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Sigma Nu

Image:Sigmanucrest.png
(ΣΝ)
Founded January 1, 1869 (Age 139)
the Virginia Military Institute
Type Social, Honor
Scope United States, Canada
Motto Excelling with Honor
Colors Gold, White, Black
Symbol Serpent
Flower White rose (The Classic Five-Petaled, wild, white English Florabunda)
Chapters 195 (including 10 colonies)
Members 206,653 currently
{{{lifetime}}} lifetime
Headquarters 9 Lewis St. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1869 ( MDCCCLXIX) is a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The Virginia Military Institute ( VMI) located in Lexington Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page , P. O. Box 1869
Lexington, Virginia, USA
Homepage http://www.sigmanu.org

ΣΝ (Sigma Nu) is an undergraduate college fraternity with chapters in the United States and Canada. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Fraternities and sororities (from the Latin words la frater and la soror, meaning "brother" and "sister" respectively are fraternal Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. This article refers to the general definition of cadet A Cadet may also be a member of the Cadets, a historical Russian Political party. The Virginia Military Institute ( VMI) located in Lexington Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior Lexington is an Independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state Founders James Frank Hopkins, Judge Greenfield Quarles and James McIlvaine Riley formed Sigma Nu shortly after Hopkins witnessed what he considered a hazing ritual by upperclassmen at the Virginia Military Institute. James Frank Hopkins (b December 30 1845, Ripley Mississippi) was a Confederate Army volunteer and founder of the Sigma Nu fraternity at Greenfield Quarles was one of the founders of Sigma Nu fraternity. James McIlvaine Riley ( May 16 1849 - May 6 1911) entered the Virginia Military Institute (VMI in the fall of 1866 Hazing is an often Ritualistic test and a task which may constitute Harassment, Abuse or Humiliation with requirements to perform random often Sigma Nu's existence remained secret until the founders publicly announced their new society on the first day of January 1869, the accepted birth date of Sigma Nu Fraternity.

The Fraternity's values are summarized as an adherence to the principles of brotherly Love, Truth, and Honor. Because of its military heritage, Sigma Nu retains many military trappings in its chapter ranks and traditions, and places much importance on the concept of personal honor. Today, Sigma Nu honors its founders' integrity as the basis of its strictly enforced ban on hazing. Sigma Nu is also one-third of the Lexington Triad, along with Kappa Alpha Order and Alpha Tau Omega all of which were founded in Lexington Virginia. History Kappa Alpha Order was originally founded as Phi Kappa Chi on December 21 1865, at Washington and Lee University in Lexington Virginia. This article is about the student fraternity in the United States

Contents

History

Sigma Nu's history began in the period following the American Civil War, when a Confederate veteran from Mississippi enrolled at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington Virginia. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South The Confederate States of America (also called the Confederacy, the Confederate States, and CSA) formed as the government set up from 1861 Mississippi ( is a state located in the Deep South of the United States That cadet was James Frank Hopkins, and it is to him and two of his classmates that Sigma Nu owes its existence. When Hopkins enrolled at VMI, the South was in a state of turmoil, only beginning to recover from its devastating military defeat. VMI was recognized for its civil engineering program at a time when the South needed engineers to repair its bridges, railroads and general infrastructure. At the Institute, cadets suffered from the aftermath of war and its disruption of 19th Century home life. No less insufferable was the institutional system of physical harassment imposed on lower classmen by their own upper classmen.

Hopkins had experienced military subservience during the war, and was willing to tolerate a reasonable amount of constraint intended to induce discipline. However, Hopkins was unwilling to accept any amount of hazing, as then tolerated at VMI, in the name of his Christian faith. "Not one ounce of hazing" was he willing to suffer and he was doggedly adamant to eliminate it.

Today, a portion of the limestone outcropping where the Fraternity was founded sits outside its Lexington headquarters.
Today, a portion of the limestone outcropping where the Fraternity was founded sits outside its Lexington headquarters.

Two classmates and close friends who were also unhappy with the hazing situation soon joined Hopkins. They were Greenfield Quarles, from Arkansas, a Kentuckian by birth, and James McIlvaine Riley from St. Louis, Missouri. The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. These three men began a movement to completely abolish the hazing system at VMI. Their efforts climaxed on a moonlit October night in 1868, presumably following Bible study at the superintendent's home, when the three met at a limestone outcropping on the edge of the VMI parade ground. Hopkins, Quarles and Riley clasped hands on the Bible and made a solemn pledge to form a new brotherhood.

The vows taken by these three Founders bound them together to oppose hazing at VMI and encouraged the application of the Principle of Honor in all their relationships. That the founders should adopt Honor as a guiding principle was a natural move since a rigid code of Honor was already an established tradition of the VMI Corps of Cadets. The Honor system at VMI required each cadet to conform to the duty imposed by his conscience that each act be governed by a high sense of honor.

The founders of Sigma Nu

"The Founding of Sigma Nu" by James B. Settles (Gamma Omicron)
"The Founding of Sigma Nu" by James B. Settles (Gamma Omicron)

Announcement

Although the Sigma Nu Fraternity began in October 1868, its existence was kept secret until the founders publicly announced their new society on the first day of January 1869, the accepted birth date of Sigma Nu. James Frank Hopkins (b December 30 1845, Ripley Mississippi) was a Confederate Army volunteer and founder of the Sigma Nu fraternity at Greenfield Quarles was one of the founders of Sigma Nu fraternity. James McIlvaine Riley ( May 16 1849 - May 6 1911) entered the Virginia Military Institute (VMI in the fall of 1866 In those days the Institute did not close for "breaks" as we know them. It suspended classes only for the day on such occasions as Christmas and New Year's Day.

The fraternity's spiritual birth, however, actually occurred in 1866, the year the Founders entered VMI, when Hopkins first rebelled against hazing at the Institute. Still, the Founders did not create Sigma Nu with any feeling of animosity toward others; rather they were prompted by the impulses of sympathy and affection for all people, which underlie abiding peace and contentment. They had experienced enough hate and destruction all during and after the War. They wanted to end all abuses, and they knew it would not come easily. It was never an issue of who won or lost the War. It was only an issue of winning the peace.

The new fraternity needed an identifying symbol, and Founder Hopkins designed a badge for the members to wear on their uniforms. That badge was patterned after the White Cross of the French Légion d'honneur, which was worn on the uniform of a favorite professor of Hopkins. The badge was first introduced in the spring of 1869. Keeping with the Founders' decree, the Badge has remained unchanged ever since, except in size and the raised center. Even today, the collegiate Commander's Badge, and the Badge of the Grand Officers remain identical to Hopkins' original badge. When the first slate of Officers was chosen, Riley, the most popular, was elected Commander and Hopkins the Lieutenant Commander. Typically, Hopkins, the epitome of humbleness, was delighted that "Mac" Riley was chosen leader. It gave Hopkins "the doer", thinker, planner, along with Quarles who had similar talent, more of an opportunity to concentrate on solidifying Alpha before he graduated in 1870. By the 1869 commencement, the group had grown to fifty-one members. [1]

Expansion

Expansion began for Sigma Nu in 1870 after the graduation of the Founders, when the mother chapter at VMI, then known as Chapter I, approved the establishment of a chapter at the University of Virginia. In addition, many of the graduating Brothers from VMI were given charters that they could grant to collegiate chapters near where they settled. Many of these chapters would not survive, as a number of states passed anti-fraternity laws during the decade.

Sigma Nu established a chapter at North Georgia Agricultural College in 1881, soon after Georgia's law was repealed. North Georgia College & State University (NGCSU also known as The Military College of Georgia is one of six Senior military colleges in the United States One of the men instrumental in the chartering of the North Georgia chapter was John Alexander Howard, who had graduated two years previously but nonetheless took an interest in the new society. A journalist by trade, Howard read widely and in his reading discovered Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, which prompted him to examine shortcomings in Sigma Nu. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternites is a Compendium of Fraternities and sororities in the United States and Canada first published At this time Sigma Nu was still using the Roman numeral designation for chapters. Roman numerals are a Numeral system originating in ancient Rome, adapted from Etruscan numerals. Howard felt that the fraternity should adopt a Greek-letter designation according to the founding date of the chapter. Thus, his own chapter at North Georgia became Kappa, while VMI's chapter would be known as Alpha. Another contribution was the founding of The Delta, the fraternity's international magazine. He selected the magazine's title to symbolize the geographic relationship of the three existing chapters of the fraternity at that time, Alpha, Lambda (at Washington and Lee University) and Kappa. Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington Virginia, USA The first edition of The Delta was published in April 1883 and contained sixteen pages. [2]

First National Convention

The year following the publication of The Delta witnessed another important milestone for Sigma Nu. That event was the First National Convention, which met at the Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, July 9 to July 10, 1884. Maxwell House is a brand of Coffee manufactured by a like-named division of Kraft Foods. Events 455 - Roman military commander Avitus is proclaimed Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Events 48 BC - Battle of Dyrrhachium, Julius Caesar barely avoids a catastrophic defeat to Pompey in Macedonia. Year 1884 ( MDCCCLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The person responsible for the First National Convention was Isaac P. Robinson (Lambda, Washington and Lee). Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington Virginia, USA Robinson felt that a meeting of alumni and collegiate representatives was imperative because of a need to update the constitution, revise procedures and coordinate efforts. The Sigma Nu convention later became known as Grand Chapter. It is held every two years and serves as the legislative body of the General Fraternity.

Another event in 1884 which had a major impact upon the Fraternity was the establishment of Nu Chapter at the University of Kansas. The University of Kansas (often referred to as KU or just Kansas) is a public research university with campuses located in Lawrence, Kansas City During the first fifteen years of its existence, Sigma Nu was primarily a Southern fraternity, and the decision to establish Nu Chapter was to be the first step in a radical expansion program. Nu chapter was to open the west and north for Sigma Nu. Eugene L. Alford of Lambda was instrumental in the founding of Nu Chapter.

Two charter initiates of Nu who became very influential in Sigma Nu in later years were Perlee Rawson Bennett and Grant Woodbury Harrington. Bennett served the fraternity as Grand Recorder for many years and in 1890 was elected Regent. A regent, from the Latin regens "who reigns" is a person selected to act as Head of state (ruling or not because the ruler is a minor He presided over the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Tenth Grand Chapters. Harrington became editor of The Delta and Grand Recorder. For eight years (1886–1894) he had almost total responsibility for the administration of the fraternity. Other early members of Nu Chapter were the Sears brothers, William H. Sears, Clarence H. Sears and Walter James Sears, who also became influential in Sigma Nu affairs. Their brother, Lorin Beecher Sears, attended Ohio State University where no chapter of Sigma Nu existed at the time. The Ohio State University ( OSU) is a Coeducational public Research university in the state of Ohio. Walter was so interested in having Lorin initiated into the Fraternity that he entered Ohio State University, founded Beta Nu and became its first initiate; Lorin became its second. Walter Sears devoted much of his lifetime to Sigma Nu, but his name will be remembered best for his beautiful prose work, "The Creed of Sigma Nu. "[3]

The Move West

Leland Stanford University opened in 1891. Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly known as Stanford University or simply Stanford, is a private Research university located in Among its first students was Carl Lane Clemans, who had founded Chi Chapter at Cornell College in Iowa. This article is about the liberal arts college in Mount Vernon Iowa The State of Iowa ( is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States of America. Clemans was determined to open a chapter on the West Coast, and he recruited enough men to charter Beta Chi Chapter at Stanford in November 1891. Beta Chi's fame soon spread to Berkeley, and Clemans went there to help organize Beta Psi in February 1892. The University of California Berkeley (also referred to as Cal, Berkeley and UC Berkeley) is a major research university located in Berkeley

Sigma Nu opened the Northwest to Greek letter organizations when Gamma Chi was chartered at the University of Washington in 1895, earning the Fraternity kudos throughout the Greek community for its "Northwest conquest. See Washington (disambiguation for other uses The University of Washington, founded in 1861, is a public research University " For almost four years Sigma Nu was the only college fraternity in the Northwest, having been the first to establish a chapter not only in the State of Washington, but also Montana and Oregon. Washington ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Montana ( is a state in the Western United States. One-third of the state in the western part contains numerous mountain ranges (approximately 77 named of the northern Oregon ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.

Beta Iota at Mount Union was chartered by Walter James Sears in 1892. Mount Union may refer to some places in the United States: Mount Union Iowa Mount Union Pennsylvania Mount Three years later Beta Iota initiated Albert Hughes Wilson, to whom Sigma Nu owes a great debt. "Bert" Wilson served as Regent, but his most noteworthy achievement was in expansion. Wilson established more chapters than any other member of the Fraternity, thirty-two in all, and he is generally credited with helping develop Sigma Nu into a geographically representative organization. Brother Wilson was the exemplar of inter-fraternity spirit. As an aside, it should be noted that Brother Wilson C. Morris (Beta Iota, Mt. Union) is given credit by Sigma Tau Gamma men's fraternity as being the driving force behind its founding, while the collegiate Brothers of Delta Theta Chapter at Lombard College (now at Knox College) assisted greatly with the founding of Alpha Xi Delta women's fraternity. Mount Union College is a 4-year private Liberal arts College in Alliance Ohio. Traditions;Fraternity Colors The Fraternity Colors are Azure Blue and White Lombard College was a college located in Galesburg Illinois. History Lombard College was founded in 1853 by the Universalist Church as the Alpha Xi Delta ( ΑΞΔ) was founded on April 17, 1893 by ten women at Lombard College Galesburg Illinois, who shared a vision of an organization [4]

Headquarters established

Having active chapters in each section of the country, Sigma Nu was now in every sense a national fraternity. Expansion proceeded at an orderly rate, and by 1915 there was a need for centrally located administrative offices with full-time officers. Heretofore, the various Sigma Nu officers maintained their files and records at their own homes or places of business. Fire had once destroyed many of the fraternity's records, and there was a lack of coordination in general.

Following the Denver Grand Chapter in 1915, the High Council approved the establishment of the central administrative system first proposed by Regent Francis V. The City and County of Denver (pronounced /ˈdɛnvɚ/ is the Capital and the most populous city of Colorado, in the United States Keesling (Beta Chi, Stanford). The plan, adapted by Walter J. Sears, converted the High Council into a board of directors elected by the Grand Chapter; all executive and administrative duties previously exercised by members of the High Council and committees were lodged in a single official – the General Secretary (now Executive Director) – appointed by the High Council and subordinate to its direction.

Indianapolis was selected as the location of the fraternity's headquarters, and on November 1, 1915 the General Offices were opened there temporarily in the Lemcke Annex before moving into the main building. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1915 ( MCMXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Bixby Willis (Lambda, Washington and Lee), a past Grand Treasurer of Sigma Nu, was employed as the first General Secretary. In 1926 the central office was moved to the Illinois Building in Indianapolis. Indianapolis served as the fraternity's headquarters for forty-two years, during which time fifty-five new chapters were added to the roster. [5]

Deaths of the Founders

Founder James Riley, who had served ten years (1869–1879) as the fraternity's first Regent, died (entered "chapter eternal," as members of the fraternity refer to it) on May 6, 1911, in St. Events 1527 - Spanish and German troops sack Rome; some consider this the end of the Renaissance. Year 1911 ( MCMXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Louis, Missouri. Members of the Fraternity carried his remains to a burial plot purchased in Bellefontaine Cemetery by the St. Bellefontaine Cemetery (established in 1849 and the Roman Catholic Calvary Cemetery (established in 1857 in St Louis Alumni Chapter in fraternal affection for the Founder.

James Frank Hopkins died on December 15, 1913, and he was buried in the village cemetery at Mabelvale, Arkansas beside his wife, Jennie Barclay Hopkins, a native Lexingtonian. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Year 1913 ( MCMXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Mabelvale was a small unincorporated train station town in southwestern Pulaski County until being annexed into Little Rock in the late 1970s or early In 1920 a memorial was dedicated at the gravesite. Greenfield Quarles, the only Founder still living at the time, offered a tribute to Alpha 1:

"The love of our Brother for his fellow man was only excelled by his love of God. His example has instilled into the hearts of us all the principles which guide us now, and these principles will go down in future generations for all time. His life has been an inspiration to all youth. All that was mortal of Brother Hopkins lies buried here; but his immortal spirit will live forever. "

Six months later, the last of the three Founders, Judge Greenfield Quarles, died at his home in Helena, Arkansas, January 14, 1921. Helena is the eastern portion of Helena-West Helena Arkansas, a city in Phillips County Arkansas. Events 1129 - Formal approval of the Order of the Templar at the Council of Troyes. Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar [6]

Return to Lexington

A monument in Lexington honors the three fraternities that began in the town.
A monument in Lexington honors the three fraternities that began in the town.

Even before Sigma Nu's first central office was organized in Indianapolis, some dreamed of the day when the Fraternity would have an appropriate shrine at Sigma Nu's birthplace, but it took nearly four decades before the first step was taken. That step was the appointment of a Headquarters Committee in 1954. It compared rent with ownership and ultimately recommended the latter in a college town where a Sigma Nu chapter thrived. Inevitably Sigma Nu history and tradition pointed to Lexington.

Regent James W. Bradley (Epsilon Epsilon, Oklahoma State) and his High Council took the historic step in 1957, purchasing without mortgage or lien a singularly appropriate property, a large home ideally suited for conversion and development. The land, conveniently located on the highest hill in the corporate limits of Lexington, Virginia, and on a seven-and-a-half-acre tract overlooking VMI and Washington and Lee University, enjoys the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop to the east and the Allegheny Mountains to the west. The acre is a unit of Area in a number of different systems including the imperial and U The Blue Ridge, or Blue Ridge Mountains, is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division The Allegheny Mountain Range (also spelled Alleghany and Allegany) &mdash informally the Alleghenies &mdash is part of the vast Appalachian The land was originally owned by the son of General Frances H. Smith, the first superintendent of VMI, who inspired Hopkins in the founding of Sigma Nu; the house, built by the grandson of Superintendent Smith, came to Sigma Nu directly from the Smith family. Milton L. Grigg, a renowned Virginia architect and participant in the famous Williamsburg Restoration, was contracted to restore the building. Milton Grigg was a Virginia architect best known for his restoration work at Colonial Williamsburg and Monticello. Colonial Williamsburg' is the historic district of the Independent city of Williamsburg Virginia. The headquarters facility was occupied in 1958 and officially dedicated June 9, 1960. Events 53 - Roman Emperor Nero marries Claudia Octavia 62 - Claudia Octavia commits Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Civil Rights era

Despite the progress, the 1950s and 1960s proved to be as tumultuous for the fraternity as they were for the United States as a whole. With many Sigma Nu chapters requesting to admit members who were not Christians or Caucasians, the fraternity faced a dilemma. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth The Caucasian race, sometimes the Caucasoid race, is a term of Racial classification, coined around 1800 by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach for the " As with most national fraternities, Sigma Nu's founding documents and policies (including the charters it granted to individual chapters) had traditionally and explicitly barred non-white members and Jews, as might be expected for an organization established during the nineteenth century. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ However, in recognition of the changing racial climate, some universities began to pressure the various fraternities to excise their racial qualifications.

When the issue was raised at the Grand Chapter (national convention) in 1962, many southern chapters threatened to leave the gathering if the racial language were changed; the fraternity voted against the proposal, and some chapters, e. g. , Beta Chi, Stanford, left the national organization in protest. [2] (Beta Chi would return in 1987. )(Sigma Nu had offered a "waiver with honor," proposing to allow individual chapters to avoid compliance with certain specific clauses that prohibited them from admitting members of certain groups, but not all chapters found that option satisfactory. Delta Beta chapter at Dartmouth College, for example, seceded in 1961 and became the local fraternity Sigma Nu Delta; although it returned for a few months under a "waiver with honor," it soon departed again and did not return until 1985. Dartmouth College ( is a private, Coeducational University located in Hanover, New Hampshire, U Sigma Nu eventually adopted the reforms suggested, and now counts members of many different backgrounds among its ranks. In 1967 a national convention was held in Lexington, Virginia. At this convention there was a heated debate about the inclusion of potential members who are minorities. There was a clear division between northern and southern chapters. Civil rights won the day and Sigma Nu was changed to be more inclusive.

Sigma Nu centennial

On January 1, 1969, Sigma Nu reached its one-hundredth anniversary. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In the year that followed, it marked that event with a series of Centennial dinners at thirty-six locations throughout the country and with pilgrimages to the gravesites of the three Founders and the first editor of The Delta. A century (from the Latin centum, meaning one hundred is One hundred consecutive Years Centuries are numbered ordinally (e Then on Sunday, June 15, a Centennial Convocation was held in Lexington. Events 763 BC - Assyrians record a Solar eclipse that will be used to fix the Chronology of Mesopotamian history Two new wings of the Headquarters building were dedicated, one housing the Sigma Nu Museum and the other the Fraternity's Honor Library, later to be dedicated in tribute to former Executive Secretary Richard R. "Dick" Fletcher, who had long since earned the moniker "Mr. Sigma Nu".

Sigma Nu in its 100th year had come a long way from its founding. At the century mark it had issued 164 charters of which 143 chapters were alive and flourishing. Of the nine other truly national fraternities older than Sigma Nu, only three had more initiates. Sigma Nu owned 110 chapter houses providing living accommodations for more than 3,500 students. All this had been accomplished solely through the appeal of its principles without merger or honorary members. Every chapter had earned its own way by applying integrity in both purpose and method.

Sigma Nu celebrates its 125th year

Gamma Chi chapter at the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
Gamma Chi chapter at the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

Well into the fraternity's second century, Sigma Nu continued its growth. See Washington (disambiguation for other uses The University of Washington, founded in 1861, is a public research University Today, the number of initiates is nearly 200,000; the number of chapters approaching 300. Many of the fraternity's chapters have initiated more than a 1,000 members, with a large number topping 1,500 and several exceeding 2,000.

Among the many significant achievements during the past decade has been the addition of adjacent properties in Lexington, Virginia, known as the Ethical Leadership Center, owned by the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation, Inc. Particularly noteworthy is Sigma Nu's inter fraternity leadership in risk reduction and risk management matters followed by the introduction of its unique LEAD Program, one of the most meaningful educational initiatives ever undertaken by a college fraternity. In addition the transfer of ownership of the Fraternity's Headquarters property, known as the Sigma Nu Headquarters Shrine, to the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation, Inc. [3]has enabled alumni gifts to assist in its restoration and preservation, so as to relieve the burden of upkeep on future generations of collegians.

Finally, in celebration of the fraternity's 125th anniversary, the foundation undertook construction of a third wing to the Headquarters Shrine as well as a Pathway of Honor of engraved bricks, which provides an opportunity to celebrate the life of each Sigma Nu. The Pathway of Honor will meander throughout the Lexington properties. A special "Pilgrimage to the Rock" was held at the 56th Grand Chapter held in Washington, DC, in August 1994.

Sigma Nu Educational Foundation, Inc.

In 1945, Brother William P. Yates (Beta Rho, Pennsylvania), inspired the formation of the "Sigma Nu Inc. The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn) is a private University located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. , Educational Foundation" with a handsome bequest. Its name was changed in recent times to the "Sigma Nu Educational Foundation, Inc. " The foundation has been instrumental in assisting collegiate members with financial aid supplements, and the General Fraternity in the development of the LEAD Program, (LEAD is an acronym for leadership, ethics, achievement, development). The Foundation continues to support the exclusively educational programs of the Fraternity. [7]

Fraternity structure

Sigma Nu is governed by a biennial national convention known as Grand Chapter, which elects the national officers and votes on legislation. The constitution of Sigma Nu is compiled as The LAW of Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc.

The organization is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference, or NIC. Membership requirements Member The NIC membership requirements are detailed in the By-Laws of the North-American Interfraternity Conference

From its founding at VMI, a military school, Sigma Nu's officers have gone by military titles. While many Greek organizations follow a business or political system (e. g. , "President", "Vice President"), Sigma Nu uses the following titles for its highest-ranking chapter officers, with analogous positions in parentheses:

1. Eminent Commander (similar to president)

Presides over all Chapter meetings and must remain neutral unless called upon to break a tie; regulates who may speak during chapter, and declares what time it starts and ends; appoints all committee members; is the representative of the fraternity for all on-campus groups and committees, college administrators, and off-campus organizations.

2. Lieutenant Commander (vice president)

Typically heads the internal operations, and is responsible for overseeing committee chairmen, often by chairing the Executive Council of other chapter officers. Serves in place of the Eminent Commander if he is not present.

3. Treasurer

Responsible for all chapter finances, dues, and payments.

4. Recorder (secretary)

Responsible for taking all notes during meetings and chapter correspondence.

5. Marshal (new member educator)

Responsible for the candidate education program and the general well being of the candidates; represents the new members to the chapter and vice versa.

Other positions include Chaplain (Brotherhood Chair, in some chapters) and Sentinel (Sergeant at arms). A Serjeant at Arms (also spelled Sergeant at Arms, and sometimes Serjeant-at-Arms) is an officer appointed by a Deliberative Another role unique to Sigma Nu is that of LEAD Officer, who oversees the fraternity's four-year leadership development program.

Full members of Sigma Nu are called knights, while new, uninitiated members (informally called "pledges") are referred to as candidates. Knight is the English term for a social position originating in the Middle Ages. (There is a third classification, known as "brother", that ranks between candidate and knight and is not considered full membership. What most fraternities refer to as "brothers" are called "knights" in Sigma Nu terminology. )

Alumni

Famous Sigma Nu alumni have included men of note in the arts, media, politics, sports, and numerous other fields. Some of the most well known are listed below.

Performing arts, literature, and media

Political figures

Sports figures

Other famous members

Chapters

Main article: List of Sigma Nu chapters

External links

References

  1. ^ Announced:http://www.sigmanu.org/fraternity/ourhistory/#announced
  2. ^ Expands:http://www.sigmanu.org/fraternity/ourhistory/#expands
  3. ^ National Convention:http://www.sigmanu.org/fraternity/ourhistory/#convention
  4. ^ Move West:http://www.sigmanu.org/fraternity/ourhistory/#west
  5. ^ Headquarters:http://www.sigmanu.org/fraternity/ourhistory/#established
  6. ^ Founders Death:http://www.sigmanu.org/fraternity/ourhistory/#eternal
  7. ^ Education:http://www.sigmanu.org/fraternity/ourhistory/#foundation
  8. ^ [1], February 2008
  9. ^ Zeta Kappa Famous Sigma Nu List, November 2007
  10. ^ a b The Digital Delta of Sigma Nu, June 2007, p. Louisiana Tech University, located in Ruston Louisiana is a coeducational public institution of higher learning with an enrollment of 10950 students in the 08-09 year Saturday Night Live ( SNL) is a weekly late-night 90-minute American Sketch comedy / Variety show based in New York City Jeff Tremaine (born September 8, 1966) is an American Film and Television producer/director and along with Johnny Knoxville Jackass The Movie, is an American film directed by Jeff Tremaine and was released on October 25, 2002 with the tagline "Do not attempt Jackass Number Two is a 2006 Comedy film. It is the sequel to Jackass The Movie (2002 both based upon the MTV series Neil G Giuliano is an American Gay rights Activist. Giuliano was the former four-term Republican mayor (1994-2004 of Tempe Arizona. Richard Kinder (born 1945 is a Billionaire from Missouri, and former president of Enron. Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP (KMEP owns or operates Petroleum product Natural gas, and Carbon dioxide pipelines, related storage facilities Enron Creditors Recovery Corporation (formerly Enron Corporation, former NYSE ticker symbol ENE was an American Energy company based in This article lists the chapters of Sigma Nu fraternity. They are listed by school name along with the chapter's Greek-letter designation and the year in which 23-24
  11. ^ Sigma Nu Fraternity: Eastern Kentucky University
  12. ^ Sigma Nu Fraternity: Eastern Kentucky University
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