As most of you probably know by now, the Dartmouth social scene is pretty Greek-centric. But fear not, 15s! There's really something for everyone here, and during your first few months of raging and frat-hopping, you'll probably find what you're looking for. So without further ado, here's a breakdown of the fraternities, sororities and co-ed houses at Dartmouth.
FRATERNITIES
Alpha Chi Alpha
Alpha Chi is best known for its annual spring event, Pigstick, a laid-back lawn party where some delicious pigs are roasted. They also throw a pretty chill beach party. For AXA, the name of the game is relaxed and low-key. During your first term at Dartmouth, you'll be able to easily identify Alpha Chi pledges by their red hats, called sirens. Try to steal one! (Don't actually they'll hunt you down.) Corresponding animal: red panda
Alpha Delta
A house whose membership is largely composed of athletes on various sports teams, particularly soccer, rugby and tennis, AD is also famed for being the inspiration behind "Animal House." Over Green Key weekend in the Spring, they host an afternoon lawn party, which features performances from several local bands. Their basement also conveniently doubles as a urinal! (No, but seriously, there's a trough down there.) Corresponding animal: gorilla
Beta Alpha Omega
Recently re-recognized as a local fraternity, Beta officially returned this spring after more than a decade of being derecognized.Rebranded with a different image (and slightly different Greek letters), many Betas now revere good old-fashioned patriotism and wholesome Christian values. Because of its newness, Beta is just beginning to host open events keep an eye out in the Fall. Corresponding animal: bald eagle
Bones Gate
BG is often described as "alternative," which might just be because many of its brothers smoke cigarettes or something. Either way, they are known for their tea, which is a fun beverage that they make for many of their open events. On some special weekends, they also host an event called cutter, named after a potent (and mysterious) drink. No one knows what's in it, but you have to "drop" it not drink it. Confusing, maybe, but that's just the way BG rolls. Corresponding animal: zombie (it just makes sense)Chi Gamma Epsilon
Chi Gam, a house sometimes known as the lightweight rowing house, offers a diverse brotherhood that throws open parties like their blacklight party fairly regularly. They're particularly known for Gammapalooza, a Green Key party featuring live bands and tons of people hanging on the front lawn. A freshman favorite due to the accessible and friendly attitudes of the brothers. Corresponding animal: lemur
Chi Heorot
Heorot, named after the mead hall in the epic poem Beowulf, is home to many athletes, namely heavyweight rowers, hockey players and skiers. The brothers of Heorot host a highlighter party each term, which allows you to get your grind on with tons of rando sweaty people all dressed in white! You can also garner the classy nickname "Heorot wallpaper" if you hang out there too much, because seating areas line the perimeter of the basement. Maybe avoid that. Corresponding animal: polar bear
Gamma Delta Chi
GDX is a fraternity filled with many large (but friendly!) men, many of whom play on the football or baseball teams. Their house is well known for its large pong arena, known as "the pit." This space hosts many tournaments, but can also be intimidating if you're bad at pong (hi). Corresponding animal: grizzly bear
Kappa Kappa Kappa
Tri-Kap is Dartmouth's oldest local fraternity that is, they do not have an associated national organization. They're perhaps best known for Monday Night Freeze, a weekly event that serves frosty treats to thirsty guests. Tri-Kap is especially freshman-friendly some of your earliest Dartmouth fraternity memories might be at a sweaty Tri-Kap dance party over Orientation. Corresponding animal: badger
Phi Delta Alpha
Phi Delt is often described as "bro-y" in the sense that the brothers hang out with each other all the time. The first and last Monday of each term, they host an event called Reds, where you can drink a mysterious red beverage served out of trash cans. Yum! Phi Delt's brotherhood is extremely close-knit and secretive, but the brothers are all very friendly. They are known for blasting classic rock from their porch, but if you're lucky, you might sometimes be able to catch some pop tunes in their basement. Corresponding animal: golden retriever
Psi Upsilon
Notorious for having one of the hardest pledge terms of all Dartmouth fraternities, Psi U brothers often enjoy sports like swimming, skiing and sailing. The frat somehow manages to build up resumes impressive enough for the likes of Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley while still managing to sink a half-cup of their famous porchcr@wlers or win a a round of dice, a popular drinking game played in the basement. Corresponding animal: snake
Sigma Alpha Epsilon
SAE is often thought of as conservative and southern, but this image has changed in recent years. Every Thursday before big weekends, they host an invite-only champagne event, which sounds classy but really it's just Andre, so don't get too excited. You'll be able to identify an SAE pledge in the fall because he'll be wearing a suit on Wednesdays (full disclosure: Jay is in SAE). Correponding animal: weasel
Sigma Nu
The brothers of Sig Nu are a welcoming and diverse bunch, and many freshmen enjoy playing a game of pong or two here. However, they also play a variant of the game known as "electricity," which has special rules that we don't understand because we are horrible at pong. Sig Nu throws a popular 80s Party each term, so be sure to bring up your leg warmers or full-body spandex onesie. Corresponding animal: Snorlax
Sigma Phi Epsilon
SigEp is a fraternity famous for its "Balanced Man Program," a practice that eliminates the fraternity's pledge term and encourages brotherly bonding. SigEp hosts events including a Paint Party, a Foam Party over sophomore Summer, and convention, a fratstar-only event that occurs over big weekends. Many SigEps are members of the Ultimate Frisbee team or performance ensembles, particularly a cappella groups. They also have a beautiful new house, so if you care about your health, maybe hang out here to avoid contracting all sorts of diseases that are likely dwelling in other fraternities. Corresponding animal: koala
Theta Delta Chi
Many of the brothers of the "Boom Boom Lodge," as it's often known, are members of Big Green sports teams including lacrosse and football. Theta Delt throws a popular, festive event called TDXmas in the late fall, and over Green Key Weekend in the spring, they host a Pig Roast. Corresponding animal: crocodile
Zeta Psi
Zete, along with Beta, is another recently rerecognized fraternity on campus although, unlike Beta, Zete has a brand-new house. Zete has a pristine basement and dorm-like armenities relatively foreign concepts when it comes to fraternities. Brothers here also tend to go all out for their tails events with sororities and more generally are very hospitable to guests. Their house drink is called Afterglow, and while we're not sure what's in it, it's pretty tasty. Corresponding animal: frog
SORORITIES
Alpha Phi
APhi is Dartmouth's second newest sorority, arriving to campus in 2006. The women of APhi are known for their emphasis on philanthropy they host an annual Red Dress Gala, an event that supports the Amercan Heart Association. Many APhis are also members of the track team, though their sisterhood is actually very diverse. They are also expected to be receiving a chapter house in the next couple of months, which they are very excited about. Corresponding animal: flamingo
Alpha Xi Delta
AZD is a diverse national sorority they can't hold open events because of their national status, but that doesn't prevent them from having a good time in other places on campus. The house is an assorted mixture of athletes, academics and a handful of real partygoers. Side note: who knew that xi was a greek letter? Corresponding animal: owl
Delta Delta Delta
A collision of type-A personalities, Tri-Delt is home to some of the most active leaders on campus. Tri-Delt, a national sorority, also has a large contingency of student athletes, ranging from softball players to track stars. If you have the need to refuel during Green Key, mosey on down Webster Avenue and get your fill at their all-you-can-eat pancake brunch, D-Hop (Full disclosure: Chidi is in TriDelt). Corresponding animal: dove
Epsilon Kappa Theta
Need to get your fix of music and friendship? Look no further than EKT's musical festival, Thetaroo, happening during each of Dartmouth's four big weekends. One of Dartmouth's only three local sororities, Theta's Victorian-style physical plant (it looks like a gingerbread house!) is one of the most welcoming, for freshman and upperclassmen alike. Corresponding animal: rabbit
Kappa Delta
Dartmouth's newest sorority, KD is made up of a group of diverse women who come from all corners of campus. Since it arrived in 2009, KD has made quite an impact on campus they hosted a 5k Shamrock Walk and co-host many events with different fraternities, though they don't yet have a physical plant, Dartmouth plans to furnish them with a house in the next few years. Corresponding animal: dolphin
Kappa Delta Epsilon
Another local house, KDE is the sorority that hosts the largest number of open campus events. KDE women often celebrate a love of flair, embodied by their "Tackies" event, during which partygoers typically wear absurd, bright-colored clothing. By contrast, these ladies also host a very well attended Derby party in the spring, where guests are expected to dress up and pay homage to the styles of the South. KDEs are active campus leaders who also enjoy playing pong in their basement.Corresponding animal: macaw
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Kappa is Dartmouth's oldest national sorority. Last winter, KKG hosted one of kollege's klassiest kocktail parties Kappa Krush. This house has an eclectic blend of athletes, future Wall Street execs and fashionistas. These ladies enjoy lounging on the Collis porch on a sunny day, power-walking and travelling in numbers. Corresponding animal: Siamese cat
Sigma Delta
The ladies of Sigma Delt know how to have a good time. One of Dartmouth's local sororities, Sigma Delt occasionally hosts open campus social events such as their "Heaven and Hell" party, which features different events in both the basement and the upstairs of the house, and the Last Chance Dance, held at the end of Senior Week in the Spring term. This sorority also attracts many athletes, including rugby players and members of the water polo team. Sigma Delts love to play pong, and they love to tell you they love pong. Corresponding animal: honey badger
CO-ED FRATERNITIES
Alpha Theta
Alpha Theta is best known for its regular Mellows event, which is a non-alcoholic party featuring different marshmallow-themed treats. For all of you crazy partiers out there, though, Alpha Theta also hosts their popular Seven Deadly Sins party, which features a cocktail for each sin, and their super clean basement is a good venue for testing out your new pong skills. Corresponding animal: sloth
Phi Tau
Phi Tau is perhaps most famous for its "Milque and Cookies" event all of campus is invited to bake any variety of cookies they would like at their house in the days leading up to the event, and then on Friday, the house is opened to hungry guests. No one knows just what is in their "milque," but that doesn't stop people from drinking it. Corresponding animal: reindeer
The Tabard
Tabard prides itself on sexual openness, seen in its faux Greek letters, Sigma Epsilon Chi (SEX). This is also reflected in their regular Lingerie Party, during which Dartmouth students are given the opportunity to release all sorts of inhibitions in a striptease on stage. Over big weekends, Tabard also throws a raging Disco Inferno party. This co-ed is also well known for being especially LGBT-friendly. Corresponding animal: peacock
