We at The Review offer these Greek house profiles as a general guide for the curious freshman. Every description should be taken with a grain of salt, and readers are encouraged to form their own opinions of different houses. Once “frat ban” comes to an end, go out and explore Greek Life, a Dartmouth tradition, for yourself.
Fraternities
Alpha Chi Alpha
Despite their high GPAs and “impressive” participation in many face-timey organizations, Alpha Chis are truly identifiable by their concerningly obvious desperation to be A-side. They are also known for their annual day party “Pig Stick” in the spring. The name refers to the entire pig that the brothers roast and serve to partygoers. The house itself appears to be a more appropriate place for livestock than for frat bros, given its classic A-frame barn structure; however, the house’s backyard boasts a beach volleyball court rather than a pasture. The brothers of Alpha Chi can be identified on campus by their red lifeguard jerseys that sport their fraternity’s letters, although the last time we checked, their scenes were still dead.
Alpha Delta
Alpha Delta enjoys the singular distinction of having inspired Animal House, a pedigree its brothers will disclose to you unprompted, repeatedly, and with the quiet confidence of men who peaked several decades before they were born. Reality has since labored to keep pace with the fiction: the College derecognized AD in 2015 following a litany of infractions, the pièce de résistance being a pledge process in which new members were offered the option to be branded—with a hot iron, in the manner one generally reserves for cattle. Now two years into its return from exile, the house maintains that it is a changed institution, though it declines to specify which of the available horrors have been retired. Overseeing the reinvention is a standing presence of alumni, who crawl the premises in an advisory capacity, ostensibly to keep the undergraduates on the straight and narrow and not at all to relive the years in which they themselves were the problem. They do, in fairness, keep a nice basement for pong.
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha was founded as the first historically black fraternity at Dartmouth College in 1972. Notable alumni include all-star NFL running back Reggie Williams and the MLB’s head of Baseball Operations Jimmie Lee Solomon. The fraternity has occupied two houses on Webster Avenue in the recent past and currently resides in the Channing Cox apartment facilities. Its members are known for their kindness and generally keep to themselves.
Beta Alpha Omega
After years of suspension, Beta is at last stirring back to life, eager to build out new classes and reclaim a social footprint that had gone quiet. In its prime, the house was known for flipping tables in the name of a good dance party and for a yard that, on the rare days warm enough to permit it, hosted grilling and Spikeball in equal measure. Its brothers could reliably be found wintering in their seasonal igloo, the Beta Alpha Omigloo. Beta’s raucous character came to a halt with the tragedy of one of their brothers dying in 2024 and the suspension period that followed. Now, some years on and back on its feet, Beta appears ready to write a new chapter, though whether it proves a departure from the old one remains, as ever, to be seen.
Bones Gate
Chemically sedated and laid-back, the brothers of Bones Gate enjoy a good bake, which probably accounts for their at-times tempestuous relationship with the Administration. BG has a reputation for dabbling in harder substances, perhaps contributing to its generally apathetic (in a good way) reputation. Don’t be fooled by their chill vibes, as the brothers of BG are known for their ironic approach to Greek life: one of their signature house chants is simply “F–k BG.” They’re known for their live bands and their signature drink, Cutter. Rumor has it that BG has replaced its insulation with remnants of a solid night’s inhalation.
Chi Gamma Epsilon
Formerly a fruit-filled alternative to Psi U, Chi Gam has recently fully embraced its motto “Come as you are.” There is no definitive Chi Gam man, and the brothers like it that way. If you’re not seeking to join one of the more eclectic brotherhoods on campus, you may know them as the bros with the outrageously expensive parking spots. The house is also known for its annual Gammapalooza concert during Green Key, and it has a reliable dance party scene when the Hanover Fire Department doesn’t get in the way. Trademarks of Chi Gam include a hot tub and, uh, small tables.
Chi Heorot
Heorot is a federation of hockey, baseball, rowing, and soccer players united by a common cause: pong. Between the cavernous basement and the Great Hall, the house offers ample square footage for debauchery and hosts the annual final of the tournament that shall not be named. Its members are readily identified in intro-level classes by their incoherent grunting. The fall-term “Hi-lighter” party, abetted by the sheer gravitational pull of that many sports teams, draws freshmen in droves. For Heorot brothers interested in reading this article, an audio edition will be made available shortly.
Gamma Delta Chi
GDX might as well be Memorial Field. The pit in the basement was originally designed as a swimming pool but, for safety reasons, was soon converted to a racquetball court. Considering that none of the brothers know what racquetball is, the space has since been used for more bibulous basement activities. In an attempt to differentiate themselves from the likes of Heorot and TDX, the brothers of Gamma Delta Chi have sought to recruit a handful of literate NARPs. Additionally, perks of house membership now include subscriptions to Grammarly, Chegg, and a repository of every exam administered in the history of Dartmouth College.
Kappa Pi Kappa
Pi Kap is the oldest local fraternity, dating back to 1842. These former Tri-Kaps fought long and hard to distinguish their name from that of a similarly initialed group, but they ultimately surrendered. Kappa Kappa Kappa became Kappa Pi Kappa. The fraternity is more lately known for its frequent campfires and its scarcely populated but passionate pong scene. As a general rule, the mathematics skillset of a brother of Pi Kap will exceed both his tolerance for alcohol and his ability to speak to any woman by a magnitude of ten. When the brothers are hosting an event, they usually end up on a date with the Hanover Fire Department.
Phi Delta Alpha
Lest the old traditions fail. But don’t worry, they won’t, even at the cost of all their social capital. That big white house on the row bleeds the darkest shade of Dartmouth green. A wide assortment of members call Phi Delt home, sharing in a quasi-cultish respect for tradition and universal fear of speaking to women in any way that resembles normal. One of the closest brotherhoods on campus, Phi Delt is known for hosting live bands during Green Key weekend’s “Block Party.” Phi Delt brothers are also known for laid-back “scenes” at the “zig” and for pong into the wee hours of the morning. If one is interested in pursuing a bid at Phi Delt, one should get very accustomed to the taste of Mad Dog 20/20. A lot at Dartmouth has changed over the years, but the big white house on Webster has stood firm—except for the house itself, which has burned down twice.
President’s Residence
While not a “fraternity” in the traditional sense of the word, 14 Webster Avenue has long been legendary for its debaucherous partying, loose morals, and out-of-control, anything-goes behavior. Former President James O. Freedman had a grotto installed in the backyard, which we hear could get quite sensuous in the right company.
Psi Upsilon
Known for their designer t-shirts and middle school-esque cliques, the brothers of Psi U can be seen partying through the windows of their “at-capacity” house. With an uncomfortable basement layout, Psi U’s brothers find themselves hosting dance parties far more often than pong. Regardless of what’s going on in the house, you can always expect a hefty snowstorm. Not to worry: many of the brothers are on Ski Patrol, so you’re in the hands of experts. They also get passes to Killington each winter. Ask a Psi U about his dad’s job on Wall Street or about his affection for poultry.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Emerging from the depths of derecognition since 2015, and from the unfortunate interim rebrand of “Scarlett Hall,” Sigma Alpha Epsilon is back as a full IFC member, and it’s almost like it never left! The house is known for its affluent and boisterous brotherhood as well as its termly champagne party. When not collecting rent from Novack, you can find the true gentlemen preparing for lucrative careers on Wall Street.
Sigma Nu
Despite the national fraternity’s origin at the post-bellum Virginia Military Institute, Sig Nu faced defeat at the hands of its invading northern neighbors. A recent influx of new members has reinvigorated the house at the cost of its nightly Dungeons and Dragons festivities. The profoundly new presence of women has officially scared away any remnants of the past.
Sigma Phi Epsilon
The brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon are not known for much on the social scene, but they appear to possess two assets rarer than popularity: a seemingly warm brotherhood and a genuinely bottomless treasury, the latter evidenced by their cosponsorship of both the KDE Green Key concert and the GDX concert—two events staged, with the serene indifference to logistics that only real money affords, on the same Green Key Saturday. “Building Balanced Leaders for the World’s Communities,” runs the Sig Ep motto, and for a stretch of the 2010s the house pursued that ideal of balance with unusual literalism, adopting an official and much-advertised sobriety that placed the brothers in a somewhat tumultuous position relative to the prevailing social climate. The experiment persisted until a few years ago, long enough that even the local incels confessed to a private dread of seeming “unpopular” should they accept a bid to a dry house. Then, in a partial and overdue acquiescence to reality, the brothers let the sobriety lapse, and the forbidden brew returned to the once-dry halls of Sig Ep—restoring to the motto a balance it had, for a brief and thirsty decade, done without.
Theta Delta Chi
Ever since Robert Frost’s tenure at the organization in the 1890s, the reputation of Theta Delta Chi has been in steady decline—a trajectory now matched, beam for beam, by the structural integrity of the house itself, which at this point is held together primarily by termites holding hands. The brothers of TDX are known for their affinity for black labs, lacrosse, Range Rovers, rugby, and a principled, generations-long refusal to open a window. Come 2:30 am, the Boom Boom Lodge (a nickname earned after the murder of a Dartmouth student during Prohibition, though newer brothers assume it refers to the plumbing) transforms into a sweaty, steamy dance floor—a change so subtle from the daytime ambiance that most attendees don’t notice it happen—where hopeless partiers go as a last resort to find that special someone, or failing that, someone willing to overlook the humidity, the smell, and the faint but persistent sound of chewing coming from inside the walls.
Zeta Psi
Formerly known as the Hanover consulate of the People’s Republic of China, Zete has experience in crafting explosive libations that would make the Irish Republican Army blush. Known for their monthly “Zete Night, Late Night” burger sale, the brothers of Zeta Psi are friendly faces on campus (that is, when they’re not watching anime or wondering how to talk to girls). The house occasionally hosts a dance scene, though most start the night at Zete and immediately leave. If you can find yourself at Zete bar for a pregame, you’re in good hands. For those looking to ingratiate themselves within the halls of Zete, we recommend getting comfortable with ceiling slams, learning how to grill, and knowing what the “One Piece” is.
Sororities and Co-Ed Houses
Alpha Kappa Alpha
The first historically Black sorority in the nation, Alpha Kappa Alpha was founded at Howard University in 1908; its Dartmouth chapter, the Xi Lambda chapter, was chartered in 1983. A member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council—the body governing the “Divine Nine” historically Black fraternities and sororities—AKA distinguishes itself less by the basement debauchery that preoccupies much of Webster Avenue than by a sustained commitment to scholarship, sisterhood, and service to the surrounding community. Lacking a house of the traditional sort, many of the sisters base themselves out of the North Park apartments, and they are reliably among the best-dressed organizations on campus—much of their merch, in particular, is the envy of houses with a great deal more square footage. True to its motto, “Unity is Strength, Strength is Beauty,” Xi Lambda has provided leadership at Dartmouth for over four decades.
Alpha Phi
Back from the depths of suspension, APhi will return to campus this fall with support from their national organization, sending older mentors to campus to direct the group. They will remain without their house for the foreseeable future, or until the college gets around to it. Given all of the tragedy that led to their suspension, we only wait for what is to come for the group.
Alpha Theta
Alpha Thetas are a rambunctious lot, or were, back in the late ’70s. They used to get juiced up and drive their cars relentlessly around Phi Tau. This would continue until they were apprehended by the authorities or the thrill dissipated—whichever came first. These days, as with most of the College’s more reckless traditions, the “Phi Tau 500” is no more. Alpha Theta has mellowed out as well. They are now known more for their capes and top hats than they are for their antics behind the wheel.
Alpha Xi Delta
The sisters of AXiD are better known for their classroom participation than they are for their revelry in the basement. Nevertheless, sisters will sometimes stray from their study tables on 3FB to the debauchery of frat row. Their combination of brains and beauty balances out their absence from some of campus’ bigger scenes, but it leaves them with a B- in social standing. For some of these girls, a B- isn’t good enough, but their grades are sinking so they can keep drinking. We reached out to the house to comment on this description, but the xisters were too busy to respond. They were celebrating the rumor that they might be having tails with Psi U.
Chi Delta
Formerly Tri Delt, Chi Delt went local and boasts a house full of great girls that are fond of flair. Like their comrades in Alpha Chi, these girls are highly active in many prominent campus organizations. There’s only one pong table in a basement that is inhospitable to those over 5’6”, but the sisters find other ways to have fun. Each autumn, the sisters host an Oktoberfest party, showing off their impressive collection of lederhosen. Chi Delt is composed of self-assured young women, but their reputation for activism, social-climbing, and being the “nice” girls on campus earns them mixed reviews. Ask them about their affection for baking.
Epsilon Kappa Theta
Many of the “folx” of EKT are involved in campus activism, and the members tend to stick together. Despite having small pledge classes, EKT boasts a tight-knit and diverse sisterhood. This sisterhood (not cisterhood) proudly embraces its alternative social status on campus. While its members have not historically frequented the office of The Dartmouth Review, we are always looking for new writers.
Kappa Delta
The occupants of campus’s most palatial house, located at the far end of Webster Avenue, formerly struggled to fill it. However, Kappa Delta appears to have been revolutionized by the shakeout process. A sorority that was formerly not a first or second choice has now become perhaps the best option for women who are seeking community but are not drawn to the more bibulous and drama-filled houses. Undoubtedly, the KDs’ most defining feature is that they appear to actually like each other, a genuinely rare phenomenon among sororities or any group of college women.
Kappa Delta Epsilon
A local sorority, KDE boasts an outgoing sisterhood known for loud outfits and voices. Formerly famous for its preppy Derby party in the spring, several years ago the sisterhood changed the theme to Woodstock. KDE’s rambunctious reputation pairs well with its recruitment from many girls’ athletic teams. As it enjoys the most spacious basement of any house on campus, KDE is one of the few sororities to host frat-style partying and pong. Don’t underestimate these girls: they can boot and rally with the best of them.
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Located past the Alumni Gymnasium, Kappa rarely plays host to any notable social functions, but these gals are a staple on the Greek circuit. Kharacterized by the age-old saying “We eat karrots and date Heorots,” these girls are often konsidered the social kweens of kampus, as demonstrated by their social-media presence. Although not as sporty as KDE, the sisters of Kappa enjoy their athletics, particularly skiing the slopes of New Hampshire in the winter. If you’re looking for a Kappa, your best bet is to head to Dirt Cowboy and keep an eye out for the house’s signature tote bag.
Panarchy
Formerly Phi Sigma Psi, Panarchy isn’t quite a fraternity or a sorority—it’s a co-educational undergraduate society. Having broken away from Greek Life in 1994, it is a space for individuals who seek to challenge the Greek system by joining a Greek-adjacent organization. The house features strikingly grand architecture that resembles a Southern fraternity. Today, Panarchy is largely insular and mysterious to the general campus. Unfortunately, no Reviewers are sufficiently alternative to get the inside scoop.
Phi Tau
One might characterize Phi Tau as “eccentric,” but those more familiar with the house might count that as an understatement. Phi Taus embrace their oddity and aren’t ashamed to demonstrate it. If you’ve got it, flaunt it. Their house is likely the nicest of all the Greek houses, especially if you appreciate sci-fi and cooking. Their termly bash, “Milque and Cookies,” features thousands of cookies and a thick dairy beverage brewed in cauldrons. Sadly, it is (mostly) non-alcoholic.
Sigma Delta
The enthusiastic sisters of Sigma Delt are fun and fond of drink, earning the house a reputation as one of the “frattier” sororities. Sigma Delt is a popular destination for frat bros on probation seeking a familiar ambiance. Even so, the sisters are not afraid of their femininity—you can often see Sigma Delts covered in glitter on big weekends. Feminist to the core, they live by their motto: “Sinking Halves and Respecting Women.”
Tabard
Tabard’s lingerie show each “big weekend” attracts freshmen aplenty but is definitely not for the faint of heart. The Greek letters in the wrought-iron railing over the house’s front entrance spell out its famous joke: Sigma Epsilon Chi. Sex positivity and alternatives to drinking are embedded in Tabard’s culture. Whether you are looking for a quiet but eventful evening with Dartmouth’s creatives or a wild night of debauchery, Tabard welcomes you. However, it does keep its basement selectively open.
Contributors to this article include members, past and present, of the Masthead of The Dartmouth Review. This piece is updated on an annual basis.
