SIGMA ALPHA EPSILON
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
HISTORY
NORTH DAKOTA BETA CHAPTER HISTORY
In 1924, a new fraternity called Alpha Sigma Tau was introduced at North Dakota State University. The brothers had a house located on 10 Street North. After over 10 years as a fraternity, they were contacted by a national fraternity called Sigma Alpha Epsilon about transitioning the AΣT chapter into an ΣAE chapter. On April 6, 1935, the North Dakota Beta chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon was created, and our chapter has been building True Gentlemen for the 80 years since.
BIRTH OF SIGMA ALPHA EPSILON
Sigma Alpha Epsilon was founded on March 9, 1856, at the University of Alabama, in Tuscaloosa. Eight students who had become fast friends forged this brotherly society and laid the foundation for it to extend to the furthermost limits of the country. Leader of the eight was Noble Leslie De Votie, an Alabama boy by birth, who was a youth of splendid promise. He was the originator of the fraternity. He, as well as the others, had formed a warm friendship for each of their group, and it was his idea that a fraternity would best perpetuate the ties which, as their college days drew to a close, seemed nearer and dearer to them all. Along the banks of Black Warrior River is the edge of the Tuscaloosa campus, and in the fall days of 1855, as these companions strolled by the river side, De Votie first unfolded his conception of a new fraternity. Creating this bond forged their friendship for as long as fraternity thrives. So it came about that in the late hours of a stormy night, the friends met in the old southern mansion and by the flicker of dripping candles organized Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
THE FOUNDERS
ΣAE's roots lie in the relationship of eight friends, Noble Leslie De Votie, John B. Rudulph, John W. Kerr, Nathan E. Cockrell, Wade Foster, Abner Patton, Samuel Dennis and Thomas C. Cook. The last of these named was not present at the time of organization. Cook had planned the fraternity with the others, but shortly before it was organized he had withdrawn from the University of Alabama and entered Princeton. At the first meeting it was voted that no one should be considered a member of the fraternity "except those present." This was afterwards rescinded to the extent of voting Cook a member, and sending him a ritual that he might initiate himself. He has always been considered one of the founders.
MEMBERSHIP
The Fraternity resides on college and university campuses, as a guest of the host institution. The current structure includes nearly 15,000 undergraduates at more than 220 chapters in 47 states and Canada. Alumni are active in more than 75 alumni associations.
SIGMA ALPHA EPSILON FOUNDATION
The ΣAE Foundation was established in 1927 to create programs that promote the highest ideals of academic and personal development. The existing programs include named scholarships, a student-loan program and the international Leadership School that has produced more than 38,000 graduates. The ΣAE Foundation awards $69,000 in scholarships annually in support of its mission.