Rush/Pledging

RUSH SIGMA CHI
History, the Sigma Chi fraternity was founded in 1855 after the seven founders decided to break away from the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity over a moral dispute. The goal of these seven men was to create a fraternity that was morally elite (and parties harder) to all others. These seven men formed their new fraternity based upon three ideals: Friendship, Justice, and Learning. The mission of the founders was to develop values-based leaders committed to the betterment of character, campus, and the community.

This year we celebrated our 150th anniversary to the Sigma Chi founding with a huge celebration in Cincinnati, Ohio. A total of over 1700 “Sigs” including many celebrities such as Mike Ditka and others were present.
Sigma Chi is in every sense an international organization. Sigma Chi chapters can be found all throughout the United States, Canada, and possibly Australia in the coming future. Sigma Chi has a total of over 200,000 living members across the world. There are 217 active chapters and more than 130 alumni chapters, making Sigma Chi one of the largest fraternities in the world. Your involvement in Sigma Chi does not stop after you graduate, you are forever a Sigma Chi.

On Campus, the Gamma Zeta chapter is the epitome of what it means to be a Sigma Chi. Our chapter was established in 1923. We have become the second largest fraternity on campus. Last year we initiated a total of 30 men in two separate pledging periods. We have many varsity athletes, men in student government, clubs, and activities in the school as well as in the community.

Athletics, for approximately the past 30 years we have been the undisputed Union College intramural champions. This year we hope to continue this tradition. Many of our brothers participate in varsity sports; basketball, crew, cross-country, football and soccer, to name a few.

Philanthropy, Sigma Chi has an internationally run charity called “Derby Days.” Derby Days has been a Sigma Chi tradition for many years. In 2004, Sigs across the world raised over $550,000 to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network. Since the program was founded, the Sigma Chi fraternity has raised over $4.2 million for CMN. In our second year participating in Derby Days, we managed to raise over $3,000, the largest single donation of any Greek organization on campus in 2005. Our chapter has also been active in blood drives that you have seen on campus every semester. We have also sponsered events to raise money for the Rainbow Children's Fund, an organization that aids orphans and needy children. Not only does philanthropy take place on a local level, but also on an international level. Brother John Huntsman has started his own foundation to cure cancer and so far has found the answer to cure 30% of a certain type of cancers. He donates a total of $50 million a year towards charity. And that’s just to name a few!

Academics, are taken very seriously at our chapter. We have many pre-med students and engineers who need to maintain a certain GPA to continue in their program. Therefore, during pledging we make sure that our pledges do not have events that conflict with their study time or exams. Our headquarters offers $2.5 million per year in scholarships. One Sig I know personally received over $10,000 in scholarships.

Ritual, is the most important part of being in a fraternity. As a Christian fraternity, Sigma Chi’s ritual has its roots in Christianity. Ritual is the aspect that sets a fraternity apart from a club. Sigma Chi’s are welcome at ALL other chapters because they share the same ritual.

Diversity, is an essential part of having a well-rounded house. At the Gamma Zeta chapter this certainly is true. Our brothers are men from every religion, race, economic background, and part of the world. We have brothers from as far south as Alabama, as far north and east as Maine, and as far west as Colorado. Diversity is definitely one of the most cherished aspects of our fraternity.

Sweethearts, it is Sigma Chi tradition to appoint a sweetheart yearly. The sweetheart of Sigma Chi is a woman who serves as a role model for all of our brothers and a liaison of our fraternity to non-members throughout the world. She must exemplify the values and ideals that Sigma Chi cherishes.

Leadership Opportunities, Sigma Chi is oriented to developing men who will become leaders in life. That’s why Sigma Chi offers two leadership retreats for undergraduates and one leadership retreat for alumni. The Balfour Leadership Training Workshop that is offered yearly (since the 1950s) has trained thousands of men in how to lead effectively and how to improve one’s chapter. In 2005, 1400 undergraduate Sigma Chi's traveled to Ball State College in Muncie, Indiana for the workshop. Sigma Chi's other major workshop, Horizons, is a program designed solely to develop leaders among our brothers. This event takes place yearly in Snowbird, Utah, a year-round resort. This program is outdoor oriented and extremely challenging. To top it off, the opportunity to lead YOUR chapter is an amazing experience. It provides great skills that can be applied in “real” world experiences. Sigma Chi offers some of the best leaderships opportunities available. The Balfour Workshop has been tested for over 50 years. Workshops of this caliber are not found anywhere else in the Greek world.

“All college fraternities talk a great deal about ideals. Sigma Chi proposes to do more than talk about them. Sigma Chi proposes to understand, to assimilate, to teach, and to interpret its ideals.”
~ W. Henry McLean, DePauw 1910

Dues, at Sigma Chi you are paying for best leadership development opportunity available to an undergraduate. This experience will change your life forever. This year Sigma Chi has set a goal to raise $40 million to give back to chapters. Our dues are normally around $200-250 per trimester.

Career Opportunities, brothers of Sigma Chi are always willing to aid a fellow Sig. Our shared ritual ensures that brotherhood goes beyond each chapter, so the benefit of our shared experiences can be a foundation for friendships across the world. With so many successful Sigs out there, there's always an opportunity to find a career with another Man of Good Character. The Sigma Chi headquarters offers many job opportunities for graduates to travel the world and visit other chapters to help improve them. The Sigma Chi headquarters offers many job opportunities for graduates to travel the world and visit chapters to help improve them. On our national website (www.sigmachi.org) we have an online database of every Sigma Chi with forums that have many job opportunities. On top of that there are over 2000 Sigs worth over 20 million each.

Who are we looking for? At the Gamma Zeta chapter we are looking for men who want to become leaders. We want men who are looking to better themselves and their fraternity; men who are willing to take sacrifices for their brothers. Furthermore, we require a man who loves to party and has an earnest desire to learn the art of pong. You are already Sigma Chi, our job is to prove it to you.

“This badge requires more of me than
the world requires of other men.”
~ The Founders of Sigma Chi