Simpson College - Campus Life - Greek Life

Greek Life

Simpson College has a deep-rooted Greek life history. It is home to seven Greek organizations: three national fraternities; Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Alpha Tau Omega, Lambda Chi Alpha,one local fraternity; Kappa Theta Psi, and three national sororities; Kappa Kappa Gamma, Pi Beta Phi, and Delta Delta Delta. Every April, one week is set aside in the Greek community for Greek Week, a series of coed competitions that instill a sense of unity among the houses, while providing friendly competitiveness.

Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) is the oldest fraternity on campus, tracing its history at Simpson back to 1885. The fraternity is known nationally as the "leadership development fraternity". After briefly being shut down along with 3 other fraternities on campus in the 1890s, ATO was rechartered in 1905 and has been in continual existence ever since. The Simpson College ATO chapter has produced many prominent names at the school. Nick Ackerman, the wrestler who won the Division III national championship despite having no legs, was an ATO, as were some of the most prominent names at Simpson College, including Bill Buxton, Bill Buxton, Jr., Dick Buxton, and James Weinman, all of whom have facilities on campus named in their honor. In Oct. 2010, ATO celebrated its 125th year on campus.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), founded in 1889, is the second oldest fraternity on campus. It is currently the largest fraternity on campus in terms of members. The men of SAE pride themselves on living by the code of "The True Gentlemen."

Kappa Theta Psi (KOY) is the oldest local fraternity west of the Mississippi. It was founded in 1902, shortly after a time when four other fraternities on campus (including ATO and SAE) had been shut down due to anti-Greek sentiment. After the quest for a national re-charter from SAE failed, KOY existed for many years as only a local fraternity. After the chapter was nationally chartered in 1969 as an Upsilon Delta chapter and subsequently was shut down by nationals and by Simpson college, KOY returned to campus in 1979. The fraternity saw much success in the 1980s and 1990s, but membership died off in the 2000s and KOY was removed from their house on fraternity row. They currently have a house a couple of blocks from fraternity row, being the only fraternity on campus not located on fraternity row. However, due to recent growth by the fraternity and meeting standards set by Simpson College, KOY will return to their former residence on fraternity row, currently Worth Hall.

Lambda Chi Alpha (LXA) traces its roots at Simpson to 1924 where it existed as the national fraternity Theta Kappa Nu, which merged with Lambda Chi Alpha in 1939. Recently, Lambda Chi has become known on campus for having many members involved in music and theatre at Simpson. LXA is one of the leading fraternities on Simpson campus for scholastic achievement, as well as the only Greek Organization on campus which has ceased to use "pledging," in favor of an associate membership program.

Pi Beta Phi (Pi Phi) is Simpson's oldest Greek organization. Pi Phi has been at Simpson since 1874.

Kappa Kappa Gamma (KKG) was on Simpson's campus for nine years between 1880 and 1889. After a 100-year absence, it was re-established in 1989.

Delta Delta Delta (DDD or Tri-Delta) has been at Simpson since 1889 and is the longest running Tri-Delta chapter in the nation.

Alpha Chi Omega (AXO) sorority also had a Simpson College chapter for over 100 years, before it closed its doors in the early 2000s.

Alpha Lambda Delta (ALD) co-ed fraternity that is an honors fraternity for students who show exceptional scholarship. Nomination is mandatory for membership, and members can only join their freshman year.