Sigma Beta Rho
Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity, Inc. (ΣΒΡ, also SigRho) is a national, collegiate, multicultural, Greek-lettered fraternity. Sigma Beta Rho was founded on August 16, 1996, at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
| Sigma Beta Rho | |
|---|---|
| ΣΒΡ | |
 | |
| Founded | August 16, 1996 University of Pennsylvania |
| Affiliation | NAPA and NIC |
| Emphasis | Multicultural |
| Scope | United States |
| Motto | "Brotherhood Beyond All Barriers" |
| Pillars | Society, Brotherhood, Remembrance |
| Colors | Red Black Green |
| Symbol | King Cobra |
| Chapters | 61 installed, 48 active[1] |
| Members | 3,000 collegiate |
| Nickname | SigRho, King Cobras, Cobras |
| Song | Ruff Ryders' Anthem |
| Headquarters | PO Box 4668 #20910 New York, NY 10163-4668 US |
| Website | sigrho |
History
Founding
The founders originally attended three different college campuses, and came together to form Sigma Beta Rho as a South-Asian Interest fraternity. The first eight members of Sigma Beta Rho, known as the National Founding Fathers, are:
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A formal announcement that Sigma Beta Rho had formed, however, occurred upon the establishment of its Beta chapter at Binghamton University on August 22, 1998. That same year the fraternity incorporated under the State Department of New York. Since 1998, Sigma Beta Rho has expanded to over 60 chapters and colonies in the United States, and has a total membership of over 3,500 brothers.[3]
Organization
The National Executive Board (NEB) is the governing body of Sigma Beta Rho, and 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 the behalf of the NEB. Under each RG, there is also a Regional Advisory Committee (RAC).
The fraternity’s national philanthropic focus is on its partnership with SOS Children's Villages.[4] Sigma Beta Rho is currently working on establishing an internet-based newsletter, the Seven Star Journal.[5]
Sigma Beta Rho is a charter member of the National APIDA Panhellenic Association (NAPA). 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 15 April 2007 as its 69th member organization.[1]
Sigma Beta Rho maintains a non-hazing policy.
Diversification
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. The fraternity's mission advocates the idea that the United States is a cultural salad bowl, and that members should actively embrace both their own cultural heritage, as well as a work towards a better understanding of the greater community.
Entities
These are the Chapters, Associate Chapters and Colonies of Sigma Beta Rho. When referring to all their campus groups, regardless of type, for convenience, Sigma Beta Rho calls them "entities". These appear to be grades of operation, thus if a chapter falters it may recover and be listed as an Associate Chapter for a period of time until earning the right to call itself a Chapter. Groups listed in bold are active, while those listed in italics are inactive.[3][6]
Notes
- 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.
References
- "Sigma Beta Rho Today". sigrho.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
- "About Us". Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
- 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.
- "Sigma Beta Rho Community Channel". Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity. Archived from the original on 2010-01-27. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
- "Seven Star Journal". Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity. Archived from the original on September 1, 2009. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
- "Chapters - Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity". Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity. Retrieved 13 October 2013.