PI
Colorado at Boulder

FOUNDED ON
2.16.1915

LOCATION
Boulder, CO

HISTORY
The University of Colorado was founded five months before Colorado was admitted to the United States in 1876. The legislature concurrently authorized the Colorado School of Mines and Colorado Agricultural College, now Colorado State University. The cornerstone of the building that became Old Main was laid on September 20, 1875. The doors of the University opened on September 5, 1877. Much of the campus has building architecture styled by Charles Klauder of rough, textured sandstone walls with sloping, multi-leveled red-tiled roofs and Indiana limestone trim.

The Hillside Club was formed at the University of Colorado in 1905 as a boarding club. In 1908, a number of its members, desiring a more active social organization, formed a local fraternity known as the Sans Souci Club. John L. Stivers, Yale ‘08, interested the local in Alpha Sigma Phi, and a petition was submitted in 1914.  Installation took place on February 5, 1915, at Xi Chapter. 

There were three early houses before Pi built a chapter house at 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue in 1927. Financial and membership losses led to relocation in 1939, and the Chapter soon became inactive.

After World War II, Pi Chapter was revived in 1949 by Z. E. Smith, IIT ‘47. It obtained housing at 1052 Twelfth Street. In 1954, the Chapter moved to 1125 Pleasant Street, Boulder. The chapter newsletter was “Mile High Sig.” The Chapter closed again in 1957, having initiated 414 members. An interest group formed on the campus led by Randy Pacheco in 1990, but he was unable to progress toward a permanent organization.

In the fall of 2011, staff member Geoff McDonald, Hartwick ‘05, led an expansion effort at the University. McDonald recruited 30 members with the first Pledge Ceremony occurring on October 13, 2011. The group was colonized later the fall and the first Initiation Ceremony was held on February 17, 2012. Over the next year, the colony continued to recruit better men, attend national leadership conferences, and became a positive image for Greek Life in the Boulder community. The Pi Chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi was officially re-chartered on April 7, 2013.

The Hon. Wiley Rutledge, Colorado ‘22, was the fourth Alpha Sigma Phi to serve on the United States Supreme Court; he served from 1943 to 1949. Three alumni of the Chapter served on the Grand Council of Alpha Sigma Phi. 

The Chapter voluntarily withdrew recognition from the University in 2021 due to concerns over due process as well as other restrictive policies that have stunted growth.

CHAPTER AWARDS
Records show award name and year(s) received.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Records show brother's name, initiation year, and award received.