Founded at the University of Alabama in 1856, the UT Chapter (Kappa) of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity received its charter on June 18, 1879. Alexander McMillan was the first of six initiates, but only four of the six charter members returned to the university in the fall. Although they succeeded in initiating four new members, their laxness in correspondence and failure to send any delegate to the annual convention led the grand chapter to withdraw the charter in 1881. The chapter was not reorganized until about 1890.
The first house the fraternity purchased was at 709 West Hill Avenue. The fraternity later purchased the Oscar Handley residence at 938 Seventeenth Street. In 1964 SAE sold the house to the Knoxville Housing Authority as part of the acquisition of property for expansion of UT in the Yale Avenue Urban Renewal Project. The fraternity received $136,500 for the property and relocated to the new fraternity park.
SAE’s symbol is the lion, and two lion statues were donated to the fraternity by four lifelong friends in memory of Ben H. Testerman Jr., a fraternity member who was killed at Betzdorf, Germany, in April 1945. The members spent many hours repainting the lions after other fraternities made nocturnal visits to change their colors. The colors of SAE are purple and gold; the flower is the violet; and the philanthropies of the local chapter are Golden Gloves and the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs. Traditions of the institution have included an annual possum hunt, annual Boxing Tournament, annual Spring Football Classic, Coed-of-the-Year Dance, and the Suppressed Desire party. The traditional “yell” of the fraternity was: Phi Alpha Allacazee, / Phi Alpha Allacazon, / Sigma Alpha, Sigma Alpha, / Sigma Alpha Epsilon. / Rah, Rah, Bon Ton / Sigma Alpha Epsilon. / Ruh Rah, Ruh Rah, Ruh Rah Ree, / Tennessee Kappa of S.A.E.!
Among notable alumni of the national organization are William McKinley, Eliot Ness, William Faulkner, Bo Schembechler, David Spade, and Phil Jackson.