About

A Century of Brotherhood in the Nation's Capital

The 33rd chapter of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity was originally founded on October 9, 1909 at The George Washington University.  Benjamin Donald Gaw, the oldest of the national Fraternity's founders, lived in Washington and assisted the small local fraternity, Kappa Sigma Pi, with its petition for a Sigma Phi Epsilon charter. 
 
During its first year, DC Alpha hosted the sixth Grand Chapter Conclave from March 28 - 30, 1910. DC Alpha served the very important function of hosting Sigma Phi Epilson's national headquarters while the legendary Brother William Lazell "Uncle Billy" Phillips served as Grand Secretary. The years at GW mark the only time when the Fraternity's national headquarters was not located in Richmond, Virginia. 
 
Over the ensuing 84 years, SigEps at GW were leaders in and out of the classroom.  Some interesting aspects of DC Alpha's place in the National Fraternity include the fact that no Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter has had more brothers go on to serve as Grand President than DC Alpha. Also, three DC Alphas have received the Order of the Golden Heart: Walter G. "Babe" Fly, Frank H. Hamack and Charles L. Yancy. Two DC Alphas have received the SigEp Citation: Craig S. Atkins (1965) and Elmer L. "Mr. George Washington" Kayser (1965). And Two DC Alphas have received the Distinguished Alumnus Award: Charles Brant III (1992) and Chester H. Gray (1983). 
 
In April 1938, as part of a national merger, the GW chapter of the Theta Upsilon Omega Fraternity was absorbed into DC Alpha. 
 
The Second World War was a challenging time for DC Alpha (as it was for fraternity chapters across the nation).  With so many joining the service, undergraduates were scarce.  In order to keep the chapter house at 2002 G Street, NW, alumni lived in the house for the war's duration. Capt. Waldo Schmidt (a DC Alpha chapter president) received the Silver Star before dying in a German hospital as a POW.   
 
Elmer Louis Kayser (G.W.U.), a recipient of the SigEp Citation, is one of DC Alpha's most beloved brothers.  Nicknamed "Mr.George Washington," Kayser was equally beloved by the G.W.U. community.  Kayser graduated from GW in 1917 and never left.  After beginning a career at GW as a Professor of History, Kayser went on to become chairman of the History Department, Dean of Students and the author of Bricks Without Straw, an official history of the university.  For over fifty years, Kayser served as University Historian.  He is credited with coining "The Colonials" as the nickname of GW's sports teams.  Generations of Sig Eps at GW benefited from Dean Kayser's wisdom and generosity.  Fittingly, the chapter's leather-bound Holy Bible was given by a DC Alpha alumnus who knew Kayser and in whose memory it is dedicated.   
 
In the late 1950's, after several years of debate that nearly tore the chapter in two, DC Alpha became one of the first chapters to support the removal of membership restrictions. The chapter that was founded primarily by aspiring Baptist preachers and evolved into the GW fraternity of choice for white patrician Protestants had now embraced diversity. 
 
Citing difficulties with the undergraduate chapter in financial operations, the Fraternity revoked the chapter's charter and closed the Sigma Phi Epsilon house in 1993. The ownership of the house reverted back to the University and now serves as the headquarters for the legal extension program of the National Law Center, also known as the GW Law School. As part of an agreement with the University, Sigma Phi Epsilon agreed to wait five years before attempting to re-colonize the chapter. 
 
After a five-year agreed upon hiatus from GW, Sigma Phi Epsilon - with its newly developed and highly successful Balanced Man Project - came back to the campus in Fall 1999. On October 25, 1999, the seeds of a new DC Alpha were sown in the form of the Sigma Epsilon Colony at the George Washington University. 
 
The members of the George Washington SEC quickly distinguished themselves as the rising star among GW's Greek-letter organizations.   In just the first semester of their existence, they achieved the highest GPA of any Greek organization on campus. Other social fraternities at GW recognize the Balanced Man Project and other initiatives patterned on its example as the next generation of fraternal life, as the next step in the evolution of the fraternity man. For the first time in recent memory, The GW Hatchet - the University's independent student newspaper - published positive coverage of the Greek Community; those stories all concerned Sigma Phi Epsilon and the programs and projects of the gentlemen in the fraternity. Reporters highlighted the Balanced Man Project specifically, as well as submitting stories on the chapter's community service events and interviewing founding-members on why Greek life held their interest and the difficulties and rewards of starting an entirely new organization.  Sigma Phi Epsilon at GW substantially impacted the Greek Community and the University as a whole in decidedly positive ways. 
 
In the fall semester of 2000, the brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon SEC at GW increased its membership to forty-one with their very successful first fall rush. With the increased manpower, the chapter entered the Greek Week competition with high expectations. We met and exceeded those expectations and those of the rest of the Greek Community by winning the event. Along with winning Greek Week, SigEp also won the Fraternity Cup, proof that the chapter's presence on campus has been fully noticed by the Greek Community. 
 
On April 21, 2001, the George Washington University SEC ceased to exist with the installation of a new charter for DC Alpha at a special ceremony and banquet held at the J.W. Marriott Hotel.  In the week following the charter installation, the members of DC Alpha were sent an invitation to host Sigma Phi Epsilon's Centennial Conclave here in the nation's capital.  On August 16, 2001, DC Alpha was awarded the Buchanan Cup for outstanding chapters.  This distinguished honor was the first in the history of DC Alpha.  The chapter received its second Buchanan Cup at the 2003 Conclave in San Antonio, Texas.   
 
Having built a new DC Alpha, the SigEps at GW set their sites on acquiring a housing facility. In November of 2002, after an extremely long and arduous application process, the chapter learned that it was chosen by the University to occupy one of the two largest units in Townhouse Row, the new center of GW's Greek community. The chapter moved into its new home at 23rd and F Streets (607 A 23rd Street, NW) in August of 2003. In the fall of 2003, DC Alpha became a one hundred man chapter for the first time in its history and it marked a significant milestone when it initiated its 1,000th member.   
 
2004 was a year for settling in at the new chapter house while also setting sights on new goals that would take the chapter to even higher levels. In 2004 DC Alpha achieved its best Fall rush ever welcoming 34 new men to the "Halls of Sigma Phi Epsilon". SigEp at G.W.U. continued to embrace the balanced man ideal, pursuing academic excellence while actively participating in intramurals, philanthropy and the myriad social and cultural opportunities available on campus and throughout the nation's capital.   
 
At the 2005 Grand Chapter Conclave in Nashville, Tennessee, DC Alpha was again awarded the distinguished Buchanan Cup, recognizing the chapter as being among the very best and strongest SigEp chapters in the nation. Even so, the gentlemen of SigEp at GW are not resting on their laurels. SigEps are known for working hard but also playing hard; and the next few years promise to be action-packed as the brothers prepare to celebrate DC Alpha's Centennial or one hundred years of Sigma Phi Epsilon at The George Washington University.

DC Alpha has been awarded Chapter of the Year for the 2007 and 2008 academic years and continues to be one of the brightest shining stars among SigEp Chapters nationwide.

The DC Alpha Founders, 1909