About
Sigma Chi
 

4.30.03

 
 
Theta Xi Chapter - CSUS
SACRAMENTO, CA

Sigma Chi is a national Greek letter organization with over 220 undergraduate chapters at America's best universities.  Time Magazine declared that Sigma Chi is "easily the most solid and well known fraternity in America."  Locally, our chapter is currently ranked as the top fraternity at CSU, Sacramento, as we hold the 2002 title and trophy of "Greek Week Champions."

The fundamental purpose of the Sigma Chi Fraternity is to cultivate an appreciation of and commitment to the ideals of friendship, justice and learning.  These ideals and objectives have been at the heart of Sigma Chi since its founding by seven men at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, on June 28,1855.

These seven men believed that the principles they professed were imperfectly realized in other fraternal organizations.  Although this vision of Sigma Chi was based upon the notion of shared ideals, they believed that true brotherhood would thrive best among men of different temperaments, talents and convictions.

Our guiding principles, unchanged for almost 150 years, continue to define the essence of Sigma Chi.  Like all Greek organizations, Sigma Chi's ideals and purposes are set forth in a secret document called our Ritual.  Sigma Chi also has a set of signs, symbols and heraldry which supports our teachings.

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

The Sigma Chi Creed...
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

The Spirit Of Sigma Chi...
The spirit of Sigma Chi, as conceived by the Founders more than 140 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.

Become A Sigma Chi...
Most campuses have a recruitment, or "rush," period designed to help you learn more about the Greek organizations on your campus.  At some schools you must register for rush (an easy and harmless process); at others you can just visit each chapter as you like.  In any case, find out when your campus rush is by talking with members of the Sigma Chi chapter on your campus.

During "rush," talk with the members of every Greek organization to find out which is right for you.  If both you and the Sigma Chi brothers on your campus agree that Sigma Chi is the fraternity for you, you'll be extended a "bid," or invitation to join.

If you accept your bid, you will enroll in a pledge, or educational program.  The pledge program is designed to teach you more about Sigma Chi and teach the chapter more about you.  The process of pledgeship consists of intellectual exercises, shared experiences, and cultivation of friendship of a higher ordeal - all aimed at enlisting worthy men and meaningful commitment of lifelong duration.  The program is designed to be mentally, emotionally, and spiritually stimulating, and therefore hazing and degrading activities are prohibited.

The pledge period culminates with initiation, your first introduction to the teachings of our Ritual and the beginning of your life in Sigma Chi.  After initiation, you will receive what we call P.I.T., or post-initiation training, designed to help you learn more about our ideals and ritual.