| Sigma Nu | |
|---|---|
| ΣΝ | |
 | |
| Founded | January 1, 1869; 156 years ago (1869-01-01) Virginia Military Institute |
| Type | Social |
| Affiliation | NIC |
| Status | Active |
| Scope | North America |
| Motto | "Love, Honor, Truth" |
| Member badge |  |
| Colors | Black White Gold |
| Flag |  |
| Flower | White Rose |
| Publication | The Delta |
| Philanthropy | Helping Hand Initiative |
| Chapters | 279 |
| Members | 235,000+ lifetime |
| Nicknames | Sig Nu,Snu |
| Headquarters | 9 North Lewis Street P.O. Box 1869 Lexington,Virginia 24450 United States |
| Website | sigmanu.org |
Sigma Nu (ΣΝ) is an undergraduatecollege fraternity founded at theVirginia Military Institute in 1869. Since its founding, Sigma Nu has chartered more than 279 chapters across the United States and Canada and has initiated more than 235,000 members.[1] It is part of theLexington Triad, a trio of national fraternities that were founded at colleges inLexington, Virginia. The fraternity is a member of theNorth American Interfraternity Conference.
Sigma Nu was founded byJames Frank Hopkins,Greenfield Quarles, andJames McIlvaine Riley shortly after Hopkins witnessed what he considered ahazing ritual by upperclassmen at the Virginia Military Institute.
James Frank Hopkins,Greenfield Quarles, andJames McIlvaine Riley enrolled at theVirginia 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 theAmerican Civil War asConfederate soldiers.[2][3][4]
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.[5] 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.[6] 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.[6][7] The fraternity's existence remained secret until the founders publicly announced their new society on January 1, 1869.[8]
Hopkins designed the fraternity's badge, which stands mostly unchanged from its original form. The badge was introduced in the spring of 1869.[9] 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. Buck felt these influences should be removed. His revision became the first Law of Sigma Nu.[9][10]
There were many efforts in the beginning years to establish chapters at other schools. By 1883,Alpha chapter chartered eleven additional chapters, of which only three survived.[11] One of the many factors was the anti-fraternity sentiment during this time.[12][13]Kappa chapter was established in 1881 atNorth Georgia College & State University, giving 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.[11] He is also responsible for the creation ofThe Delta, Sigma Nu's fraternity magazine, which was first published in April 1883.[14] The nameThe Delta originated from the location of the three active chapters of Sigma Nu forming a Delta.[11]
Howard's editorials inThe Delta inspired Isaac P. Robison, founder ofLambda chapter, to propose a convention for the national fraternity. On July 10, 1884, Sigma Nu's first convention was held in theMaxwell House Hotel inNashville, Tennessee.[15][16] The first national headquarters for the fraternity was established inIndianapolis in 1915. It relocated toLexington, Virginia in 1958.[3] Additional wings were added to the headquarters building in 1969 and 1994 for Sigma Nu's 100th and 125th anniversaries.
In 1909, Sigma Nu was a founding member of theNorth American Interfraternity Conference.[17]
This first chapter of Sigma Nu chose as its mottonulli secundus, a Latin phrase meaning "second to none."[9] The fraternity's values are summarized by the principles or pillars 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. The fraternity's mission statement is:
Sigma Nu's colors are black, white, and gold.[14] Its flower is the white rose, specifically the wild English 'Floribunda.[14] Its song is "The White Star of Sigma Nu".[14] Its publication isThe Delta.[19]
Its gold badge was designed by Hopkins, one of the fraternity's founders.[14] It has a round center with a golden coiled serpent on a black enamel background.[14] From the center are five arms that feature a pair of crossed swords and a single letter on a background of white enamel; the letters collectively spell the Greek lettersΣΝΕΤΤ.[14] Its pledge pin looks like the center of the member's badge.[14]
The fraternity sponsors various programming including ethical leadership development through its LEAD program[20] and philanthropic events through its Helping Hand Initiative.[21] It recruits new members using its Values Based Recruitment method.[22]
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.[23]
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.[20][24] 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.[24] The program trains candidates in general life skills, with an emphasis onalcohol use disorder awareness.[25]
Sigma Nu has several awards that are presented to chapters. The Rock Chapter Award is the highest award a Sigma Nu chapter can receive.[26] The LEAD Chapter of the Year award is for the LEAD program.[26][27] The Gallaher Cup is awarded to the chapter with the highest GPA.[26]
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.[28]
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Sigma Nu has some 160 active chapters in colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada.[1]
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 nextbiennium. 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 inRobert's Rules of Order style business meeting conducted by the national regent of the fraternity.
The Law is a three-part document, including the fraternity's constitution, statutes, and trial code. It 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. It may be amended by the Grand Chapter to accommodate the changing needs of Sigma Nu's membership.[29] The first edition of the Law was formally adopted at Sigma Nu's first convention in 1884.[29][30]
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 special duty, the High Council shall act on those situations through interpretation of The Law.[29] There are five roles on the High Council: the regent, who acts as the national president andchairman of the board of Sigma Nu for a term of two years; the regent-elect, the grand treasurer; the vice-regents, appointed members of the board; and the collegiate grand councilmen, who serve as collegiate representatives to the High Council.[29]
Since the founding of Sigma Nu, it has initiated over 235,000 members.[1]
Media related toSigma Nu at Wikimedia Commons
