.[10]
Phi Alpha Chi Operated between 1883 and 1895.
Phi Beta Sigma 1980
Phi Delta Theta (Virginia Delta) 1875 Chartered September 30, 1875 and closed 1895. Rechartered February 17 and 18, 1939 from Phi Delta Omega local fraternity and closed March 13, 2006 due to low membership.[11][12]
Phi Delta Omega (local) 1915 Merged into Phi Delta Theta in 1939.[13]
Phi Theta Psi Chartered between 1875 and 1884. Closed after 1891.
Phi Kappa Sigma (Phi) 1873 Chartered January 15, 1873 and closed 1875, with most of its brothers moving to Beta Theta Pi. Rechartered 1884 and closed in April 1996 due to low membership.[14]
Phi Sigma Delta (Phi Rho) 1959 Chartered April 19, 1959 from Phi Alpha. Merged into Zeta Beta Tau in 1970.
Phi Phi Phi (local) 1917 Chartered in February 1917 and closed September 1925 but later merged into Phi Delta Omega and subsequently Phi Delta Theta in 1939.
Chi Sigma (local) 1955 Chartered in November 1955 and merged into Sigma Chi April 13, 1958.

Fraternity Lodges[]

Map of UR Fraternity Lodges in 1968: 1=Pacific House, 2=Atlantic House, 3=Phi Sigma Delta, 4=Sigma Alpha Epsilon, 5=Phi Delta Theta, 6=Sigma Phi Epsilon, 7=Phi Gamma Delta, 8=Theta Chi, 9=Phi Kappa Sigma, 10=Kappa Sigma, 11=Kappa Alpha, 12=Pi Kappa Alpha, 13=Sigma Chi, 14=Lambda Chi Alpha. The future site of the Robins Center, Millhiser Gymnasium and the future site of Robins Stadium can be seen at the bottom.

The first fraternity houses at the University of Richmond were Phi Kappa Sigma and Kappa Sigma, which were built in 1928 and 1930, respectively. The other fraternities met in various rooms across the campus until the university began building lodges, starting in 1953 and ending in 1959. Phi Kappa Sigma and Kappa Sigma moved out of their old houses in 1959 to occupy their new lodges (9 and 10 on the map). Their old houses were converted into student dormitories and renamed Pacific House and Atlantic House. At UR, there are two "rows" of fraternity lodges: Old Fraternity Row (1–7 and 12–14 on the map) and New Fraternity Row (8–11 on the map). In 1996, the old Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi, and Lambda Chi Alpha lodges (12–14) were demolished to make room for a new parking lot for the Robins Center.

Fraternity lodges
Number on Map Name Photo Year Built Notes / Past Occupants
1 Pacific House Pacific House at the University of Richmond, 2022.jpg 1928 Phi Kappa Sigma, 1928–September 1959, currently student housing. Original address: No. 1 Fraternity Row
2 Atlantic House Atlantic House at the University of Richmond, 2022.jpg 1930 Kappa Sigma, 1930–September 1959, currently student housing. Original address: No. 2 Fraternity Row
3 Law School Dormitory UR Law School Dorm, 2022.jpg 1957 Phi Alpha (1957–1959), Phi Sigma Delta (1959–1970), Zeta Beta Tau (1970–1972), undergraduate and law student residence until present. Current Address: 22D Old Fraternity Row
4 Student Organization Lodge UR Student Organization Lodge, 2022.jpg 1954 Sigma Alpha Epsilon (1954–2015). Original address: No. 4 Fraternity Row
5 Theta Chi UR Theta Chi Lodge, 2022.jpg 1953 Phi Delta Theta (1953–2006) and Theta Chi (2013–Present). Current Address: 22F Old Fraternity Row
6 Sigma Phi Epsilon UR Sigma Phi Epsilon Lodge, 2022.jpg 1953 Current Address: 22H Old Fraternity Row
7 Phi Gamma Delta UR Phi Gamma Delta Lodge, 2022.jpg 1953
8 Rethink Waste UR Rethink Waste Lodge, 2022.jpg 1959 Theta Chi (1959–1996) and Sigma Chi (1999–2019). Current Address: 24D New Fraternity Row
9 Lambda Chi Alpha UR Lambda Chi Alpha Lodge, 2022.jpg 1959 Phi Kappa Sigma (1959–1996), Pi Kappa Alpha (1996–2006), Lambda Chi Alpha (2010–Present). Current Address: 24C New Fraternity Row
10 Kappa Sigma UR Kappa Sigma Lodge, 2022.jpg 1959 Current Address: 24B New Fraternity Row
11 Kappa Alpha UR Kappa Alpha Lodge, 2022.jpg 1959 Current Address: 24A New Fraternity Row
12 Pi Kappa Alpha (demolished) UR Pi Kappa Alpha Lodge, 1961.jpg 1956 Original address: No. 5 Fraternity Row
13 old Sigma Chi (demolished) UR Alpha Epsilon Pi Lodge, 1961.jpg Alpha Epsilon Pi (1950s–1965) and Sigma Chi (1965–1996)[15]
14 old Lambda Chi Alpha (demolished) UR Lambda Chi Alpha Lodge, 1961.jpg 1959

Gallery[]

  • Fraternity Lodges

  • Kappa Alpha (1961)

  • Kappa Sigma (1961)

  • Phi Delta Theta (1961), now Theta Chi

  • Phi Gamma Delta (1961)

  • Phi Kappa Sigma (1961), later Pi Kappa Alpha and now Lambda Chi Alpha

  • Phi Sigma Delta (1961), later Zeta Beta Tau and now law student housing

  • Sigma Alpha Epsilon (1961), now the student organization lodge

  • Sigma Phi Epsilon (1961)

  • Theta Chi (1961), later Sigma Chi and now the Rethink Waste lodge

Social sororities[]

Name (local chapter name) Year chartered Notes
Alpha Kappa Alpha (Rho Mu) 1995 chartered on September 10, 1995
Delta Delta Delta (Gamma Eta) 1987
Delta Sigma Theta (Rho Rho) 1992 chartered in spring 1992
Delta Gamma (Zeta Gamma) 1987
Kappa Alpha Theta (Epsilon Psi) 1987
Kappa Delta (Theta Mu) 2015
Kappa Kappa Gamma (Zeta Omicron) 1987
Pi Beta Phi (Virginia Eta) 1987
Inactive social sororities
Name (local chapter name) Year chartered Notes
Alpha Phi (Eta Pi) 1989 chartered in January 1989. Closed October 26, 1997 due to low membership and financial issues
Zeta Tau Alpha (Iota) 1905 Closed 1908
Alpha Chi Omega (Iota Mu) 1991 closed November 17, 2010 due to risk management violations
Chi Omega (Tau Lambda) 1987 closed spring 1988 due to low membership

Sorority Cottages[]

When sororities first arrived at the University of Richmond in 1987, they initially met in various rooms across campus. However, in 2012, a complex was built which features eight conjoined "cottages" and a larger event space known as "The Web."[16]

Sorority cottages
Name Photo
Pi Beta Phi UR Pi Beta Phi Cottage, 2022.jpg
Kappa Kappa Gamma UR Kappa Kappa Gamma Cottage, 2022.jpg
Kappa Alpha Theta UR Kappa Alpha Theta Cottage, 2022.jpg
Delta Sigma Theta UR Delta Sigma Theta Cottage, 2022.jpg
Delta Gamma UR Delta Gamma Cottage, 2022.jpg
Delta Delta Delta UR Delta Delta Delta Cottage, 2022.jpg
Alpha Kappa Alpha UR Alpha Kappa Alpha Cottage, 2022.jpg
Kappa Delta UR Kappa Delta Cottage, 2022.jpg


Academic, Honor, and Service Fraternities and Sororities[]

Name (local chapter name) Year chartered Notes
Alpha Delta (local) 1928 Ministerial/social. See Alpha Delta above in inactive social fraternities.
Alpha Kappa Psi (Delta Zeta) 1955 Business. Chartered May 19, 1955, closed between 2002 and 2010, rechartered April 3, 2010.
Alpha Sigma Kappa (Mu) 2018 Women in technical studies. Chartered April 14, 2018.
Alpha Phi Omega (Omicron Phi) 1965 Service. Chartered May 21, 1965.
Alpha Phi Epsilon 1922 National Literary Society with which Mu Sigma Rho affilated
Alpha Chi Sigma (Delta Kappa) Chemistry
Alpha Psi Omega (Eta) 1928 Theater. Chartered May 21, 1928.
Beta Beta Beta (Beta Theta) 1939 Biology Honor Society, chartered May 19, 1939 from the Phoenix Society
Beta Gamma Sigma (Gamma) 1965 Business Honor Society
Gamma Theta Upsilon (Mu Delta) 2010 Geography Honor Society, chartered November 17, 2010
Gamma Sigma Epsilon (Epsilon Beta) 1948 Chemistry Honor Society, chartered May 29, 1948 and closed 2010
Delta Epsilon Chi Business. Suspended fall 2011, which led to the establishment of Delta Sigma Pi as a professional business fraternity alternative to Alpha Kappa Psi.
Delta Theta Phi (Jefferson) 1913 Law. Chartered September 26, 1913 from Theta Lambda Phi national fraternity merging into Delta Theta Phi. Closed 1941 and reactivated 1946 during World War II.
Delta Sigma Pi (Rho Omega) 2013 Business
Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha 1963 Speech. Chartered August 18, 1963 from Tau Kappa Alpha national fraternity merging with Delta Sigma Rho.
Eta Sigma Phi (Beta Gamma) 1940 Classics. Chartered May 17, 1940 from Pegasus Club (est. in 1938)
Theta Alpha Kappa 1986 Religious Studies / Theology (inactive)
Theta Lambda Phi (Jefferson) 1911 Law. Merged into Delta Theta Phi in 1913.
Kappa Delta Pi (Theta Theta) 1955 Education
Lambda Pi Eta (Iota Theta) Rhetoric / Communications
Mu Sigma Rho (local) 1846 Literary. Chartered 1846. Mu Sigma Rho was the publisher, along with the Philologian Club, of Monthly Musings, which later transformed into The Messenger, Richmond College's literary magazine and newspaper before The Collegian was established in 1914. Last mention in The Collegian was in 1953.
Omicron Delta Epsilon (Lambda) Economics
Omicron Delta Kappa (Epsilon) 1921 Leadership. Chartered March 12, 1921
Pi Alpha 1921 Honor society established for Westhampton College Seniors. Merged into the Mortar Board on October 25, 1930.
Pi Delta Epsilon 1926 Journalism. Chartered November 26, 1926, from the Collegian Press Club. Closed after 1981.
Pi Mu Epsilon (Virginia Alpha) 1948 Mathematics. Chartered November 5, 1948.
Pi Sigma Alpha (Beta Xi) 1953 Political / Social Sciences Honor Society
Rho Eta Sigma (local) 1938 History. Merged into Phi Alpha Theta in 1940.
Sigma Delta Pi (Sigma Gamma) Spanish
Sigma Xi 1970 Engineering. Chartered March 6, 1970.
Sigma Pi Beta 1974 Business Society for women. Chartered fall 1974 and closed after 1988.
Sigma Pi Sigma 1932 Physics
Sigma Tau Delta 1966 English. Chartered March 8, 1966.
Sigma Upsilon 1922 Literary. Chartered April 25, 1922 from the Writer's Club.
Tau Kappa Alpha 1912 Debate. Merged into Delta Sigma Rho–Tau Kappa Alpha in 1963
Phi Alpha Delta (Coke / Patrick Henry) 1948 Law / Pre-Law. Chartered October 29, 1948.
Phi Alpha Theta 1940 History. Chartered November 1940, from Rho Eta Sigma.
Phi Beta Delta (Gamma Iota) 1995 International Scholars
Phi Beta Kappa (Virginia Epsilon) 1929 Honor. Chartered April 12, 1929.
Phi Delta Phi (James Madison Inn) 1962 Law
Phi Eta Sigma 1975 Freshman Honor Society. Chartered November 19, 1975.
Phi Kappa Mu Music Honor Society
Phi Sigma Iota (Iota Epsilon) 1975 Foreign Languages Honor Society
Phi Sigma Tau (Virginia Delta) Philosophy
Psi Chi 1950 Psychology, from Psychology Club (est. in 1938)

References[]

  1. ^ Larter, David (5 December 2009). "UR welcomes first historically black fraternity". The Collegian. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ Jackson, Kristen (21 November 1996). "Theta Chi shuts down". The Collegian. No. Vol. 83, No. 11. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  3. ^ Monroe, Keon (6 October 2011). "Theta Chi makes its second debut after 15 years". The Collegian. University of Richmond. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  4. ^ Healy, Megan (25 February 2016). "FIJI officially re-establishes chapter with 50 new members". The Collegian. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  5. ^ Frederick, Arnold (30 April 1954). "A Dream Come True: Upsilon Rho To Affiliate with AEPi". The Collegian. No. Vol. 40, No. 26. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity Decides To Close". The Collegian. No. Vol. 60, No. 4. 22 September 1972. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Pi Delta Sigma Accepts S.A.E. Bid". The Collegian. No. Vol. 24, No. 1. 17 September 1937. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  8. ^ Henderson, Martha (31 August 2006). "Pot found, PIKA's charter revoked". The Collegian. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  9. ^ "SAE to Install Chapter Here Today at 4:30". The Collegian. No. Vol. 24, No. 17. 4 February 1938. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Students Organize Phi Alpha Chapter". The Collegian. No. Vol. 11, No. 19. 13 February 1925. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  11. ^ "Phi Delta Omega To Go National". The Collegian. No. Vol. 25, No. 1. 16 September 1938. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  12. ^ Jurand, Deirdre (13 April 2006). "Phi Delta Theta votes to close". The Collegian. No. Vol. 92, No. 23. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Phi Delta Omega To Become Phi Delta Theta Feb. 17, 18". The Collegian. No. Vol. 25, No. 17. 3 February 1939. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  14. ^ Strebel, Jen (4 April 1996). "Phi Kappa Sigma closes chapter". The Collegian. No. Vol. 82, No. 34. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  15. ^ "MODLIN, TURNER PRESENT FOR LODGE DEDICATION". The Collegian. October 29, 1965. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  16. ^ Wilson, Rebecca (28 January 2013). "Different schedule, cottages affect sorority recruitment". The Collegian. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
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