Sigma Beta Rho
ΣΒΡ
FoundedAugust 16, 1996; 27 years ago (1996-08-16)
University of Pennsylvania
AffiliationNAPA and NIC
EmphasisMulticultural
ScopeNational (U.S.)
Motto"Brotherhood Beyond All Barriers"
PillarsSociety, Brotherhood, Remembrance
Colors Red   Black   Green 
SymbolKing Cobra
Chapters61 installed, 48 active[1]
Members3,000 collegiate
NicknameSigRho, King Cobras, Cobras, SBRho
SongRuff Ryders' Anthem
HeadquartersPO Box 4668 #20910
New York City, New York 10163-4668
United States
Websitesigrho.com

Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity, Inc. (ΣΒΡ, also SigRho) is an American collegiate and national multicultural fraternity.[2][3] It was the first national multicultural fraternity in the United States.[2]

History

Sigma Beta Rho was founded on August 16, 1996, at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia as a South Asian interest fraternity.[4][5][6] Its founders originally attended three different college campuses and came together to form Sigma Beta Rho.[6] The first eight members of the fraternity's are its National Founding Fathers.[6] The National Founding Fathers are:[7]

Beta chapter was chartered at Binghamton University on August 22, 1998. That same year the fraternity was incorporated under the State Department of New York.

In its first few years of existence, Sigma Beta Rho changed its focus from a South-Asian interest fraternity to one with a multicultural mission.[6] It promotes cultural awareness and spreads a positive image of diversity.[2]

Sigma Beta Rho is a charter member of the National APIDA Panhellenic Association (NAPA).[9][10] Sigma Beta Rho member Akash Kuruvilla co-authored the original constitution of NAPA. The fraternity was also accepted into the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) on April 15, 2007, as its 69th member organization.[1]

Since 1998, Sigma Beta Rho has expanded to over sixty chapters and colonies in the United States; it has a total membership of over 3,000 brothers.[11][12] It is currently working on establishing an internet-based newsletter, the Seven Star Journal.[13]

Symbols

The colors of Sigma Beta Rho are red, black, and green.[14][15] Its symbol is the King Cobra.[14][15] Its motto is "Brotherhood Beyond All Barriers".[14][15] Its pillars are "Society, Brotherhood, Remembrance".[2] Its nicknames are SBRho and SigRho.[15]

Philanthropy

The fraternity’s national philanthropic focus is on its partnership with SOS Children's Villages.[2][3] In addition, the Florida International University chapter has raised funds for countries impacted by hurricanes.[16] Other chapter efforts have supported Habitat for Humanity, Read Across America, and Relay for Life.[17]

Organization

The National Executive Board (NEB) is the governing body that presides over the nationwide fraternity, which is divided into eight interim regions. Each region is appointed a regional governor (RG) by the NEB, who acts as the envoy to his respective region on behalf of the NEB. Under each RG, there is also a Regional Advisory Committee (RAC).

Entities

Following is a list of the chapters, associate chapters, and colonies of Sigma Beta Rho.[11][18][19][20] When referring to all their campus groups, regardless of type, Sigma Beta Rho calls them "entities". Active chapters listed in bold , while inactive chapters are in italics.

Chapter Date and range Institution City State Status References
Alpha August 16, 1996 – 20xx ? University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania Inactive
Beta August 22, 1998 – 20xx ? Binghamton University Binghamton New York Inactive [21]
Gamma August 22, 1998 – 20xx ? St. John's University Queens New York Inactive
Delta 1998–20xx ? Hofstra University Hempstead New York Inactive
Epsilon September 1, 1999 – 20xx ? Pace University New York New York Inactive
Zeta February 2, 2000 – July 2020 Stony Brook University Stony Brook New York Active [22][a][b] [c]
Eta June 1, 2002 – 20xx ? Boston College Chestnut Hill Massachusetts Inactive
Theta June 17, 2001 Rutgers University New Brunswick New Jersey Active
Iota January 18, 2003 – 20xx ? University of Washington Seattle Washington Inactive
Kappa December 10, 2002 – 20xx ? University of Rochester Rochester New York Inactive
Lambda November 24, 2002 – 20xx ? Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Virginia Inactive
Mu August 25, 2001 University of South Florida Tampa Florida Active
Nu May 9, 2004 University of Georgia Athens Georgia Active
Xi April 27, 2003 – 20xx ? University of Maryland, College Park College Park Maryland Inactive
Omicron December 13, 2003 – 20xx ? University of Maryland, Baltimore County Catonsville Maryland Inactive [d]
Pi May 31, 2002 – 20xx ? University of Florida Gainesville Florida Inactive
Rho November 20, 2004 Temple University Philadelphia Pennsylvania Inactive
Sigma April 2, 2005 Georgia Tech Atlanta Georgia Active [14]
Tau March 4, 2004 – 20xx ? University of Houston Houston Texas Inactive
Upsilon March 30, 2002 Drexel University Philadelphia Pennsylvania Active
Phi April 26, 2003 Saint Joseph's University (University of the Sciences)[e] Philadelphia Pennsylvania Active
Chi Unassignd
Psi November 19, 2004 – 20xx ? Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach Florida Inactive
Omega Unassigned
Alpha Alpha December 10, 2005 Florida State University Tallahassee Florida Active
Alpha Beta July 9, 2011 Northeastern University Boston Massachusetts Active [21][f]
Alpha Gamma May 21, 2005 Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon Active [17]
Alpha Delta April 28, 2006 University of Tennessee Knoxville Tennessee Active
Alpha Epsilon April 26, 2008 University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign Urbana and Champaign Illinois Active [15]
Alpha Zeta May 31, 2009 – 20xx ? University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Inactive
Alpha Eta May 1, 2010 University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell Massachusetts Active [23]
Alpha Theta April 10, 2014 University of North Florida Jacksonville Florida Active [2]
Alpha Iota 2006 New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark New Jersey Active
Alpha Kappa 2006 Rutgers University–Newark Newark New Jersey Active
Alpha Lambda November 7, 2014 Emory University Atlanta Georgia Active [24]
Alpha Mu November 14, 2015 Stockton University Galloway New Jersey Active
Alpha Nu May 6, 2006 Syracuse University Syracuse New York Active
Colony December 7, 2001 University at Buffalo Buffalo New York Active
Colony April 23, 2005 Boston University Boston Massachusetts Active
Colony December 10, 2006 Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan Active
Associate chapter April 20, 2012 University at Albany Albany New York Active
Colony December 6, 2013 University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan Active
Associate chapter December 13, 2014 Wayne State University Detroit Michigan Active
Associate chapter April 8, 2017 Rowan University Glassboro, New Jersey New Jersey Active
Colony April 12, 2019 Kennesaw State University Kennesaw Georgia Active

Notes

  1. ^ Chapter was suspended until 2026 for hazing and allegations of sexual misconduct.
  2. ^ As of 27 Sept 2023, the Stony Brook chapter is active, but unrecognized by campus administration.
  3. ^ Chapter eligible for reinstatement in January 2025.
  4. ^ Chapter was eligible for reinstatment in 2019.
  5. ^ The original home school of Phi chapter was at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. That school merged into Saint Joseph's University on June 1, 2022.
  6. ^ Started as an associate chapter on April 14, 2007.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Sigma Beta Rho Today". sigrho.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Leake, Danae (2015-11-13). "Profile: Who is Sigma Beta Rho?". UNF Spinnaker. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  3. ^ a b "Multicultural Greek Council brings cultural identity to BU Greek Life – The Daily Free Press". 2014-09-24. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  4. ^ Trammell, Kendall (2013-09-19). "UGA Greek life rushing to break racial divides". The Red and Black. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  5. ^ Torbenson, Craig LaRon; Parks, Gregory (2009). Brothers and Sisters: Diversity in College Fraternities and Sororities. Associated University Presse. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-8386-4194-1 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ a b c d "History – Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity". Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  7. ^ Cebulko, Ryan. "About Us". Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity, Inc. - Alpha Alpha Chapter. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  8. ^ "About Us". Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  9. ^ "General Information & Council Affiliation – Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity". Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  10. ^ "About". National APIDA Panhellenic Association. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  11. ^ a b William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive), section showing Sigma Beta Rho chapters". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 1 January 2022. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  12. ^ "Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity – The Nation's Premier Multicultural Fraternity". Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  13. ^ "Seven Star Journal". Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity. Archived from the original on September 1, 2009. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
  14. ^ a b c d "About". GT Sigma Beta Rho. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity, Inc. | Fraternity and Sorority Affairs". University of Illinois. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  16. ^ Figuero, Laura (2010-01-04). "S. Fla. Fraternities, Sororities Becoming More Multiculture". The Palm Beach Post. Florida. pp. B009. Retrieved 2023-08-06 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b "Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity, Inc". Office of the Dean of Students, Oregon State University. 2011-06-10. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  18. ^ "Chapters - Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity". Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  19. ^ "Chapters – Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity". Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  20. ^ Cebulko, Ryan. "Chapters". Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity, Inc. - Alpha Alpha Chapter. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  21. ^ a b Cebulko, Ryan. "Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity, Inc. - Alpha Beta Chapter". Sigma Beta Rho. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  22. ^ Luces, David (2020-07-13). "SBU Suspends Three Fraternities over Sexual Assault, Hazing Allegations". TBR News Media. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  23. ^ "Sigma Beta Rho | Engage". University of Massachusetts - Lowell. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  24. ^ Cebulko, Ryan. "About US". Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity, Inc. - Alpha Lambda Chapter. Retrieved 2023-08-06.

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