Nebraska Lambda-Pi Chapter History

Nebraska Lambda Pi

Fourteen years after the University of Nebraska was founded, W.P. Bross and eight other NU students petitioned Sigma Alpha Epsilon to become its 74th chapter. At eleven o’clock in the evening on May 20, 1893, Arthur J. Tuttle a University of Michigan graduate and Michigan Iota-Beta chapter member (appointed by President Taft in 1912 as a Federal Judge) boarded a train and headed west to Lincoln, carrying the Fraternities Ritual and the well wishes of many brothers. Brother Tuttle wrote,

“Lincoln, situated in the fertile pasture lands of Nebraska, and being the capital city of the state, has had a steady growth until its population is now sixty thousand. It is destined to be to the west what Boston has always been to the east; a center of education and culture.”

At the time, there were only three other fraternities and two sororities on campus—Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi, Delta Gamma and Kappa, Kappa Gama. The new Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chapter would be known as Nebraska Lambda-Pi in honor of Miss Lola Paddock, a friend of W.P. Bross, who made the introduction to brother Tuttle and that opened the door to the Chapter being founded.

Many years ago that first group of young men took the oath of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Since that time, Nebraska Lambda Pi has been a constant presence on the campus and more than 2,500 young men have found value in the ΣAE experience at UNL. Today, just as in the days of our founding, the bond and experience shared by all lasts a lifetime.

Chapter House Facts

Our home boasts several common living areas, libraries and study spaces. And T1 wireless access is available throughout every room in the house. The members each reside in 2 or 3-man -rooms, each offering sleeping and study space as well as storage. Our full-time, live-in Housemother, Sue Crisler, has and continues to be a welcome part of our Fraternity since 2008.

Like most fraternities on the UNL campus, freshmen move into the Fraternity House in the fall. This timing is very beneficial as it gives students a valuable network on which to rely as they embark on their college career. It also provides us with a great opportunity to educate and integrate our newest members into the organization immediately.

During the school week, members are provided three meals a day. Our meal schedule is:

    • Formal dinner is held every Monday night at 5:30 p.m.
    • Buffet style dinner is served Tuesday-Thursday from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
    • Lunch is served Monday-Thursday from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
    • Brunch is served on Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with an early dinner at 4:00 p.m.
    • There are no official meals on Saturday or Sunday; however, our snack room is open all day on both days, providing members access to an assortment of food.