University of Tampa - Fraternities and Sororities

Fraternities and Sororities

UT has a vibrant and thriving community of sororities and fraternities, currently overseen by a Director of Greek Life. The history of UT and its Greeks is a somewhat contentious one. The first Greek groups appeared on campus in the early 1950s and by the 1970s they had developed a thriving culture that included the tradition of having a rock on campus with the organizations' letters on it. However, by the late-1970s all Greeks were removed from UT and all Greek housing was destroyed or converted for other uses. In fact, the City of Tampa, with the University's support, even went so far as to pass a law banning more than three unrelated people of the same sex living together. This was an attempt to stamp out UT Greek life, and the ban remains in place.

Despite these obstacles, Greeks resurged on campus in the mid-1980s. Many UT students formed local Greek groups developing traditions and rituals anew. After these homegrown groups had established a campus presence, many lobbied national organizations, particularly those on campus before the ban, to assimilate them. In this way, Greek life returned to UT and with many of the same fraternities and sororities of the past. The University of Tampa's fraternity and sorority community consists of a diverse group of men and women within nine fraternities and eight sororities. There are five Interfraternity Conference fraternities, and five National Panhellenic Conference sororities. There are also three National Pan-Hellenic Council sororities and two National Pan-Hellenic Council fraternities, and one sorority and one fraternity representing the Multi-Cultural Greek Council. There are two National Interfraternity Music Council fraternities and also various professional Greek Letter organizations and honor societies depending on a student's discipline.