Sigma Chi

Sigma Chi (ΣΧ) is one of the largest international all-male college social fraternities, with chapters at universities in Canada and the United States and a colony (developing chapter) in Australia. Sigma Chi was founded in 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon. Sigma Chi had seven founding members: Benjamin Piatt Runkle, Thomas Cowan Bell, William Lewis Lockwood, Daniel William Cooper, Franklin Howard Scobey, James Parks Caldwell, and Isaac M. Jordan. Sigma Chi is a part of the Miami Triad, along with Beta Theta Pi and Phi Delta Theta.

The fraternity's official colors are blue and old gold, and its symbol is a white cross with emblems on its arms: Crossed keys on the upper arm, an eagle's head on the right arm, seven gold stars and a pair of clasped hands on the lower arm, and a scroll on the left arm. In the center of the cross, on a black background, are the gold symbols for the Greek letters sigma and chi. The left and right arms are connected to the upper arm by five-linked gold chains.

Membership in Sigma Chi involves both service-oriented activities as well as social bonding for its members. Sigma Chi's suggested beneficiary for chapter community service projects is the Children's Miracle Network. Since 1992 Sigma Chi chapters have raised nearly $3,000,000 for area CMN hospitals and devoted thousands of hours of service to CMN affiliates.

The fundamental purpose of this fraternity to promote the concepts of Friendship, Justice and Learning within its membership.

As of 2005, Sigma Chi Fraternity consists of 213,535 living brothers in 222 chapters at colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada, and 145 alumni groups and alumni brothers around the world. Every two years, delegates from all undergraduate chapters and alumni chapters meet for the Grand Chapter- in which Grand Officers, the International Sweetheart of Sigma Chi, and the International Balfour Award winner are elected, and revisions to the General Fraternity's Governing Laws and Ritual are proposed and debated.

Most recently Sigma Chi was honored by the United States Congress on its 150th anniversary on June 13th, 2005, the only Greek letter society ever so honored. [1].

Founding

The founding of Sigma Chi came as the result of a disagreement over who would be named Poet in the Erodelphian Literary Society of old Miami University in Ohio.

Several members of Miami University's Delta Kappa Epsilon chapter (of which all but one of Sigma Chi's Founders were members) were also members of the Erodelphian Literary Society. In the fall of 1854 this society was to pick its Poet, and a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon (a "Deke") wanted the position. He was supported by five of his brothers, but four others (Caldwell, Jordan, Runkle, and Scobey) felt that he lacked poetic talent. These men instead chose to give their support to another man who was not a Deke. Bell and Cooper were not members of Erodelphian, but their support for the dissenting four was unequivocal.

In 1854 Delta Kappa Epsilon at Miami University had 12 members, so the disagreement over who to support as Poet evenly divided the chapter. Other differences might have been forgotten, but both sides saw this conflict as a matter of principle and over the next few months there came a distancing of their friendship.

The matter finally came to a head in February of 1855, when, in an attempt to seal the rift, Runkle and his companions planned a dinner for their brothers. The feast was prepared, and the table was set, but only one of the men who supported the Deke as poet arrived, Whitelaw Reid. With him Reid brought a stranger. The six learned that the stranger was an alumnus of DKE from a nearby town.

File:Sigma Chi Founders.jpg

Founders of Sigma Chi

"My name is Minor Millikin; I live in Hamilton," said the man. "I am a man of few words." Reid had told Millikin his side of the dispute, and the two were present to lay down punishment on Runkle, Scobey, and the rest. The leaders of the rebellion (Runkle and Scobey) were to be expelled from the fraternity. The other four, after being properly chastised, would be allowed to stay a part of the group.

At the announcement of the punishment Runkle stepped forward. He pulled off his Deke pin, tossed it to the table, and said, "I didn't join this fraternity to be anyone's tool! And that, sir," addressing Millikin, "is my answer!" Runkle stalked from the room and his five brothers followed. One final chapter meeting was held, at which the chapter was six-to-six divided on the issue of expulsion. The parent chapter at Yale University was contacted, and all six men were formally excommunicated.

The six men soon associated themselves with William Lewis Lockwood, a student from New York who had not joined a fraternity. Lockwood's natural business acumen helped to organize the fraternity in its early years. On June 28th, 1855 (Commencement at Old Miami), the Sigma Phi Fraternity was founded.

In 1857, Greek-letter rival Beta Theta Pi stole the ritual and records of Sigma Phi, resulting in a change of the Ritual as well as the last Greek letter.

Literature of Sigma Chi

Purpose

The purpose of this fraternity shall be to cultivate and maintain the high ideals of friendship, justice and learning upon which Sigma Chi was founded.

Creed

I believe in fairness, decency and good manners. I will endeavor to retain the spirit of youth. I will try to make my college, the Sigma Chi Fraternity, and my own chapter more honored by all men and women and more beloved and honestly respected by our own brothers. I say these words in all sincerity; That Sigma Chi has given me favor and distinction; that the bond of our fellowship is reciprocal, that I will endeavor to so build myself and so conduct myself that I will ever be a credit to our Fraternity.

-George Ade, Purdue University, Class of 1887

Jordan Standard

The standard with which the fraternity started was declared by Issac M. Jordan to be that of admitting no man to membership in Sigma Chi who is not believed to be:

• A man of good character...
• A student of fair ability...
• With ambitious purposes...
• A congenial disposition...
• Possessed of good morals...
• Having a high sense of honor, and
• A deep sense of personal responsibility.

-Founder Isaac M. Jordan addressed the 15th Grand Chapter in 1884, his speech provided the basic 7 points for the current Jordan Standard.

Spirit

The spirit of Sigma Chi, as conceived by the Founders more than 150 years ago yet visible and alive today, is based on the theory that friendship among members, sharing a common belief in an ideal, and possessing different temperaments, talents, and convictions is superior to friendship among members having the same temperaments, talents, and convictions; and that genuine friendship can be maintained without surrendering the principle of individuality or sacrificing one's personal judgment.

-The Spirit of Sigma Chi was written by the Fraternity to honor and pay homage to the beliefs of Franklin Howard Scobey who believed strongly in the ideal that friendship among members of different temperaments, talents and convictions is superior to friendship among those who are all similar.

The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi

When the world goes wrong as it's bound to do, and you've broken Dan Cupid's bow, and you long for the girl you used to love, the maid of the long ago,why light your pipe, bid sorrow avaunt, blow the smoke from your altar of dreams, and wreathe the face of your dream girl there, the love that is just what it seems,the girl of my dreams is the sweetest girl of all the girls I know, each sweet coed like a rainbow trail fades in the afterglow, the blue of her eyes and the gold of her hair are a blend of the western sky, and the moonlight beams on the girl of my dreams, she's the Sweetheart of Sigma Chi.

-Often called the most beloved and popular of college fraternity songs, "The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" was written in 1911 by Byron D. Stokes (Albion, Class of 1911) and F. Dudleigh Vernor (Albion, Class of 1913). Stokes had written the words while in class one June day that year, and presented them that afternoon to Vernor, who was practicing the organ in the chapel, and composed the music at that time. The song has since become a favorite among ballroom orchestras and was used in two movie musicals of the same name, in 1933 and 1946. When asked about the song's inspiration, Stokes replied, "The 'Sweetheart' is the symbol for the spiritual ingredient in brotherhood. It was the Sigma Chi Fraternity itself that inspired the song. I wrote the words not long after my initiation, and the magic of our Ritual with its poetic overtones and undertones was, I suppose, the source of my inspiration."

Notable "Sigs"

Athletics

• Drew Bennett, UCLA, 2001. Wide receiver, National Football League Tennessee Titans
• Drew Brees, Purdue University. Quarterback, New Orleans Saints
• Bill Buckner, University of Southern California, 1972
• Mark DeRosa, University of Pennsylvania, 1997. MLB, Texas Rangers
• Mike Ditka, University of Pittsburgh, 1961. Tight end and later Coach, Chicago Bears, Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Luke Donald, Northwestern University, 2001. Professional golfer, PGA Tour
• Jim Everett, Purdue University, 1986
• Eric Fonoimoana, University of California, Santa Barbara, 1993. Gold Medalist, Men's Beach Volleyball, 2000 Olympics.
• Bob Griese, Purdue University, 1967, Quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, during the 17-0 1972 season, Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Woody Hayes, Denison University, 1935, Football Coach at The Ohio State University, College Football Hall of Fame
• Mike Holmgren, University of Southern California, 1970. Head Coach of the Green Bay Packers & Seattle Seahawks
• Brad Hoover, Western Carolina University. Fullback, National Football League Carolina Panthers
• Don Hutson, University of Alabama, 1935. Green Bay Packers, Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Johnny Majors, University of Tennessee, 1957
• Casey Martin, Stanford University, 1995. PGA Tour, Plaintiff, PGA Tour, Inc. v. Casey Martin (2001)
• Bronko Nagurski, University of Minnesota, 1930, Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Merlin Olsen, Utah State University, 1962, Defensive Tackle, Los Angeles Rams, Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Jim Palmer, Arizona State University, 1967. Major League Baseball Hall of Famer pitcher
• John Pont, Miami University, 1952. Head Football Coach, Miami University, Yale University, Indiana University, Northwestern University
• John Robinson, University of Oregon, 1958. Head Coach, Los Angeles Rams, University of Southern California
• Lou Saban, Indiana University, 1944. Head Football Coach, Buffalo Bills
• Hank Stram, Purdue University, 1945. Head Coach of the National Football League Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints
• Eddie Sutton, Oklahoma State University, 1958. Oklahoma State Basketball Coach (retired), Big 12 Coach of the Year
• Bobby Valentine, University of Southern California, 1972. Player, Manager, Major League Baseball
• Fielding Yost, West Virginia University, 1897. Head Football Coach, University of Michigan, 1901-1923, 1925-1926; College Football Hall of Fame

Politics and Government

• Lamar Alexander, Vanderbilt University, 1962. Tennessee Governor, U.S. Senator, Tennessee
• Jim Brady,University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1962. White House Press Secretary
• C. Saxby Chambliss, University of Georgia, 1966. U.S. Senator, Georgia
• Grover Cleveland, U.S. President (Honorary Member)
• John Ensign, Oregon State University, 1981. U.S. Senator, Nevada
• Kirk Fordice, Purdue University, 1956. Mississippi Governor, 1992-2000.
• J. William Fulbright, University of Arkansas, 1924. U.S. Senator, Arkansas
• Jake Garn, University of Utah, 1954. U.S. Senator, Utah. First Member of Congress to Fly into Space (STS-51-D), 1985.
• Barry Goldwater, University of Arizona, 1932. U.S. Senator, Arizona
• Greg Harbaugh, Purdue University 1978, Space Shuttle astronaut
• Brooks Hays, George Washington University, 1922. United States House of Representatives, 1943-1959, Arkansas
• Jon Huntsman, Jr., University of Utah, 1983, Utah Governor
• Henry Hyde, Duke University, 1946. United States House of Representatives, Illinois
• Jack Layton, McGill University, 1969, Leader of the Canadian New Democratic Party
• Thomas F. McLarty III (Mack McLarty), University of Arkansas, 1969, White House Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton
• Frank Murphy, University of Michigan, 1912. Michigan Governor; United States Attorney General, United States Supreme Court Justice.
• B. Carroll Reece, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 1910. United States House of Representatives, Tennessee
• William P. Rogers, Colgate University, 1934. United States Secretary of State, United States Attorney General
• Nicholas Scoppetta, Bradley University, 1958. New York City Fire Commissioner.
• Ike Skelton, University of Missouri - Columbia, 1953. United States House of Representatives, Missouri
• Mo Udall, University of Arizona, 1949. United States House of Representatives, Arizona; Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1996.
• John Watson, University of British Columbia, 1963. Director of the Vancouver International Airport and President of both major British Columbia Engineering Associations.
• Bob White, San Diego State University, 1965. Chief of Government Affairs, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, California.
• John W. Young, Georgia Tech, 1952. Astronaut, Gemini 3, Apollo 10, Apollo 16, Space Shuttle
• Ron Ziegler, University of Southern California, 1961. White House Press Secretary, Nixon Administration

Entertainment and Media

• George Ade, Purdue University, 1887. American writer, newspaper columnist (Fables in Slang), humorist.
• David Ashenfelter, Indiana University, 1971. Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, Detroit Free Press.
• Warren Beatty, Northwestern University 1959
• Clancy Brown, Northwestern University, 1981. Film actor, The Shawshank Redemption
• H. Jackson Brown, Jr., Emory University, 1962. New York Times Best Seller list ("Life's Little Instruction Book").
• David Canary, University of Cincinnati, 1960
• Stephen J. Cannell, University of Oregon, 1964
• Milton Caniff, Ohio State University, 1930. Cartoonist, Terry and the Pirates, Steve Canyon
• James Caviezel, University of Washington, 1990
• William Christopher, Wesleyan University, 1958
• Will Clarke, Louisiana State University, 1993. Author of The Worthy, Lord Vishnu's Love Handles
• Buster Crabbe, University of Southern California, 1931. Actor, Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon; Olympian
• Brian Dennehy, Columbia University, 1960
• Clarence Gilyard, California State University, Long Beach, 1981
• Woody Harrelson, Hanover College 1983
• David Hartman, Duke University, 1956. Actor, Former host, Good Morning America
• Archie Kao, George Mason University, 1996.
• Pat Kilbane, Beloit College, 1990. Comedic actor
• Ted Kroeber, Loyola Marymount University, 1999. Independent filmmaker.
• David Letterman, Ball State University, 1969
• Peter Lupus, Butler University, 1954
• Ted McGinley, University of Southern California, 1981. Film & television actor, Married... with Children, Hope & Faith
• Patrick Muldoon, University of Southern California, 1991. Actor, Melrose Place, Starship Troopers
• Mike Peters, Washington University in St. Louis, 1965. American cartoonist, (Mother Goose & Grimm); Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist, Dayton Daily News.
• Brad Pitt, University of Missouri, 1986
• Edward S. Rogers (Ted Rogers), University of Toronto, 1956
• Andy Rooney, Colgate University, 1942
• Ben Savage, Stanford University, 2004
• Ronald L. Schwary, University of Southern California, 1966. Motion picture film producer
• Tom Selleck, University of Southern California, 1967
• Booth Tarkington, Purdue University, 1893. Pulitzer Prize winning novelist. (The Magnificent Ambersons)
• Regis Toomey, University of Pittsburgh, 1921
• Rip Torn, University of Texas, Alpha Nu Chapter, 1952
• Bob Trumpy, University of Illinois, 1967. Color commentator, NBC Sports. Tight End, National Football League Cincinnati Bengals, 1968-1977.
• John Wayne, University of Southern California, 1929
• Andrew Wilson, Willamette University, 2006. Film actor
• Don Wilson, University of Colorado at Boulder, 1923. Announcer, The Jack Benny Show.

Business, Technology & Medicine

• Kenneth "Bud" Adams, University of Kansas, 1944, owner of Tennessee Titans
• L. G. Balfour, Indiana University, 1907. Businessman, Founder - L. G. Balfour Company.
• E.W. "Ed" Kelley, Indiana University, 1939. Founder - Kelley & Partners Ltd; Chairman, Steak 'n Shake; Namesake of Kelley School of Business (Indiana University Bloomington)
• Richard Ohja, University of California, Irvine, 2004. Founder of BTPI
• Lod Cook, Louisiana State University, 1949. CEO, Atlantic Richfield Company
• Alex D'Arbeloff, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1949. Co-Founder, Teradyne
• William deVries, Doctor of Medicine, University of Utah, 1966. Cardiothoracic surgeon, Performed first successful artificial heart implant surgery on patient Barney Clark, 1982.
• Jason "Barney" Donnelly, Rutgers University. CFO, AIG
• Gordon Gould, Union College, 1941. One of primary inventors of the laser. National Inventors Hall of Fame.
• Jon Huntsman, University of Pennsylvania, 1959
• Bob McNair, University of South Carolina, 1958. Owner of National Football League Houston Texans.
• J. Willard Marriott, Jr., Utah State University, 1954, President of Marriott International
• Joseph W. Moeller, University of Tulsa, 1966. President, CEO, Koch Industries, Inc.
• General David B. Nelson, University of Maryland, 1979. Co-Founder Of National Accredited Engineering Firm - DnD Technologies
• Vincent Sardi, Jr., Columbia University, 1937. Restaurateur, Sardi's, Manhattan, New York City.
• Bob Stone, former CEO, NEC
• Charles Watson, Oklahoma State University, 1972. Founder, Former CEO, Dynegy

Military

• Captain Maurice Britt, University of Arkansas, 1941. Recipient of the Medal of Honor (1943), World War II; Lieutenant Governor, Arkansas.
• Sergeant Matthew Eversmann, Hampden-Sydney College, 1988. U.S. Army Rangers, Portrayed by Josh Hartnett in the movie Black Hawk Down.
• Brigadier General Patrick J. Hurley, George Washington University, 1913. United States Secretary of War, Herbert Hoover Administration, 1929-1933.
• Major General David M. Jones, University of Arizona, 1936. Participant, Doolittle Raid over Japan, 1942. Recipient, Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
• General Merrill A. McPeak, San Diego State University, 1957. Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force (retired).
• General Russell A. Rourke, University of Maryland, 1953. Former United States Secretary of the Air Force.
• Technical Sergeant Forrest L. Vosler, Syracuse University, 1948. Recipient of the Medal of Honor (1944), World War II.

Partial List of Chapters

• Α Miami University
• Γ Ohio Wesleyan University
• Ε The George Washington University
• Δ University of Georgia
• ΔΔ Purdue University
• Ζ Washington and Lee University
• Λ Indiana University
• Μ Denison University
• Ξ DePauw University
• Ο Dickinson College (although in good standing with the Fraternity, the Omicron chapter is not recognized by Dickinson)
• Π Samford University
• Ω Northwestern University
• ΑΓ Ohio State University
• ΑΖ Beloit College
• ΑΘ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• ΑΙ Illinois Wesleyan University
• ΑΚ Hillsdale College
• ΑΛ University of Wisconsin - Madison
• ΑΝ University of Texas at Austin
• ΑΡ Lehigh University
• ΑΤ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• ΑΥ University of Southern California
• ΑΦ Cornell University
• ΑΧ Pennsylvania State University
• ΑΨ Vanderbilt University
• ΑΩ Stanford University
• ΒΓ Colorado College
• ΒΔ University of Montana
• ΒΕ University of Utah
• ΒΗ Case Western Reserve University
• ΒΛ Duke University
• ΒΝ Brown University
• ΒΟ Iowa State University
• ΒΡ Montana State University
• ΒΣ University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• ΒΨ Georgia Institute of Technology
• ΒΩ University of Toronto and Ryerson University
• ΓΖ Union College
• ΓΗ University of Idaho
• ΓΙ Louisiana State University
• ΓΚ Utah State University
• ΓΛ McGill University
• ΓΝ University of South Carolina
• ΓΠ University of Rochester
• ΓΣ Auburn University
• ΓΤ North Dakota State University
• ΓΦ University of Miami
• ΔΖ Willamette University
• ΔΘ Chattanooga
• ΔΙ University of Denver
• ΔΞ San Diego State University
• ΔΟ University of British Columbia
• ΔΡ Bradley University
• ΔΧ Wabash College
• ΔΨ Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• ΕΖ Florida State University
• ΕΗ California State University, Fresno
• ΕΘ San Jose State University
• ΕΛ Ripon College
• ΕΟ University of Western Ontario
• ΕΤ Murray State University
• ΕΥ Arizona State University
• ΕΦ Southeast Missouri State University
• ΖΘ Kettering University
• ΖΜ Western Kentucky University
• ΖΟ Northern Arizona University
• ΖΥ College of William and Mary
• ΖΨ University of Cincinnati
• ΖΩ East Tennessee State University
• ΗΑ Eastern Kentucky University
• ΗΓ Middle Tennessee State University
• ΗΔ Tennessee Technological University
• ΗΕ University of South Alabama
• ΗΛ Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
• ΗΞ Austin Peay State University
• ΗΣ University of California, Irvine
• ΗΦ Troy State University
• ΗΨ Clemson University
• ΘΒ University of South Florida
• ΘΚ University of Texas at Arlington
• ΘΜ Spring Hill College
• ΘΝ Alma College
• ΘΠ Indiana State University
• ΘΣ California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
• ΘΥ Yale University
• ΘΧ Arkansas State University
• ΘΩ Elon University
• ΙΑ California State University, San Bernardino
• ΙΓ Jacksonville University
• ΙΕ College of Charleston
• ΙΖ Clarkson University
• ΙΗ Western Connecticut State University
• ΙΙ University of Alabama
• ΙΘ University of Dayton
• ΙΚ Fairleigh Dickinson University
• ΙΜ Wilfrid Laurier University
• ΙΝ Furman University
• ΙΟ Western Illinois University
• ΙΞ George Mason University
• ΙΡ Bishop's University, Lennoxville, Quebec
• ΙΣ Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana
• ΙΤ University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota
• ΙΦ University of North Texas
• ΙΧ University of California, San Diego
• ΙΨ Rutgers University
• ΙΩ Loyola Marymount University
• ΚΒ University of North Florida
• ΚΓ Western Carolina University
• ΚΖ Radford University
• ΚΗ Harvard University
• ΚΘ California State University, Chico
• ΚΜ University of Windsor
• ΚΞ Tarleton State University
• ΚΟ Pepperdine University
• ΚΡ American University
• ΚΣ University of the Pacific
• ΚΥ Johns Hopkins University
• ΚΦ Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Arizona
• ΚΧ Villanova University
• ΧΧ Birmingham-Southern College
• ΩΩ University of Arkansas

External links

• Official Sigma Chi website
• Memories of Miami, History from Founders' Speeches
• Literary Exercises