Sigma Nu

Sigma Nu
ΣΝ
Founded	January 1, 1869 (1869-01-01) Virginia Military Institute
Type	Secret, Social
Scope	United States Canada[1][2]
Mission statement	To develop ethical leaders inspired by the principles of Love, Honor and Truth. To foster the personal growth of each man's mind, heart and character. To perpetuate lifelong friendships and commitment to the Fraternity.[3]
Vision statement	Excelling with Honor
Slogan	Love, Honor, Truth
Colors	Black      White      Gold
Flag
Flower	White Rose (The Classic Five-Petaled, wild, white English Floribunda)
Publication	The Delta
Philanthropy	Helping Hand Initiative
Chapters	279[2]
Members	Over 230,000[1] collegiate
Founding Principles	Love, Truth, Honor, and No Hazing
Headquarters	Lexington, Virginia, USA
Homepage	http://www.sigmanu.org

Sigma Nu (ΣΝ) is an undergraduate college fraternity founded at the Virginia Military Institute on January 1, 1869. The fraternity was founded by James Frank Hopkins, Greenfield Quarles and James McIlvaine Riley shortly after Hopkins witnessed what he considered a hazing ritual by upperclassmen at the Virginia Military Institute. The fraternity's existence remained secret until the founders publicly announced their new society on January 1, 1869.^[4] Since its founding, Sigma Nu has more than 279 active and inactive chapters and colonies across the United States and Canada and has initiated more than 227,000 members.^[1][2] Sigma Nu, Kappa Alpha Order and Alpha Tau Omega make up the Lexington Triad.

Sigma Nu prides itself on its anti-hazing principles, upon which the organization was founded and continues to uphold through its anti-hazing initiative.^[5] The fraternity's values are summarized as an adherence to the principles of love, honor, and truth. Because of its military heritage, Sigma Nu retains many military trappings in its chapter ranks and traditions, and places importance on the concept of personal honor. In 1945, William Yates (University of Pennsylvania) inspired the formation of the "Sigma Nu Inc., Educational Foundation". Its name was changed to the "Sigma Nu Educational Foundation, Inc." The foundation assists collegiate members with financial aid supplements, and the fraternity in the development of a leadership program.^[6]

History

James Frank Hopkins

Greenfield Quarles

James McIlvaine Riley

The founders of Sigma Nu

James Frank Hopkins, Greenfield Quarles, and James McIlvaine Riley enrolled at the Virginia Military Institute in 1866. Hopkins entered the institute at the age of 21 and was, at the time, one of the oldest cadets entering the institute. Both Hopkins and Quarles had served in the American Civil War as Confederate soldiers.^[7][8][9]

At this time, many secret societies were being formed on the VMI campus. In Hopkins' third year at VMI, he joined the Masonic Lodge in Lexington. The masons inspired him to create a similar organization at VMI.^[10] Hopkins shared his ideas with Quarles and Riley, and in October 1868, the three came together on a limestone rock on the edge of the VMI parade ground to form the Legion of Honor.^[11] The three founders would go on to bring others into the Legion of Honor over the rest of the year. On January 1, 1869, the founders, along with the rest of the members of the Legion of Honor, held their first official meeting as Sigma Nu.^[11][12]

The first year of Sigma Nu also saw the creation of the Badge, the original Constitution, and the Law. The Badge designed by Hopkins stands mostly unchanged from its original form. The badges were first introduced in the spring of 1869.^[13] Early members, Edward Arthur and Linton Buck, both wrote the original Constitution and Law, respectively. Some conflict arose because Arthur had been a member of the Honduras Emigrant Society and had included some influences from that organization in the constitution. Linton Buck felt these influences should be removed. His revision became the first Law of Sigma Nu.^[13][14] This first chapter of Sigma Nu chose as its motto nulli secundus, a Latin phrase meaning "second to none."^[13]

There were many efforts in the beginning years to establish chapters at other schools. By 1883, Alpha chapter attempted to establish 11 additional chapters, of which only 3 survived.^[15] One of the many factors was the anti-fraternity sentiment during this time period.^[16][17] Kappa chapter established in 1881, at North Georgia College & State University, gave the fraternity an important member, John Alexander Howard. Howard suggested that the fraternity drop the use of Roman numerals for chapter designation in favor of using a Greek letter designation.^[15] He is also responsible for the creation of The Delta, Sigma Nu's fraternity magazine. The name The Delta originated from the location of the three active chapters of Sigma Nu forming a Delta.^[15] Howard's editorials in The Delta inspired Isaac P. Robison, founder of Lambda chapter, to propose having a convention for the whole fraternity. On July 10, 1884, Sigma Nu's first convention was held in the Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.^[18][19]

The fraternity had begun debating allowing non-white and Jewish members shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court desegregated schools in 1954.^[20] In 1964, following a failed civil rights amendment to the Sigma Nu's constitution, the Dartmouth College chapter seceded from the fraternity in protest. The organization did not allow non-white members until the late 1960s.^[21][22] The Dartmouth chapter rejoined in 1983.^[23]

In 2015 the fraternity was implicated in an incident where sexually suggestive banners were posted on a house indirectly associated with the fraternity at Old Dominion University. Banners suggesting parents "drop their daughters off" at the door and bring mom as well caused uproar. The Sigma Nu publicly denied the connection but press sources said the house was unofficially associated with the fraternity.^[24][25]

Governance structure

Grand Chapter

The Grand Chapter of Sigma Nu is a four-day legislative convention where representatives of the fraternity's collegiate and alumni chapters and Grand Officers meet to determine new legislation and operational direction of the Fraternity for the next biennium. The Grand Chapter meets every two years. The Grand Chapter body is composed of two voting representatives from each collegiate chapter of Sigma Nu Fraternity. Laws are discussed and voted on by the collegiate representatives in a Robert's Rules of Order style business meeting conducted by the National Reagent of the Fraternity.

The Law of Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc.

The Law is a three-part document (Constitution, Statutes and Trial Code), which governs Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc. The Law sets membership requirements, standards of conduct, and the framework for the operation of all entities of the Fraternity, including collegiate chapters. The Law is designed to allow for autonomy and self-governance in collegiate chapters. The Law may be amended by the Grand Chapter to accommodate changing needs of Sigma Nu's membership.^[26] The first edition of the Law was formally adopted at Sigma Nu's first convention in 1884.^[26][27]

High Council

The High Council serves as the board of directors of Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc. and is elected by the Grand Chapter. It serves as the governing arm of the General Fraternity during the period between Grand Chapters. Governance of the High Council is relegated to those duties especially prescribed by The Law. In cases where The Law prescribes no especial duty, the High Council shall act on those situations through interpretation of The Law.^[26] There are five roles on the High Council: the Regent, who acts as the national president and chairman of the board of Sigma Nu for a term of two years; the Regent-Elect, who ascends to the role of Regent at the end of the prior Regent's term; the Grand Treasurer, who is responsible for the financial condition of the fraternity; the Vice-Regents, appointed members of the board; and the Collegiate Grand Councilmen, who serve as collegiate representatives to the High Council.^[26]

Membership development

The fraternity sponsors various programming including ethical leadership development through its LEAD program^[28] and philanthropic events through its Helping Hand Initiative.^[29] It recruits new members using its Values Based Recruitment method.^[30]

College of Chapters

The Sigma Nu College of Chapters is a three-day training program held annually. College of Chapters is designed for collegiate chapter Commanders, and the program emphasizes chapter management, leadership, core competencies, and networking. The curriculum focuses on best practices and is presented by fraternity staff, alumni volunteers, and advisers.^[31]

LEAD

The LEAD (Leadership, Ethics, Achievement, Development) Program is designed to be a four-year educational and development curriculum for its collegiate members. In 1988, Sigma Nu created the LEAD Program.^[28][32] Since its launch in 1988 the Program has been updated twice, once in 1997 and again in 2008. The 2008 updates included the online version of the LEAD Program that currently exists today.^[32] The program trains candidates in general life skills, with an emphasis on alcohol abuse awareness.^[33]

Notable controversies

In 2015, Sigma Nu suspended its chapter at Old Dominion University pending an investigation after they placed banners with slogans like "Rowdy and Fun, Hope Your Baby Girl is Ready for a Good Time..." and the story went viral. The national fraternity stated they condemn the derogatory and demeaning language used by the fraternity members in the banners.^[34][35]

In 2015, the fraternity at the University of Miami was suspended until 2018 due to hazing pledges and misconduct.^[36]

In 2015, the fraternity at the University of Central Florida was suspended after a member was caught on tape leading a rape chant. A female student recorded the video and filed a complaint with the university.^[37]

In 2015, the fraternity at Middle Tennessee State University was suspended until 2019 due to hazing and alcohol violations.^[38]

In 2015, the fratenity at Miami University was suspended until 2018 for forcing pledges to over consume alcohol, and banning pledges from shaving and showering then broadcasting it on social media and text.^[39]

In 2015, the fraternity at Purdue University was suspended for two years for hazing pledges, illegal drug use, and alcohol consumption by minors.^[40]

In 2014, the fraternity at University of Nebraska at Lincoln were suspended indefinitely for 62 fire code violations. Lincoln Fire and Rescue crews responded to a fire alarm on Jan. 19, 2014 at the fraternity house, where they found piles of garbage and bottles of alcohol throughout the house, as well as rooms with either no or non-working smoke detectors and three discharged fire extinguishers.^[41]

In 2014, the fraternity at the University of Virginia lost its charter due to hazing pledges.^[42]

In 2014, the fraternity at Emory University was suspended for four years for hazing and endangering pledges.^[43]

In 2012, the fraternity at Southern Utah University was indefinitely suspended due to hazing, low academic achievement, low recruitment, and low financial resources.^[44]

Chapters and members

Univ. of Colorado - Gamma Kappa Chapter, 100 yr. anniversary (2002)

Sigma Nu consists of 278 chapters and colonies in colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada.^[2] Since the founding of Sigma Nu, over 230,000 members have been initiated.^[1]

See also

• List of social fraternities and sororities

Citations

References

• Scott, John C.; Thomas, Charles Edward (1936). The Story of Sigma Nu (2nd ed.). Indianapolis: Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc. 
• Capps, Randall (1978). Sigma Nu: A Heritage History. Winston-Salem: Hunter Publishing Company. ISBN 0-89459-036-7. 

External links

• Sigma Nu National Website
• The Digital Delta