In the last 100 years, fraternity and sorority members have been responsible for many of the cherished traditions at the University of Arizona, and it began with the founding of Kappa Sigma fraternity.
- In 1914,
- Albert Condren
- , who joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon, helped establish the iconic βAβ on Sentinel Peak (now βAβ Mountain)as an engineering class project.
- Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority built the first sorority house in 1923, beginning a tradition that eased crowded dormitories.
- In 1926,
- John βButtonβ Salmon
- , Sigma Nu, then an accomplished athlete, was injured in a crash and exhorted his team to βbear down.β His deathbed words remain a UA rallying cry.
- Also in 1926, Lambda Sigma Alpha, a Hispanic fraternity, was established.
- Ted Munro
- , Kappa Sigma, wrote the University of Arizona Alma Mater βAll Hail Arizonaβ in 1926.
- In 1929,
- Douglas Holsclaw
- , Delta Chi, penned the Arizona Fight Song: βFight! Wildcats! Fight!β
- In 1943,
- Edith White
- , a Gamma Phi Beta member, became the first female ASUA student body president.
- In 1949,
- Bob White
- , a Kappa Sigma brother, penned a cartoon in which Wilbur the Wildcat was born, leading to an Alpha Tau Omega member,
- Ed Stukenhoff
- , becoming the first Wilbur mascot.
Beginning in the early 1900s, various βlocalβ fraternities and sororities were present at the UA. In 1915, beginning with Kappa Sigma fraternity, national organizations were established on campus.
Since that time, more than 90 Greek-letter organizations have been a part of the UA community and more than 50,000 students have joined those organizations. Currently, more than 5,000 students, or about 15 percent of the UA student body, belong to a Greek-letter organization.
These students have contributed more than 30,000 service hours to our community and have donated more than $500,000 towards the Bobbi Olson Cancer Fund, in addition to each organizationβs national philanthropies.
On Friday, members of the UAβs Greek community joined TV personality Geraldo Rivera, a member of Tau Delta Phi, at a groundbreaking for the new Greek Heritage Park.
The celebrity broadcaster donated $500,000 to the UA for the park that will bear his name on a street full of fraternity houses.
The new park, on East First Street near North Cherry Avenue, will commemorate the 100-year anniversary of fraternity and sorority life at the UA.
Rivera, along with Alex Wystrach Flannigan, an initiate of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, serve as honorary co-chairs during this weekendβs Greek 100 Homecoming Celebration.
