Our Goal
“To develop ethical leaders inspired by the principles of Love, Honor, and Truth.
To foster the personal growth of each man’s mind, heart, and character.
To perpetuate lifelong friendships and commitment to the Fraternity.”
Sigma Nu at UC Davis seeks to break the stigma surrounding Greek life — we are not a “frat”. We are founded on anti-hazing and believe brotherhood is stronger when you hold similar values and a shared mission. We are the “guy’s next door” — gentlemen who live their life with honor and dedicate their lives to bettering themselves, each other and our community. We aim to raise the next generation of ethical leaders who lead with empathy and compassion, excel with honor, live their life with integrity.
The Zeta Xi chapter of Sigma Nu is a three-time "Rock Chapter" award recipient, an award given to the top Sigma Nu chapters in the country, and in July 2020 was recognized as one of the top six chapters in the nation. In 2016, the governing body that oversees fraternity life at UC Davis awarded Sigma Nu with "Fraternity of the Year", "Philanthropy of the Year", and "Community Service of the Year" awards.
As of Winter 2019, the Zeta Xi chapter has about 70 members hailing from all over the globe. The fraternity house is currently located at 100 Parkway Circle in Davis, California.
Sigma Nu History
Sigma Nu, founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute, is America's first "Honor Fraternity." Following the Civil War, the Institute's cadets suffered from the effects of fighting and death, leading to a system of harassment of lower classmen by their upper classmen superiors.
James Frank Hopkins, Greenfield Quarles, and James McIlvaine Riley, unhappy with the hazing, began a movement to abolish hazing at Viginia Military Institute. Together, they formed Sigma Nu, a fraternity founded on the values of Love, Honor, and Truth.
Our Chapter History
Recharter
The Zeta Xi chapter of Sigma Nu Fraternity in Davis was chartered in 1952; however, to the dismay of the chapter, it was closed in 1991. After nearly two decades of dormancy since the chapter closed, the Zeta Xi chapter at UC Davis officially received its charter back during the Winter of 2009. The 29 new founding fathers of the Zeta Xi chapter wrote a 400+ page petition to make this possible. The accreditation of the Zeta Xi petition was the fastest in the national fraternity's history.
Return to russell
After the Zeta Xi chapter was forced to vacate its house on 101 russell, it would be 30 years before the chapter would return to its home which happened in 2021.
The event was monumental for the chapter as it signified the chapters return to its former strength. Alumni and brothers came together to celebrate the occasion with the “Return to Russell” barbecue and reunion.
Interested in joining our fraternity? Check out our Join Us page to learn how you can join a fraternity with a track record of success and submit your interest.