The SSS was founded on August 31, 1841, as the federation of the catholic-conservative, color-bearing and non-dueling corporations of Switzerland.

The member corporations are free to choose any shade of red and the type of hat.

The first four sections were founded in 1843: GV Zähringia (in Fribourg), GV Suitia (in Schwyz), AV Semper Fidelis (Lucerne) and AV Helvetia Friburgensis (Freiburg im Breisgau).

The SSS intended to gather Christian, conservative forces against liberalism and radicalism.

Officially, the SSS is no longer affiliated to the CVP and nowadays open to other political parties.

The supreme organ of the SSS is its General Assembly (consisting of all active members) which is held annually at the so-called Zentralfest ("central festival"), the biggest festival of colour-bearing students in Europe.