In 1896, fourteen State Normal students attempted to create their own secret society tied to a Greek letter sorority. Upon discovering this, President McIver quickly reproached the girls and demanded they disband the group or face expulsion, believing such exclusive secret organizations were inappropriate to the mission of public education.

The next several decades saw a general disdain by the administration regarding the establishment of a Greek system. In 1975, believing social sororities (and later fraternities) to be elitist, divisive, and irrelevant to academics, a faculty committee voted against establishing a Greek system at UNCG. However, recurring student interest prompted a second study in 1977-1979. That study found that 31% of the student population would consider joining a fraternity or sorority. With such support, the Board of Trustees approved a five-year trial period for a Greek system and in 1980 the first rush took place. By the fall of 1981, there were seven fraternities and seven sororities officially recognized on the campus. With continuing interest and growth, the five-year probationary period expired, and a Greek system was officially established at UNCG in 1984.

Currently, Fraternity and Sorority Life at UNCG supports four councils and 24 chapters of national organizations. This trophy was presented to UNCG’s Greek Week champion in 2011. It features the names of the winning organizations from 2004-2011.

Supplemental Materials

The Carolinian issue with Greek Life supplement

Pine needles 1983 yearbook with Greek section

Spartan Story about Greek Life at UNCG