In 1913 Dr. Charles Henry Gordon, UT professor of Geology and Mineralogy, announced that he would award a loving cup to be known as the Gordon Fraternity Cup to that chapter of a national fraternity at UT that had the highest average standing scholarship for three terms in succession. The standing of pledges was to be included with the averages of the active members. At the beginning of each term, when the averages for the preceding term were announced, the chapter with the highest average took possession of the cup for the term. The first chapter to receive the term award was Alpha Tau Omega. Sigma Phi Epsilon then led three times in succession and became the owner of the first cup. Sigma Chi was the second fraternity to retire a cup.