Whether it’s plastered with red wrapping paper like a Christmas gift waiting to be opened, or white and nondescript like its Fraternity Row counterparts, the front door of Sigma Phi Epsilon stands out from the fraternity’s nationwide chapters.
Across the country, Sigma Phi Epsilon chapters paint their doors red. But at this university — where the fraternity has had a chapter since fall 2003 — members have been told the chances of getting such a project approved are slim because of a university policy enforcing uniformity among house exteriors.
“It would give us a lifetime of an identity,” said Mark Rabinowitz, founder and former president of Sigma Phi Epsilon. “As nice as it is to have everything uniform, it’s nice to see that red door and know that’s a place that you can call home.”
As members have talked with Greek officials, the fraternity has sought ways around the policy to make the door appear red. Red wrapping paper remains on the door from last semester, and fraternity members have jokingly discussed placing a sheet of clear plastic on the door and painting it, so they could peel it off if the university told them to. Some members think Sigma Phi Epsilon chapters from other campuses should come and paint the door.
The tradition began at the fraternity’s alpha chapter at Syracuse University in the 1920s, when members painted the front doors of the chapter house red, one of the fraternity’s official colors, as a sign of welcome for brothers who served in World War I. The tradition spread and eventually came to mean that any Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity member is welcome at any chapter house, a code called the Red Door Policy.
“You go to a campus and see a red door, you know it’s a Sig Ep [and] you’re always welcome,” Rabinowitz said.
John Weir, director of real estate for Sigma Phi Epsilon’s national headquarters, said all but a handful of the more than 250 chapter houses across the country have red doors but stressed that it’s only a tradition.
“Either way, the actions of the men make them Sig Eps, not the color of the front door,” he said.
But chapter President Jon Hodax said the first thing each visiting member asks when he comes to this university’s chapter is why the front door is unpainted.
“It’s a surprise to everyone who comes,” he said.
Jim Osteen, assistant to the vice president of student affairs, said the university wants to maintain the consistency of Fraternity Row houses.
“Fraternity Row is a very visible part of the campus, and it represents a lot of tradition,” he said. “The appearance is something the campus worries about.”
Bob Nichols, assistant director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, said that though several fraternities have requested similar projects, such as painting window shutters or posting fraternity letters on columns, he will not approve them because he wants to protect Fraternity Row’s history and uphold administrative precedents.
The university’s policy troubles the campus chapters’ members, who see it as outdated and restricting.
“It’s an old rule,” Rabinowitz said, noting that the policy aims to prevent structural changes, not paint jobs. “A red door [is] not going to change how the Row’s going to look too much… As long as it’s approved and it’s something that’s tasteful and classy, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.”
Fraternity member Adam Silverman, a sophomore economics and government and politics major, agreed.
“I understand Maryland not wanting us to paint it, but I still don’t see what the big deal is,” he said. “If they really hate it, when we move out they can paint it.”
“It’s frustrating,” sophomore marketing major Steve Snowman added. “I want it to be there, but you gotta follow the rules.”
But Nichols said if the Greek Life office approved Sigma Phi Epsilon painting its door, it would have to approve other fraternities’ outdoor decoration requests, and those projects would significantly alter the face of Fraternity Row and break the buildings’ aesthetic consistency.
“It has that sense of collegiate environment that I think you would lose if you kind of said, ‘Do whatever,’” he said.
He said Sigma Phi Epsilon could paint the inside of its door red, and though Rabinowitz said the chapter may do that, he said it could not replace painting the outside.
“It’s not the same thing,” he said. “The purpose of the red door is for people on the outside to see.”
Rabinowitz said the chapter will probably not push for permission to the paint its door again for a few more years because it’s not high on the fraternity’s priority list.
“We just have to sort of accept the fact that we can’t have a red door,” he said. “We respect that and understand that… People can still see the letters on the house.”
But Hodax took issue with Nichols’ reasons, especially about preserving Fraternity Row’s historical look.
“Fraternity Row isn’t very historical. The policy of making the door red has been around longer than Fraternity Row has been where it is,” he said.
Hodax said the chapter will continue to seek approval from OFSL.
“We really pride ourselves that we have what we consider an exceptional house,” he said. We know we can make things look respectful and nice. We’d just like the opportunity to do that with the door.”
