Sigma Nu (ΣΝ) is an undergraduate secret-letter college fraternity that was founded by James Frank Hopkins, Greenfield Quarles and James McIlvaine Riley at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia shortly after Hopkins witnessed what he considered a hazing ritual by upperclassmen at the Virginia Military Institute. Sigma Nu's existence remained secret until the founders publicly announced their new society on January 1st, 1869, which is the fraternity's recognized birth date.[1] The fraternity has 278 (active and inactive) chapters and colonies throughout the United States and Canada and has initiated over 227,000 members.[2][3] Sigma Nu, Kappa Alpha Order and Alpha Tau Omega make up the Lexington Triad.
The fraternity sponsors various programming including ethical leadership development through its LEAD program[4] and philanthropic events through its Helping Hand Initiative.[5] It recruits new members using its Values Based Recruitment method.[6] Sigma Nu prides itself on its anti-hazing principles, upon which the organization was founded and continues to uphold through its anti-hazing initiative.[7] 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.[8]
History
editThe origins of Sigma Nu coincide with the enrollment of Hopkins, Quarles, and Riley at Virginia Military Institute in 1866.[9] The entering of Hopkins, Quarles, and Riley at VMI marked the first year of VMI’s admission of non-Virginia residents.[10] Hopkins and Quarles, who both served as a Confederate soldiers, bonded with James Riley over the trio's mutual dislike of hazing.[1][10][11] The three founders of Sigma Nu solidified their commitment to each other and to the shared value of honor during the month of October, 1868.[1][10]
Organizational structure
editUndergraduate chapters
editCurrently, there are 173 active collegiate chapters and colonies hosted at universities and colleges throughout the United States and Canada. Since 1869, Sigma Nu has initiated more than 230,000 members.[12] Each collegiate chapter is given the power to govern itself by its charter, and elects its chapter commander (president), and its other executive officers, including a treasurer, lieutenant commander (vice president), and recorder.[12] The executive officers in the chapter oversee several other general officers, including the Marshal (new member educator), chaplain, LEAD chairman, recruitment chairman, alumni relations officer, sentinel, reporter, and historian.[12]
Alumni organizations
editFor each collegiate chapter, an alumni chapter may be chartered.[12] Each alumni chapter may be represented with a vote at Grand Chapter.[12] Alumni chapters typically function through social media outlets and sponsor reunions or other alumni events. Further, many alumni chapters serve as a fundraising body for the undergraduate chapter's scholarship account.[12] Alternatively, Sigma Nu alumni clubs, which are informal and do not receive a vote at grand chapter, provide opportunities for Sigma Nus in a geographic area to "meet new people, expand networking opportunities, and enjoy social outings."[12]
International leadership
editThe Grand Chapter, made up of representatives from each collegiate chapter, alumni chapter, and division commanders, elects the High Council. The High Council is composed of the regent, regent-elect, grand treasurer, and four vice regents. The High Council then appoints the rand officers and the collegiate grand councilmen. The grand officers include the Grand Chaplain, Grand Marshal, Grand Sentinel, Grand Historian, and the Division Commanders.[12]
Publications
editThe Delta
editOther newsletters
editProgramming
editLEAD
editValues-based recruitment
editPursuit of Excellence Program
editRisk reduction
editHelping Hand Initiative
editConclaves
editGrand Chapter
editCollege of Chapters
editAlumni
editAwards
editHall of Honor
editHall of Fame
editCollegiate awards
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "A Sigma Nu Cavalcade" (PDF). The Delta of Sigma Nu. 116. Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc.: 2-3 1999.
- ^ "Undergraduate Chapter Listing". Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- ^ "General Information about Sigma Nu". sigmanu.org. Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc. Retrieved 03 January 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Developing Ethical Leaders". sigmanu.org. Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc. Retrieved 03 January 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Helping Our Communities". sigmanu.org. Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc. Retrieved 03 January 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Recruiting Our Next Members". sigmanu.org. Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc. Retrieved 03 January 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Anti-Hazing Initiative". sigmanu.org. Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc. Retrieved 03 January 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Foundation History
- ^ "History". Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
- ^ a b c LEAD: Phase I. Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc. Publishing. 2008. p. 31.
- ^ "The Civil War (1860 - 1864)" (PDF). The Delta of Sigma Nu. Winter 2002. Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc.: 8 2002.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "About Sigma Nu Fraternity" (PDF). Sigma Nu Fraternity. Retrieved 19 October 2012.