Study Guide For Sigma Chi

Front 1

The Jordan Standard

Back 1

The standard with which the fraternity started as declared by Isaac M.
Jordan to be that of admitting no man membership to 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.

Front 2

The Sigma Chi Creed

Back 2

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 1887

Front 3

The Spirit of Sigma Chi

Back 3

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.

Front 4

The Purpose of Sigma Chi

Back 4

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.

Front 5

Founding of the Zeta Lambda Chapter

Back 5

Feb 1962 - Chi Sigma Colongy founded at kent state
October 29th 1962 – Chi Sigma petitioned IFC and received university colony status
March 25th, 1964- Chi Sigma was upgraded from colony to Fraternity
September 26th, 1965- Chi Sigma was granted an active charter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and became the Zeta Lambda Chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.

Front 6

Grand Consul

Back 6

Michael A. Greenberg
o Oversees the activities and operations of the Fraternity
o Signs all charters and official documents

Front 7

Grand Pro-Consul

Back 7

Michael A. Ursillo
o Chairman of the selection committee
o Chooses the finalist and winner of the Belfour LTW

Front 8

Grand Quaestor

Back 8

W. Thomas Geddings Jr.
o Financial Controller of the Fraternity
o Responsible for, and oversees all it’s funds

Front 9

Grand Tribune

Back 9

Rev. Francis “Skip” Flynn
o Acts as scholarship, spiritual and Ritualistic counselor
o Spiritual and fellowship leader of the Fraternity

Front 10

Grand Historian

Back 10

William P. Felming
o Compiles all historical and biographical material of the Fraternity
o Responsible for maintaining Fraternity archives and documents

Front 11

Grand Praetor

Back 11

Terry Chapin
o Provides general advice to the chapter
o Visits each chapter in the province at least once per year
o Authorized to enforce the Fraternity’s governing laws
o Appoints chapter advisors
o Appoints undergraduate representatives to the Grand Council

Front 12

Chapter Advisor

Back 12

Tom Ross
o Serves as the chairman of the chapter advisory board
o Works directly with chapter officers and executive committee
o Serves as a liaison with the Grand Praetor, alumni, university, and the General Fraternity

Front 13

Services/Resources Provided by Headquarters Staff

Back 13

Publishes The Magazine of Sigma Chi
 Publishes officer and program manuals
 Offers consultation for chapter financial management
 Maintains initiation and membership records
 Administers a range of Fraternity meetings, conferences, and programs
 Supports work of Grand Officers and other alumni volunteers
 Administers Fraternity award programs
 Assist with chapter development and expansion
 Coordinates chapter insurance program

Front 14

Zeta Lambda Officers
Consul
Pro Consul
Magister
quaester
Annotator

Back 14

Consul
o Neil Ryan Kress
 Oversees fraternity
 Presides over chapter meetings
 Pro Consul
o Nicholas Charles Ferline
 Runs Post Initiation Training
 Chairman of the Executive Committee
 Magister
o Alfred David Yarborough III
 Oversees pledge class
 Stresses anti-hazing
 Quaestor
o Harvey William Steiner III
 Prepares budget
 Collects dues
 Annotator
o Joseph Scott Brown
 Keeps minutes of chapter meetings
 Oversees community service and hours

Front 15

Founding of sigma chi

Back 15

Circumstances leading to major details, facts and dates of the founding
o Born out of a matter of principle
o Started in autumn of 1854
o One of the 12 members of DKE was looking for his brother’s support in his quest to be elected to the Erodelphian society.
 4 brothers voted against him in favor of another student at Miami who they believed had superior poetic talents
o Lack of allegiance caused a deep rift among the Dekes
 Half of the members felt the candidate deserved their votes on merit and/or loyalty to a brother
o 6 of our founders (w/o Lockwood) believed reward should be based on merit
 Held dinner for all twelve members of DKE; only one came
 Whitelaw Reid came with alumnus Minor Millikin who said the other 6 were wrong on all points
o Runkle pulled off his pin, threw it on the table, and said, “I did not join this fraternity to be anyone’s tool. And that, sir, is my answer!”
 Walked out followed by the other 5 of his colleagues
o In April of 1855, the 6 founders

Front 16

Benjamin Piatt Runkle

Back 16

Quote - "Courageous in Spirit and Idealism"

founder who threw down his badge against DKE's
Fought a member of Beta Theta Pi, who scoffed at his badge

Front 17

Thomas cowan Bell

Back 17

"The Qualities of learning"

Aunt established the first house of sigma Chi
Enlisted in the union during the civil war and rose to rank of colonel

Front 18

William Lewis Lockwood

Back 18

"Honest and Trustworth through life"

Only founder not a DKE
Passion for law, bu health got in the way

Front 19

Daniel Willam cooper

Back 19

"Ruler of the Spirit"
Every grand Consul wears his badge for two years
Presbyterian Minister

Front 20

Issac M. Jordan

Back 20

Energitc and faithful to every task
Accidental death elevator shaft
Real middle name is alfred

Front 21

Franklin Howard Scobey

Back 21

Courteous and loyal in his friendship

18 at time of founding
Could be relied on even in the times of fraternities gloomiest moments

Front 22

James Parks caldwell

Back 22

"True to principle"

14 at launch of sigma Chi
graduated miami of ohio at 16

Front 23

Scholarship

Back 23

Chapters encourage and promote acceptable member and pledge academic achievement
o Maintain responsible and complete records of financial operations and current member dues payments
o Provide annual budgets and monthly reports to the General Fraternity to be represented at:
 Sessions of the Grand Consul
 Belfour LTW
 Provincial Meetings

Front 24

Pledging and Initiating Members

Back 24

Pledging and Initiating Members
o Propose membership only to those who meet the minimum requirements of the Jordan Standard
o To be eligible for initiation, a candidate must be:
 In good academic standing
 Eligible for initiation under any university/college regulations
 Satisfactorily complete the pledging process
 Met all financial obligations to the chapter and General Fraternity
o Must follow regulations
 Prohibiting hazing, physical, or mental harassment

Front 25

Public Relations

Back 25

Includes
 Campus and community service
 Publicity concerning accomplishments through local and campus media

Front 26

Recruiting Legacies

Back 26

Trying to recruit legacies creates goodwill and encourages alumni to remain involved with their chapters

Front 27

Financial Responsibility

Back 27

Pledges and members are to fulfill their own financial obligations to the chapter

Front 28

Alcohol Use and Illegal Drugs

Back 28

Realize the responsibility and effectively deal with the real and potential problems that arise when alcohol/drug use becomes abuse

Front 29

Alumni Relations

Back 29

Requires the thoughtful, comprehensive and ongoing alumni relations program that seeks to meet the social and intellectual interest of alumni