old row

Fraternities weren't recognized fully until 1970. The school keeps Greek life at bay (always has) and hasn't done much to provide any true fraternity or sorority housing, hence the constant fluctuation of upper and lower tier fraternities. They change moreso than other schools so most fraternities don't have a true identity, save a couple such as KA, Sigma Nu, etc.

We do sort have an Old Row, the top 8 houses except for Signa Chi were all the original local fraternities that were established in the late 50 and early 60s. Whether they get kicked off or not they always are close to or at the top.

Before the quad was rebuilt there was an old row - the orginal 8 - SAE, KA, SN, KS, Beta, ATO, Pike, Phi Delt - that kept their houses every year and were always the best houses.

If you replace Phi Delt with SX those are still the top 8 houses. They always have been and always will be.

SNu and ATO were the first two fraternities at Clemson.

Here's the order of Founding of the Old Row.

1 - SAE (Numeral Society) - 1956
2 - KA (Phi Kap) - August 31,1959
3 - Pike (Zeta) - Sept 27, 1959
4 - ATO (Deacons) - Dec 14, 1959
5 - Kappa Sig (Snappers) - Feb, 22 1960
6 - Sigma Nu (Chis) - Feb 24, 1960
7 - Beta - (SKE) March 31, 1960
8 - Phi Delt (Delta Phi) - 1962

Sig Ep and Theta Chi came in early 1970s with Fiji and Sigma Chi following later.