Alumni Day

For alumni day we drove out to Brooklyn to visit and pay our respects at William Lewis Lockwoods grave. On the ride over I got a chance to talk to some of the alumni as ask them question about how Sigma Chi affected their lives. I was impressed by the cemetery and how elaborate most of the graves were. Finding his grave was a little tough especially because my pledge brother Mitch can't read a map if his life depended on it. All in all it was a great experience.

Posted By: Esteban Escobar

Road Trip Reflection

Reflection

While I road trip, i was amazed that the brothers from outside the chapter. They barely even knew who we where, yet they had no problem letting us into their house and allowing us to sleep there. We hung out with them and acted if they had known us since for us for years. We have heard that this is a brotherhood, but you do not really know what that means until you have actually gone to out of chapter houses. Before, when we only saw they brothers hanging out with their in chapter brothers, it just seem to me that they were only really good friends. Then while on road trip, it was the first time that I actually realized that this truly is a brotherhood. Also, you could tell that Greek life was very important at UPenn. Their house was huge and right in the middle of downtown Philly. They ate together which showed that they enjoyed being around each other all the time. I am disappointed that I did not get to go to Penn state because I am sure that would have been as equally as impressive as UPenn.

Posted By: Michael Schroeder

Road Trip Reflection

Reflection

During Spring Break, some Brothers and some new members went around P.A. to check out some different chapter houses. This was a very fun experience. Our first stop was UPenn. UPenn was pretty amazing. Their house was historic and the Brothers were really cool. It was my first time seeing UPenn, so it was a different experience for me. The best part was being able to see how the chapter was different from us, but still the same. It was possible to see the common bond, of a Sig in any chapter. Our next stop was Penn State; all I would like to say about that, WOW! Their chapter house was quite impressive. The Greek Organizations at Penn State was impressive in its own self. At Rutgers, Greek Life is taken for granted, which is a big disappointment, but at Penn State and UPenn, it is a very important community. The brothers at Penn State were really awesome. It was here where I realized each chapter has its own traditions that make them stand out from the other Sigma Chi Chapters. I like this a lot, every Chapter is special in their different way. Another thing that stood out to me is how their alumni are very active. During our stay, we ran into an alumnus, which shows the dedication. I can only hope one day that I am the one who is able to help future Sigma Chi members, as the alumni who have helped us. Road trip was fun, and hopefully I will be able to do it again.



Posted By: Sagar Agrawal

Thieves Caught Stealing from a Sigma Chi Chapter House

Editor's Note: Risk Management is a major concern in our Fraternity and it includes protecting the Chapter House from vandals and thieves. This article shows how it is important to make sure that the Chapter House is secure and safe from unwanted outsiders.

Two arrested for stealing from Lincoln frat house

Associated Press - March 25, 2008 10:05 AM ET

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Two Lincoln men remain behind bars after being arrested on suspicion of stealing numerous big-ticket items from a University of Nebraska-Lincoln fraternity house.

Campus police arrested 19-year-old Zhan Li and 20-year-old Kyle Marquis around 2:30 Friday morning. The arrests came after Sigma Chi fraternity members reported seeing the two men carrying objects from the frat house.

Police say a vehicle registered to Li found in the Sigma Chi parking lot held a guitar, amplifier and a projector belonging to the fraternity.

Police say Marquis had acquired a code to get into the fraternity house. Officers say a big screen TV, several video game consoles and dozens of DVDs and video game reported stolen from the frat house were found in Li's home.

Li and Marquis are not fraternity members or UNL students.

Posted By: Mitch Reynolds

Here are some of us at R U Hungry at Penn State



Penn State



Sigma Chi Chapter House at UPENN


Sigma Chi Chapter at Penn State


Posted By: Kevin Naranjo

Meet the New Member

Name: Hadey Salem
Age: 18 soon to be 19
Location: Carney's Point NJ, Livy
Major: Prebusiness, economics
Favorite Movies: The Usual Suspects, Reservoir Dogs, Rendition,
Half-Baked, and others

Favorite Bands: Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Pearl Jam, Jimi Hnedrix, Queens
of The Stone Age, Radiohead Bump J, Saigon, Tupac, 50 cent; I listen to a
lot of music
Favorite Cheese: Gouda, Brie, I like varying cheeses
Favorite Sport: Football and Hockey (Flyers)
Favorite TV Show: Entourage, Scrubs, The Simpsons
Most attractive in a girl: Personality, Eyes, Physique, Smile, and Humor

Meet the New Member

Name: Chris Algiere
Age: 19
Location: Durham CT, Livy
Major: Pre business, economics
Favorite Movies: Weekend at Bernies (I and II)and the 2004 Red Sox World Series Commemorative DVD

including the miraculous comeback from three games down in

ALCS against the Skankees!

Favorite Bands: Led Zeppelin G-UNIT and any 90's rock
Favorite Cheese: Provolone Baby!!! what??
Favorite Sport: Baseball
Favorite TV Show: Redsox beating the Yankees/ The Office (thats what she said).
Most attractive in a girl: Physique, smile, easy ....to hang out with

Additional Comments: I'd like to know what exactly the Hackler Standard is. And maybe it should be lowered...

Posted By: Chris Algiere

Fraternities Forced Out of Lehigh

Editor's Note: This article is about Lehigh's decision to remove the Beta Theta Pi and the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternities from the school. Beta Theta Pi will not be able to return for ten years due to issues with alcohol and drugs while Sammy will face a lesser penalty. This shows why it is important to have a strong sense of personal responsibility and act within the guidelines set by the College and the IFC.

Alcohol forces out Lehigh fraternities

Two organizations to be off campus for several years.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

By BEVIN MILAVSKY

The Express-Times

BETHLEHEM | Two Lehigh University fraternities are closing after underage drinking incidents, including one that landed two students in the hospital.

Beta Theta Pi and Sigma Alpha Mu have been ordered to shut their doors, according to John Smeaton, vice provost for student affairs. Hearings were held on campus earlier this week.

In Beta Theta Pi's case, the fraternity's international headquarters, based in Ohio, stepped in before the hearing and disbanded the chapter. The fraternity is not permitted to reopen at Lehigh for 10 years.

Sigma Alpha Mu was already on disciplinary probation from drinking-related incidents in the fall semester, Smeaton said. So when Alexander Freeman and Nicholas Benintende were charged with underage drinking, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia Feb. 3, it was the last straw.

Smeaton said Sigma Alpha Mu's sanction is in effect for four years. Both houses have a week to appeal, but Smeaton said Beta Theta Pi would have to win at the university and the national level to keep the house.

Neither Thomas Olver, director of communications, or Judson Horras, administrative secretary at the chapter's headquarters in Ohio, was available for comment Friday.

There are 19 other fraternities and nine sororities at Lehigh. The last house closed for disciplinary reasons was Alpha Sigma Phi in 2005, Smeaton said.

Students in the two fraternities that have been ordered to close won't be without housing. Lehigh officials are permitting them to remain in the fraternity houses for the remainder of the semester, as long as they do not violate any more rules.

"Our number one priority is to protect the health and safety of our students, and clearly in that case that was jeopardized," Smeaton said. "That simply cannot be tolerated."

From 1996 to 2005, Lehigh had a grant that targeted problems associated with underage drinking. Since then, Smeaton said, the university has continued to fund educational programs and policies to teach students what is expected of them and consistently enforce violations.

"We look at the entire campus environment and try to identify with our students, with our alums, with our faculty and staff, opportunities to promote a healthy culture," he said.

Posted By: Evan Hackler

Sigma Chi / Gamma Phi Beta Derby Days Video

This is the video of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority dancing for Sigma Chi's Derby Days.



Posted By: Evan Hackler

Fraternity Stabbing

Editor's Note: This article discusses a stabbing that occurred at a fraternity party one Saturday night. Something like this could tarnish the integrity of the fraternity and is probably irreversible. They should have made sure that they let in the right people as that things like this do not happen.


Student stabbed at fraternity

An unknown assailant snuck into the Lambda Chi Alpha house early Sunday morning
By: Ryan Knutson
Posted: 10/15/07
A University student was stabbed while inside his fraternity house around 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning by an unidentified assailant who wore a bandanna covering his face, sources say.

The assailant snuck into Lambda Chi Alpha through a back staircase and knocked on a third-floor door. When the student opened the door he was attacked and stabbed in the upper abdomen and the calf.

The fraternity asked the Emerald not to disclose the name of the injured student, but Sacred Heart Medical Center confirmed that he is in fair condition.

"We're going to support our brother through this difficult time," said fraternity President Jonathon Johansen, adding that the fraternity is considering the assault a random act of violence.

The fraternity declined to release additional details, but said it would issue a statement sometime this week.

Eugene Police spokeswoman Kerry Delf was unable to reach the responding officer Sunday night, and couldn't provide the Emerald with additional details. She did, however, confirm that police responded to an assault at the Lambda Chi Alpha house around 3:30 that morning.

After the stabbing, another member of Lambda Chi Alpha chased the assailant from the house, located at 18th Avenue and Onyx Street, but couldn't catch him, sources say.

Multiple sources said a group of people were asked to leave a Lambda Chi Alpha party earlier that night, and as they left, the group made threatening remarks to fraternity members.

Johansen said that if anyone has questions about the incident, they can call John Holloway, the director of chapter services, at (317) 872-8000.

Sources asked not to be named in this story because they didn't want to act contrary to the fraternity's wishes by releasing information to the press.

Editor-in-Chief Laura Powers contributed to this report.

Editor's note: The Emerald has a policy of not basing stories completely on anonymous sources. Nevertheless, the danger to the public that the assailant may still pose persuaded us to disclose as much information as we could without going against the wishes of our sources.

rknutson@dailyemerald.com © Copyright 2008 Oregon Daily Emerald

Posted By: Michael Schroeder

Video of The Week

Posted By: Hadey

Meet The New Member

Name: Evan Hackler
Age: 18
Location: Bayonne / Livingston NTWAAAHOOO
Major: History? might change to Criminal Justice
Favorite word: Brah
Favorite Movie: Anchorman
Favorite Band: The Early November / Underoath
Favorite Cheese: Brie
Favorite Sport: Baseball
Favorite TV Show: XFILES / CHUCK
Most attractive in a girl: Face / Physique / Passing the Hackler Standard

Additional Comments: I love Stacy Keibler

Editor's Note: In this article it is written about the party aspect of a fraternity and how the neighbors of a community really did not like the fraternity in that neighborhood. It was mentioned yesterday that the media and others only see the party aspect of a fraternity and they do not see the charity work that we do, visiting sick kids in the hospital, raising money for those kids, and all the other good things to help out the world.

Free of Frat Parties, Neighbors Still Worry

Credit: New York Times

By ROBIN FINN

Published: January 21, 2007

Setauket

IF zero tolerance resides here, so be it. The homeowners of Fox Hollow Road blame the Stony Brook University fraternity that came to play — and not by suburbia’s rules.

Less than a year after it revved up the action ante on this dead-end street, the house at 9 Fox Hollow is empty: no more Zeta Beta Tau fraternity brothers, and drunken legions of not-so-Greek gods and goddesses of their acquaintance, raising the roof in the wee hours, neighbors say. No more testing the patience of this once-tranquil community to the point where a neighborhood association was formed expressly to retract the welcome mat and apply pressure on town officials to address their complaints about noise and constant traffic. Some wives said they feared — not fantasized; this is no Wisteria Lane — that their sleep-deprived husbands might take vigilante action against the collegiate revelers/renters incongruously in their midst.

What was once inconceivable became a recurring aggravation on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, residents say: the trill of cellphones, the slamming of car doors and the reverberation of inebriated farewells at 3 a.m. Kids urinating on shrubberies, vomiting on lawns, tossing their empties into hostile territory. The new normal? Party central.

“It was the so-called ‘Animal House,’ which means you can call me the party pooper,” said Paul Degen, the Brookhaven official who, as senior investigator for the town attorney’s office and goaded by the neighborhood’s ire, coordinated a multimonth investigation that culminated in a raid last month by town investigators and the Suffolk County Police.

The fun house was shut down for numerous nuisance and occupancy law violations, Mr. Degen said. In exchange for exiting, the renters were not prosecuted by the town. (Mr. Degen vowed not to be as understanding if he runs into the group again.) The absentee owners were fined.

When the violations are corrected and the flophouse floor plan is converted back to a single-family residence (the town says the renters made many unauthorized alterations), Mr. Degen predicts the house will be sold. Any peep of impropriety, he added, and he and his squad will be back. The neighborhood has suffered enough.

“The era of the town turning its back on this kind of stuff is not going to continue; it’s over,” Mr. Degen said, hinting that a reconfiguration of residency laws to protect residential neighborhoods from similar abuses is possible this year.

The only sign of recent occupancy at 9 Fox Hollow is nearly hidden in the trampled foliage by the front stoop: a forlorn aquarium with a red beer cup — not dead goldfish — floating inside. The illegal accessory apartment over the garage is empty, too. But the shellshocked neighbors across the street still block the entrance to their driveway with a chain; hard-learned habits die hard.

Perhaps they aren’t being paranoid, just protective. Why? Because of the adjacent threat that lurks at 11 Fox Hollow: another absentee owner and a houseful of male renters with ties to Stony Brook. This house, unlike the one at No. 9, has a valid rental permit, and the tenants are members of the university’s lacrosse team. A pre-Thanksgiving bash they had — called the Executive Party for its black-tie dress code and costing five bucks a head — brought a visit by the police and was the talk of the block. Not because the neighbors attended, but because it triggered memories of their extended duel with the half-dozen frat boys (as well as a few nonstudent residents) who had so boldly inhabited No. 9. Never fear; Mr. Degen is watching.

Now the frazzled homeowners of Fox Hollow, a tranquil enclave a few minutes’ drive from campus, are hoping winter break lasts forever. And that the street’s sudden Internet repute as a party-friendly fraternity row is fleeting.

Not just the residents’ sanity, but also their property values may depend on it. Hell hath no fury like a property owner who senses his equity going down the drain because of an influx of bad neighbors. Stony Brook, which does not provide housing to its 33 registered fraternities and sororities, says that it suspended Zeta Beta Tau (the fraternity whose members lived at No. 9), and that it cautioned the lacrosse players against any inappropriate behavior, but that mollified the locals only slightly. Neighbors want the university, which has no jurisdiction over off-campus housing hijinks, to put its foot down.

“It’s like being held prisoner in your own neighborhood,” said Ken Bencal, a former New York City police officer who moved to Fox Hollow 21 years ago with his wife, Peggy. “I used to say that even if I won the lottery, I’d still want to stay. We built our dream house here. Now I don’t know. All I can say is, when those kids moved out of No. 9, it felt like a gift from heaven.”

And when those kids moved into No. 11? They and their neighbors braced for purgatory. “You’ll never fit in,” Peggy Bencal said she told the students, “and we want you out.”

Posted By: Kevin Naranjo

Favorite Founders

James Parks Caldwell

Caldwell is my favorite founder because he was so well rounded. Not only was he smart, enthusiastic, and multitalented, he founded a Fraternity at the age of 14. When I was 14 I was happy to have survived math class.

Posted By: Esteban Escobar

Greeks Take Philanthropy to a New Level

Fraternity brothers to cycle cross-country for philanthropy

Editor's Note: This story is about two Phi Kappa Phi brothers who will be cycling across the entire country from California to the capitol in order to raise awareness for the disabled. These men are clearly men of good character and are possessed of good morals because of their extraordinary devotion to helping others and participating in an event that is larger than themselves.

Brittney Moore
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 issue

For most students, summer vacation means driving to the beach or relaxing at home. But for two fraternity brothers, this summer will be a Journey of Hope.

Pi Kappa Phi brothers Tripp Plaskett, an undecided sophomore, and C.J. Musta, a senior in biological sciences, will be cycling 4,000 miles from San Diego to the front lawn of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington this summer for Journey of Hope, a cross-country bicycle trek to raise awareness for the disabled.

The Journey of Hope began in 1987 when a brother made a cross country cycling trip for Push America, a non-profit organization started by Pi Kappa Phi to benefit those with disabilities, according to the organization’s Web site. In 1988, the fraternity expanded the trip to found the “largest fraternal fundraising and awareness event of its kind, the Journey of Hope.”

The trip will begin on June 8 and will finish on Aug. 16.

Plaskett said he decided to take part in JOH “to help benefit people with disabilities so that hopefully they can enjoy life to the fullest, as I strive to do.” After he spoke with a fraternity brother, Plaskett looked into JOH and submitted an application. “It seems … that it was ‘life changing.’ (The) stories are why I have committed to give up a summer of my life to benefit others in hope that they will get the same enjoyment from our interactions as I hope to,” Plaskett said.

Musta joined JOH for personal reasons.

“There are two people from back home that I am making this bike ride for,” Musta said. “My grandfather, whom I am named after, died last April and my friend, Daniel Watkins, that got hit by a truck while riding his bicycle when we were 9 years old,” Musta said. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for me. Helping kids with disabilities and getting to see America from coast to coast … on a bicycle is truly amazing.”

There are three teams of approximately 20 to 25 men from across the United States, Plaskett said. The teams have activities planned every day to work with local communities, including bowling, puppet shows for children, dances, themed dinners and wheelchair basketball.

To prepare for their journey, Plaskett and Musta started training on stationary bikes shortly after they were accepted to JOH.

“We both have continued this as well as light weight lifting daily, and more recently (we) have started cycling on the roads when the weather is favorable,” Plaskett said.

Plaskett said he hopes to brighten the lives of those he comes across this summer.

“I also hope to learn more about myself and find new ways to fully enjoy life,” he added.

The only obstacle Plaskett fears is making the fundraising goal while keeping up with his training regimen. Each team member in Push America is required to raise $5,000. Plaskett said that he and Musta have raised about $4,500 so far, and they plan to have a spaghetti dinner to help raise the last of their donations. A table will also be set up on the Pedestrian Mall to help raise donations and inform the campus community about Push America and JOH.

Plaskett hopes to complete his fundraising by mid-April and said that he is confident he will make his goal.

“I am so excited to begin this trip that it will take something immense to stop me from making it to the finish,” he said. “I have no doubt that in August I can start classes knowing that I cycled over 4,000 miles across the country in just one summer.”

Posted By: Evan Hackler

Sigma Chi First Place in Fryberger Sing Competition

Editor's Note: This discusses two Greek organizations, Sigma Chi and Sigma Kappa, who participated in and placed first in a singing competition and fundraiser. This was a good idea for it aloud all of the Greek organizations at the University of Louisville to compete against each other and at the same time raise money.


Sigma Kappa, Sigma Chi top 71st Fryberger Sing competition

March 6th, 2008


By Sarah Kayrouz

Months of preparation paid off for Sigma Kappa sorority and Sigma Chi fraternity March 2 when each claimed first place honors in their divisions at the University of Louisville’s Fryberger Greek Sing competition and fundraiser.

The competition, a 71-year tradition that began with groups singing a cappella on the steps of Grawemeyer Hall, now sees fraternities and sororities focus their creativity into full-scale musical productions complete with elaborate costumes and choreographed dance steps.

An 18-member board and Joni Burke, an assistant director of student life, produce the entire competition doing everything from securing the location to positioning each microphone on stage.

Fryberger is one of the few Greek-wide events that parents are invited to, Burke said. It is a special event for some of those parents who participated in the sing when they were students.

This year’s event saw all six sororities compete. Sigma Kappa’s winning performance was a medley from the Broadway show and film “A Chorus Line.”

Eleven of UofL’s 12 fraternities competed. Sigma Chi extended its winning tradition to 12 years with a program of songs that have the word “girl” in the title.

The Fryberger Sing was started in 1937 for Agnes Moore Fryberger, a music teacher at UofL in the 1930s. Her students arranged the musical competition to honor her when she was forced to leave the university due to illness. It remained a university-wide event for several decades until waning interest threatened its existence. The Greek community then adopted it as its own.

The event has grown tremendously since then. It now takes place at Memorial Auditorium, a venue that seats 1,700 people — which it has outgrown. Fryberger Sing regularly sells out.

In 2000, organizers began to charge admission. Proceeds help fund student attendance at leadership conferences. Starting this year, they also go to a new $1,000 scholarship for one sorority and one fraternity member. The Fryberger scholarship is rewarded based on financial need, academic achievement and campus and community involvement.

Posted By: Mike Schroeder

Mentos Commercial

Here is a ridiculous mock Mentos commercial



Posted By: Evan Hackler

Greek Education

Editor's Note: Everyone has the assumption that people in Fraternities and Sororities are dumb. Whenever a movie or TV shows, shows a Fraternity, no one gets to see the academia side of Greek Organizations, all people see is the drinking and other bad news sometimes associated. This article shows how scores in the University of Delaware compared for Greek Organizations and regular students, what is amazing is that most of the Fraternities have higher overall GPAs than guys not in a fraternity. Many people have to realize that Greek Organizations are well rounded. Also they need to realize just because maybe one Organization may have a bad name, you can’t stereotype them all. This article also shows the amount of money raised and hours of community service by Greek Organizations; this is more of the positive side that I personally like about Greek Life. This is why I chose to be part of a Fraternity, to help out the community in a way I can enjoy and give back at the same time. I would also like to note that the Sigma Chi at University of Delaware was in the Gold Level, which is the rating they have gotten from the Inter-Fraternity council, which appreciates the Sigma Chi Chapter for their well roundedness.

Greek CAP Scores Show Improvements

By: Adam Thomas UDaily News

3:35 p.m., March 4, 2008--Chapter Assessment Program (CAP) scores for fall 2007 are in, and most of UD's 35 fraternities and sororities have outdone themselves.

Sorority sisters' GPAs averaged 3.31 for the fall semester while their non-sorority counterparts earned an average of 3.10. Fraternity brothers earned an average 3.04 GPA for the fall semester compared to the non-fraternity male average of 2.86. The all-Greek GPA rose to an all-time high of 3.2.

The Greeks saw a 92 percent New Member Retention rate, showing that more people are completing the new member programming. Two new chapters, FIJI and Lambda Theta Alpha, colonized on campus and both received bronze-level recognition.

CAP is an evaluation system created by the Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council, in coordination with the Student Centers and the Faculty Senate, to improve the management and the quality of sorority and fraternity chapters.

Scores are based on four standards--academics, chapter management, membership development and community involvement. This year's scores are on the CAP Web site at [www.udel.edu/student-centers/FandS/reports/cap_scores_fall2007.html].

This year saw a 50 percent increase in gold chapter status, with 28 gold-level chapters total, and all Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic Council chapters received gold status.

Ranked at the gold level for fraternities are Alpha Epsilon Pi, Alpha Gamma Rho, Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Delta Rho, Kappa Sigma, Lambda Chi Alpha, Lambda Theta Phi, Phi Sigma Kappa, Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Alpha Mu, Sigma Chi, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sigma Pi (colony), Tau Epsilon Phi and Theta Chi.

Ranked at the gold level for sororities are Alpha Epsilon Phi, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Phi, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Xi Delta, Chi Omega, Chi Upsilon Sigma, Delta Gamma, Delta Sigma Theta, Kappa Alpha Theta, Sigma Alpha and Sigma Kappa.

Ranked at the silver level for fraternities is Lambda Sigma Upsilon, and there are no silver sorority winners.

Ranked at the bronze level for fraternities are FIJI, Kappa Alpha Psi and Phi Beta Sigma.

Ranked at the bronze level for sororities is Lamba Theta Alpha.

In the 2007 calendar year, more than $135,000 was donated to charities and the Greeks completed more than 4,500 hours of community service for the 2007 fall semester.

Reaction

Everyone has the assumption that people in Fraternities and Sororities are dumb. Whenever a movie or TV shows, shows a Fraternity, no one gets to see the academia side of Greek Organizations, all people see is the drinking and other bad news sometimes associated. This article shows how scores in the University of Delaware compared for Greek Organizations and regular students, what is amazing is that most of the Fraternities have higher overall GPAs than guys not in a fraternity. Many people have to realize that Greek Organizations are well rounded. Also they need to realize just because maybe one Organization may have a bad name, you can’t stereotype them all. This article also shows the amount of money raised and hours of community service by Greek Organizations; this is more of the positive side that I personally like about Greek Life. This is why I chose to be part of a Fraternity, to help out the community in a way I can enjoy and give back at the same time. I would also like to note that the Sigma Chi at University of Delaware was in the Gold Level, which is the rating they have gotten from the Inter-Fraternity council, which appreciates the Sigma Chi Chapter for their well roundedness.

Posted By: Sagar Agrawal

Remembering a Brother

Editor’s Note: This is an article of a Sigma Chi who lost his life, while protecting his country. It is important to remember Veteran’s from Wars in the past and present. These people give up their lives every day for us. Also, we have to realize that a Sigma Chi not only does good things for a community while in college, but after too. There is more to a Fraternity that college life, and people needs to realize the positive effect a Fraternity member can make after college.




Alumnus Memorialized by Fraternity After Death in Afghanistan Combat

By Phillip Bowden The Shorthorn News

Monday, 03 December 2007 07:20 PM

Your browser may not support display of this image.

Caban

As clouds darkened the sky overhead and the chorus of “Amazing Grace” filled the silence, the Sigma Chi pledge class Alpha Psi stood silently around the flagpole that newly bore their fallen brother’s name.

Army Staff Sgt. Eric Caban, assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), died July 19, 2006 from injuries sustained in southern Afghanistan during combat operations with enemy forces July 18. Caban was a university alumnus and a member of Sigma Chi. Saturday the fraternity dedicated a memorial in their brother’s honor.

Colin Pennington, Alpha Psi pledge class president, formally dedicated the memorial in honor of Caban. On the bottom of the flagpole the words “Brother Caban guard well the gates to our chapter eternal. All honor to his name,” are engraved.

“This flagpole falls short of the amount of respect we have for Eric,”

Pennington said. “But it serves as a monument to the person he was.”

University alumnus Jason Jones, who graduated last year, is awaiting his commission into the United States Marine Corps as an officer. Jones praised Caban’s service to his country and said he believed Caban exemplified the best qualities of the fraternity. Jones said he was honored to rush because of Caban’s service.

“We’re gathered here today to commemorate our fallen brother who gave his life so that we could be free,” Jones said. “Eric was the epitome of the values of Sigma Chi. It was most evident in his heroic actions in Afghanistan.”

Jones read the Soldier’s Creed aloud and praised Caban for encompassing the values of a soldier, namely self-sacrifice. He thanked the pledge class for their hard work on the memorial and expressed his hope that Caban’s death would bring the fraternity brothers closer together.

“I have not seen a gesture like this in quite a long time. This is amazing what you did,” Jones said. “I hope that our relationships only grow. It doesn’t matter in the end, we’re all Sigma Chis.”

Caban’s younger brother, Edwin, said he was touched by his brother’s Alpha Psi pledge class’ gesture and spoke about the effect his brother’s life had on others.

“Eric influenced so may people. Just to see things like this happen is a blessing,” he said. “Eric’s love had no limits if he knew you. He was passionate and dedicated to the people he cared about.”

Fraternity members were exhorted to carry on with the same passion and vigor that his brother had for life.

“He’d want you to have that same love for life, that same drive every day that he had,” he said. “There’s not a word for how wild he was about life. He lived it to the fullest. What’s life without that kind of love?”

Sigma Chi president Bryan Chambers closed the ceremony after saying a few words about Caban and presenting Jones with the first Sigma Chi military badge.

“The important things to remember is that death cannot kill what never dies,” Chambers said. “Eric’s memory will live on forever.”

This is a touching article, although not current, it still shows the dedication one man has to his country. The greatest thing about this is, not only did Brother Caban have a dedication to his country, but also his brothers and Sigma Chi. The Alpha Psi pledge class’s memorial really was an amazing gesture, for what seems like an amazing person. The best part of Sigma Chi is how one person can feel so close to a brother, they haven’t probably have known that well. Brother’s who knew Brother Caban, said he had all of the values of a Sigma Chi. I really respect alumni’s of Sigma Chi. A Sigma Chi is every where, they don’t just do good for Sigma Chi, they do good everywhere. Many of the Founder’s of Sigma Chi, fought in the Civil War, as did many other brave Brother’s; it’s all about loyalty and justice to one’s country. To give up your life for everyone else is a very noble thing to do. Sigma Chi has been around to see many wars in its lifetime, but nothing makes me prouder to know, that a Sigma Chi is willing to fight for their country, their brothers, and their rights. I salute all of the Sigma Chi Brothers who have served in a war, and also all the men and women who have fought and are fighting for a better place. Risking their lives day by day.

Posted By: Sagar Agrawal

Video of The Week

Posted By: Chris Algiere

Meet the New Member

Quickpost this image to Myspace, Digg, Facebook, and others!

Name: Michael Schroeder
Age: 19
Major: Engineering
Favorite Food: Hot Wings
Favorite TV Show: House
Favorite Sport: Football
Favorite Band: Brand New
Favorite Movie: Half Baked
Most Attractive in a Girl: Face
Natalie Portman or Scarlett Johansen: Scarlett Johansen

Favorite Founders

I think that I more associate myself with Isaac M. Jordan. His quote "energetic and faithful to every task" I feel definitely describes me. For the most part I am very energetic and always happy. When I take on a task I always finish it and never quit. I stick to what I am doing and try not to deviate from that path. I go into tasks with an open mind and always looking towards the end when I accomplish my goal. I know that if I dont reach my goal then it is a failure but nonetheless I get up and do it again. Throughout my life, I feel like I can definitely exemplify Jordan and live up to what his ideals were.

Posted By : Kevin Naranjo
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I think Franklin Howard Scobey would be my favorite founder. He was both a knowledgeable and caring man. Not only did he keep the attitudes of his friends positive but fought long and hard against their former corrupted fraternity Deke. He also wrote the Spirit of Sigma Chi which holds true to the fact that genuine friendship can be mainted without surrendering the principle of individuality or sacrificing one's personal judgement. He was all about individuality and fighting for what is right and that is what a founder should be.

Posted By: Mitch Reynolds
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I'd have to say that my favorite founder is Franklin Howard Scobey. To
me he is the glue that held the group together. Even in rough times he
kept everyone in an upbeat mood. Someone once told me it is better to
be respected than liked, and I think this is the case with Scobey
because even the enemies of his brothers still respected him. He seems
like he could get along with everyone and have a good time. He was
"courteous and loyal in his friendship," and that is the kind of
person I try to be.

Posted By: Chris Algiere

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My favorite founder is Benjamin Piatt Runkle. He is a man that will tell you what he thinks or believes in regardless of the situation. This has been evident when he threw down his badge and fought Beta Theta Pi in the chapel. I really respect the fact that he doesn't care what other people think about his actions, as long as he stays true to himself and is "courageous in spirit and idealism." His leadership qualities are outstanding and he proved himself against the Dekes as well as on the battlefield during the civil war. When I think of Benjamin Piatt Runkle, resilience comes to mind. This is a quality i truly admire about him.

Posted By: Evan Hackler

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The Founder that stood out to me the most personally, would have to be Issac M. Jordan. The first thing that stood out to me about Brother Jordan is, many people respected him. I also admire his confidence. It was said he always looked people in the eye when he talked. That is something that is definitely hard for me to do. I also admire the way he became a self made man. The Jordan Standard is in my views a great contribution he has made to this Fraternity. It really shows what kind of men, a Sigma Chi should be. Also another thing that shows me the dedication Issac M. Jordan had to this Fraternity is his speech he addressed to the 15th Grand Chapter in 1884. “Whenever you find an unworthy member of your society, expel him at once and without hesitation. Evil communications corrupt good morals, and one dishonorable man will bring reproach and dishonor upon your chapter and upon the whole Fraternity.” It amazing how Brother Jordan puts so much on each member of Sigma Chi. Each is an equal and one bad and dishonorable member leaves distaste on the rest. Brother Jordan expects the best from anyone who proudly calls themselves them selves a Sigma Chi and that pride and responsibility to each brother makes me admire Issac M. Jordan.

Posted By: Sagar Agrawal

Sigma Chi War Experience

Editor's Note: Here's a great story of a Sigma Chi brother who was called into action

IN OUR HANDS
Sigma Chis, now more than ever, possess the power to wage war against division, suffering and hate. Their weapon? Service. The undergraduates at Wake Forest are already in battle.

by Scott Seedorf, Wake Forest 2003

We have entered into an age of uncertainty. The familiar world in which our parents grew up has given way to globalization and unprecedented technological innovation. A new familiarity is emerging, and the associated challenges that come with such developments are being identified; with ‘ethnic conflict’ and ‘sovereignty threatened’ often being among those most cited. Yet, at the same time, hope for a better world exists. Such hope arises from an ever increasing capacity to provide for the good of humanity. Never before has our ability to reach out to others been so great.

Throughout the past two decades, the Internet has grown into the world’s premier and freest source of information and ideas. The global exchange of dialogue, research and merchandise that was at one time rare is now an everyday occurrence for much of the world’s population. Indeed, the uncertainty we face is a product of the times in which we live. Our increased technological capacity brings with it a greater responsibility to one another. Our eyes have been blessed with extraordinary sight while our hearts have been increasingly burdened by the human suffering we see with heightened clarity.

What will tomorrow bring? The hope of tomorrow lies in the hands of today’s collegian. We share a strong sense of idealism, derived in part from events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall and apartheid’s end, in addition to global ideological shifts towards the promotion of democracy, human rights and international collaboration. Our idealism and resolve have also proven steadfast in the face of war, terrorism and hatred. History has shown us what ensues when the evils resulting from war, terrorism and hatred are allowed to persist unchecked. No longer can we afford to sit back and surrender each other to such fates. Indeed, we have great cause for optimism because we wage war against division, suffering and hatred with a far superior weapon---service.

For us as Sigma Chis, a more humane world is not merely an end to be hoped for, but one to which we have made a commitment---one based upon the ideals we cherish, and acted upon through service to others.

When we arrived on campus as freshmen, we entered into a community of seemingly endless opportunity. Young men and women from all over the world had assembled at an important crossroad, a gateway to the future standing before them with pathways leading in all directions and questions of great consequence impressed upon them: What will you do? Where will you go?

In an uncertain world filled with new challenges, such questions became ever more important, as their answers will determine our common future.

As Sigma Chis, we devote a substantial portion of our collegiate careers to the ideals of brotherhood. Through pledging, we learn about the ideals which those that came before us have identified as critical to our personal growth and ability to rally behind the banner of humanity as we wage war on division, suffering and hatred. By the time we reach graduation, we have learned that our greatest asset is each other. The Delta Nu Chapter at Wake Forest believes such ideals are in the hearts and minds of each brother. Here’s what a few of the brothers are doing.


A Commitment to Community
When Jack Elsey, 2004, arrived at Wake Forest for orientation, he shared many of the traits commonly attributed to college freshman. Feelings of anxiety and excitement created a commonality between his peers and him, though he did not know it at the time. The opportunity to attend a private university did not come easy to Elsey. But hard-work combined with maturity beyond his 18 years fostered his academic capacity. The admissions committee recognized that and saw something more in Elsey. It was the same thing that would later lead him to Sigma Chi--a drive to make a difference.

Elsey is one of Wake Forest’s most valuable community leaders, both on and off campus. Whether he contributes as a leader or participant, his energy is the same. His résumé of leadership positions reflects the degree to which people depend on his guidance. Among other things, Elsey serves as the president of the Wake Forest chapter of Amnesty International and as a member of the Wake Forest Honor Council Board of Investigators and Advisors.

While his own experiences directed him to Sigma Chi, Elsey believes the Greek system as a whole to be a strong advocate of service as wells as a positive influence on personal development. His energy and amiability earned him the respect of the entire Wake Forest Greek system, which elected him Interfraternity Council president for the 2002-2003 academic year.


John Lacy, 2004, aptly exemplifies the duality of being academically oriented and putting a high priority on community service. For the past two years, he has coordinated the ‘Wake Forest Alternative Break,’ which offers students a rewarding way to spend spring break. In 2002, Lacy led a group of students to Charleston, S.C. “We planned an after-school program for elementary school children from low income families who are at a higher risk of dropping out of school,” Lacy said. “The focus was on staying in school and out of trouble.”

In 2003, Lacy led a group to his hometown of Atlanta, where he expanded their service focus to include retirement homes, park-cleaning services, Meals on Wheels and an after-school program.

Back at school, Lacy continues to both participate and advocate participation in service-oriented projects. While juggling a sizable academic workload and preparing himself for the MCAT, Lacy still finds time to help out at the Samaritan Inn Homeless Shelter in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C. For Lacy, service entails far more than providing people with food, housing or books. It is a learning mechanism from which a greater understanding and perspective of humanity is derived.


A Commitment to Country
Although the stresses associated with the MCAT are substantial, Lacy believes them to be trivial when compared to those assumed by Chris Brandt, 2004.

As students returned to campus in mid-January for the beginning of the spring semester, tensions continued to mount as war with Iraq seemed imminent. If anyone in Delta Nu was mindful of such developments, it was Brandt. While Brandt spends most weekdays laboring with classmates over business strategy and fixed income securities, his weekends often entail another set of challenges. As a reservist in the U.S. Marine 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Lance Cpl. Brandt spends several weekends a year in training.

As the brothers of Delta Nu sat down for their chapter meeting Feb. 17, Brandt calmly walked into the chapter house and asked Consul and roommate Jeff Wilson, 2004, if he could make an announcement. He informed the chapter that his brigade had been activated, and he was to report to Camp Lejeune, N.C., the next morning. What began as a routine Monday night chapter meeting had, in an instant, become the chapter’s longest hour. The world suddenly became much smaller. While Brandt calmly listened to us and smiled, we gained a better understanding of the meaning of courage, sacrifice and friendship.


A Commitment to the International Community
In view of the Western media’s inadequate coverage of the developing world, it is not surprising that we know very little about their cultures, history or troubles. A commitment to humanity does not preclude people beyond Western radar. Rather, it necessitates that we take a proactive approach in expanding our outlook. Mike Bradow, 2004, and Kevan Knoche, 2003, appreciate the importance of a proactive approach to understanding the world at large. Such an approach has afforded each of them a comprehensive and accurate worldly outlook as well as many rewarding experiences.

Mike Bradow, 2004, appreciates the importance of a proactive approach to understanding the world at large, as it has afforded him with both a comprehensive, accurate world outlook and unforgettable, rewarding experiences.

When he arrived on campus, he was uncertain as to what he wanted to do during and after his college years. Not until a friend dragged him to an informational meeting on a summer service trip to the Republic of Georgia did Bradow begin to find a passion. “Stumbling into that volunteer experience my freshman year changed everything for me,” Bradow said. “Although it lasted only two weeks, working in a war-torn country with refugees was a really amazing experience.”

His return to Wake Forest in the fall brought with it the challenge of readjusting to college life. His experience in Georgia had roused new questions and awakened a degree of uncertainty as to how he could add further meaning to his college experience. Bradow decided to go abroad to Chile in the spring. There, he saw a developing country making the transition to free trade and capitalism. He found himself immersed in another culture, where the residents took him in as if he were one of their own. After Chile, Bradow volunteered in Ghana, a small country on the western coast of Africa. Bradow almost instantly fell in love with the village he stayed in and saw something remarkable in its people.

“In Africa the people were so humane and friendly, even in the most impoverished conditions,” Bradow said. “Seeing that and being able to apply it to our own lives back at home lends itself to a greater good overall.”

When Bradow returned to Wake Forest, he showed the chapter a video he had recorded in Ghana. He explained the village’s lack of the basic supplies needed in schools and shared the villagers’ passion for soccer. In response, the Delta Nu Chapter purchased new uniforms and equipment for the village team and bought them a new set of school supplies.

Bradow has become a leading advocate for the establishment of new service opportunities abroad for Wake Forest students, meeting with college administrators and giving several presentations in the process.

“I’ve been looking to continue such volunteer opportunities on campus,” Bradow said. “Fighting to sustain these meaningful programs is what I’m looking to do now.”


Bradow was not the first Delta Nu to go to Africa. Kevan Knoche, 2003, traveled there the previous summer—his first international experience. He spent five weeks studying African economic development in Benin, Africa, living under the same conditions as the people in his host village.

Knoche said the most significant feature of the five-week experience was experiencing underdevelopment.

“I'll always have those memories and pictures in my mind as I go through life,” he said. “It will always have some subconscious effect.”

Knoche returned home at the program’s end and almost immediately packed his things for the upcoming fall semester, which he spent Barcelona. His semester there allowed him to travel throughout Europe, experiencing different cultures and building a greater sense of independence. His travels exposed him to the rich history and beauty of European culture and contrasted the African underdevelopment with the wealth enjoyed by the Western world. Upon his return to Wake Forest, Knoche joined an effort called “Project Bokonon.” Named after Wake Forest Professor Sylvain Boko, Project Bokonon is a non-profit organization that aims to provide Benin with desperately needed medical supplies. In Western countries such as the United States, medical supplies are marked with highly premature expiration dates. Rather than seeing first-rate supplies go to waste, Project Bokonon receives them in the form of hospital donations, immediately shipping them to Benin where they can be used to treat patients and save lives. Project Bokonon recently became a government-recognized not-for-profit organization. Accordingly, Project Bokonon is currently undergoing its Board of Trustees selection process. At the young age of 22, Knoche’s name is high on the list.

His commitment to international service continued when he headed to Honduras as a H.O.P.E Scholar. Having raised money throughout the year to fund their trip, the H.O.P.E scholars spent two-weeks in the poorest regions of Central America building houses. The raised funds covered the cost of supplies; the scholars provided labor for building.

“When we first arrived and began working, we were all a bit reserved and felt that the men thought we were imposing,” Knoche said. “But as the week progressed, more and more people would be outside and excited to begin another day’s work. Some of the houses didn’t have any work done, but everyone worked on a house whether it belonged to them or not.”

What Knoche found particularly meaningful was how people of different cultures could show up knowing very little about one another, and work side-by-each toward a common goal.

Knoche said, “That is in essence what service is truly about. We are not going in as controlling Americans, but as people who, like them, want to help one house at a time.”


Our Common Future
While we live in an uncertain world, we cannot lose sight of what is most important. We must resolve that our common future is not open to compromise. A wealth of opportunity stands before us, and our common future is in our hands. Service provides us with the means to expand our horizons and extend a hand to those who so desperately need it, whether it be in our own community, country or the world at large. As we continue on in our collegiate careers and beyond, that crucial question which will determine the course of humanity remains.

What will you do?

Posted By: Esteban Escobar

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Sat, Oct 16, 2004
Sigma Chi honors those serving in Iraq
By JESSICA TIMS | Morning Sun Staff Writer

About 400 Sigma Chi fraternity brothers have descended upon Pittsburg this weekend to celebrate the 40th anniversary of PSU's Zeta Iota chapter of their brotherhood.

Friday night, several alumni gathered at Pittsburg State's Veterans' Memorial Amphitheater to honor their brothers who have served and are serving their country.

"We have three Zeta Iota brothers, currently serving in Iraq that we know of..." said Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. George Lampe, an alumnus of the Pittsburg State University Chapter of Sigma Chi fraternity. "We also have a young man, Capt. Shannon Nicklaus, of the Kansas Army Guard that has been mobilized and is down at Fort Sill, waiting deployment to Iraq and couldn't be with us. We are exceptionally honored to have a young man with us tonight Lt. Col. Bill Sullivan... Tennessee Army National Guard. He has been altered for deployment to Iraq within the next 60 to 90 days and he came to this reunion to tell us he will see us again.

"On behalf of these five guys, three that are there and two that are on their way, I want you to know how much it means to us to have Zeta Iota Sigs over there defending us."

All Sigma Chi veterans were asked to surround the reflecting pool to be honored for their service to their country. The Xi Omega charter members of the Zeta Iota Sigma Chi fraternity placed a wreath on the side of poll as Marsha Mauersberger sang "America the Beautiful."

Today, the celebration will continue with special presentations to the founding members of the fraternity. PSU President Tom Bryant will also make an appearance and address the current members and alumni. The brothers will also be sealing a time-capsule to preserve special documents collected over the last 40 years.

Posted By: Kevin Naranjo

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Editor's Notes: This is the brief biography of a Sigma Chi brother who received the Significant Sig award and was inducted into the Sigma Chi hall of fame for his duties to America

Brigadier General Robert L. Cardenas
Biography

Brigadier General Robert L. “Bob” Cardenas, USAF (retired)Test Pilot, Combat Leader in both Bombers and Fighters as well as Commander of the Air Force Special Operations Force. He has flown over 60 different aircraft in his career.

General Cardenas began his military career as a Private in the Army Cost Artillery, then became a pilot as a Cadet in the Army Air Corps. He was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in July 1941 and in 1942 was sent to 29 Palms, CA to establish an Army Air Corps Glider School.

In 1944 he flew combat missions in B-24 Liberators in the skies over Germany, He was shot down on his 20th mission but was not captured. He escaped into Switzerland and then into France prior to D Day. He was later flown out back to England and to a rehabilitation center in the US. He became a test pilot after his graduation in 1945 from the Flight Performance School at Vandalia, Ohio.

He participated in the flight test evaluation of the German jet fighter ME-262 and the Arado 234 bomber. In 1947 Cardenas was a key member of the X-1 supersonic project.

Major Cardenas was the Officer In Charge Of Operations and command pilot of the B-29 that launched Captain Charles Yeager into the realm of supersonic flight.

In 1948, he was assigned as Officer in charge of Flight Test Division projects at Muroc AB and as Chief Air Force test pilot on the YB-49 flying wing project. After completion of the Performance Phase II tests he checked out Captain Glen Edwards in the YB-49 on May 20 & 21st. He then received orders to USC for completion of his Aeronautical Engineering degree. He was ordered back 15 days later, after the crash of the YB-49 and loss of the crew, in order to complete the Stability & Control Phase in the remaining YB-49 aircraft.

In November 1948 he gave a final briefing to a Board of General Officers at Patterson AFB on the results of the test program. In January 1949 he was ordered to fly the YB-49 from Muroc AB to Andrews AFB in Washington for President Truman’s Air Show. The transcontinental non-stop flight set a record time of 4 hours and 5 minutes.

During the Korean War, Cardenas was at Wright Field and Edwards AFB testing new jet fighters and bombers. He was then Commander of the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing at Naha AB on Okinawa after completion of Air War College. On his return to the States he was assigned to the Pentagon as Chief of the Aircraft and Missiles Program Division.

From the Pentagon, he was assigned as Chief of the Special Operations Division at US Strike Command Headquarters in Tampa, Florida. In 1962 he led a joint Army & Air Force Special Force into the Kashmir, India for the purpose of evaluating and improving high altitude resupply drops in the Himalayan Mountains. He used these techniques to equip forces and prevented an incursion of Chinese through the Himalayas linking into East Pakistan.

He was then sent back to Okinawa as Commander of the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing at Kadena AFB. After the Gulf of Tonkin crisis he flew F-105 combat missions from Korat, Thailand over North Vietnam. He returned to the US to command the 835th Air Division at McConnell AFB, training F-105 crews for combat in Vietnam.

He was promoted to Brigadier General in 1968 and placed in Command of the Air Force Special Operations Force at Eglin & Hurlburt AFB, Florida. On October 12, 2002 his contributions to the development of Special Forces was recognized by induction into the Air Commando Hall of Fame.
He went on to be assigned in Europe as Vice Commander of the 16th Air Force in Spain. It was there that he had the dubious honor of negotiating with Muammar Gadhafi the withdrawal of US forces from Wheelus AFB in Libya.

As the US Deputy to Live Oak in Belgium his responsibility to SACEUR was to maintain open corridors to Berlin by calling the Soviets bluff to block travel to Berlin by land, air or rail. Prior to his retirement in June 1973, General Cardenas served as the Chief of the JL Division of the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff (JSTPS) where he was responsible for the development of the Joint Stategic Target List of the US nuclear War Plan (SIOP).

Cardenas has been honored by the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Presidential Citation. Foreign decorations include the Spanish Grand Legion of Aeronautical Merit with Sash & Dagger.

From 1973 until 1983, Cardenas worked as an Executive in private industry. In 1983 he was appointed to the White House as the California coordinator for President Reagan’s Southwest Boarder Economic Action Group. He resigned in 1985 and accepted an appointment by Governor Dukemejian as Chairman of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Advisory Group as well as a member of the California Council of Criminal Justice.

In 1987 the Governor appointed the General to the California Veterans Board where he was later elected to be Chairman of the Board that is the policymaking body for the California Department of Veterans Affairs. He left in 1993 to serve as Chairman of the San Diego United Veterans Council and as a Director on the Board of the Veterans Memorial Center & Museum.

On April 15, 1993 the University of New Mexico, College of Engineering, honored him for his outstanding Professional contributions and leadership. The USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB honored the General on December 10, 1994 as a “Distinguished Alumnus” and on September 1995 he was inducted into the “Aerospace Walk of Honor” at Lancaster, California.

The Sigma Chi fraternity awarded him the “Significant Sig” medal during their 1995 National Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Currently he serves as a member of the San Diego Mayor’s Veteran Advisory Board, Chairman of the Veterans Memorial Museum & Center as well as a Trustee of the Flight Test Historical Foundation at Edwards AFB.

Gen. Cardenas reports when he received Sigma Chi's award, it was significant to him as this is a prestigious and long time standing institution; as they celebrated their 150th anniversary in June 2005. The ceremony was held near it's birthplace, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

To celebrate this milestone of 150 years of existence, they selected 150 members of Sigma Chi to be members of the Significant Sigma Chi Hall of Fame". He says he was extremely humbled to have been selected, and more so when he saw who the other 149 were.

He was recently appointed By the VA Secretary Anthony Principi to the VA Memorials and Cemetery Committee in Washington. It is a statutory Advisory Committee that meets in Washington and other locations.

General Cardenas lives at home with his wife Gladys and their children and grandchildren in San Diego, California.

Meet the New Member!

Name: Sagar Agrawal

AGE: 19

Location: Edison

Major: English?

Favorite Sport: Baseball (Let’s Go METS)

Movie: Donnie Darko/ Eurotrip

Band: White Stripes (current favorite)

TV SHOW: The Simpsons

Cheese: Edible Cheese

Pet Peeve: Bad Singing

Hottest Actress: Rachel Bilson

Posted By: Sagar Agrawal

MSU hazing

Editor's Note: I chose this because it shows that hazing is never a good idea and it only
causes disunity.

MSU fraternity to rebuild ranks after suspensions

BY ROBIN ERB • FREE PRESS HIGHER EDUCATION WRITER • January 3, 2008


A Michigan State University fraternity will hold a recruiting meeting Jan.
21 to attract new pledges and begin reestablishing itself after all but
four of its members were suspended for hazing allegations.
Advertisement

Kappa Alpha Psi lost 11 members at the beginning of the fall term after
the fraternity's regional office placed them on 5- to 8-year suspensions
because of allegations involving hazing, the MSU chapter's leader
confirmed Wednesday.

Darren Wilson, polemarch of the MSU chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, would not
disclose details but said there were no serious injuries.

Wilson -- one of three fraternity members still at the school; the fourth
has since left MSU -- said he did not take part in the activity that led
to the suspensions because he doesn't believe in hazing.

"I'm not the kind of person who is willing to allow someone to attack me.
If someone had hit me ... there'd be a fight out of it," he said.

MSU officials contacted Wednesday by the Free Press said they were unaware
of the allegations but consider them a matter between the local chapter
and the hierarchy of Kappa Alpha Psi, one of the nation's oldest,
historically black fraternities, founded in 1911.

Harry Franklin, polemarch of the northern province of Kappa Alpha Phi,
said the MSU chapter is about 50 years old and was reestablished in 2006
following an earlier suspension in 1999. He would not give an explanation
for that suspension nor discuss the recent member suspensions, calling it
"an internal matter."

Posted By: Hadey Salem

Sigma Chi Fight Night

Editor's Note: This article discusses Sigma Chi's effort to donate money to the Children's Miracle Network. they raised money by doing a Fight Night at which they sold tickets as well as t-shirts. i think that this is fantastic way to raise money for charity. I would definitely pay to go see that. A nice fund raiser for charity as well as good entertainment for all that attend.

Sigma Chi takes a swing for charity
Fraternity raises $6,000 at Fight Night, an annual children's charity event
By Mike Damante
Issue date: 11/26/07

A University fraternity packed a big punch for its charity event this year.

Sigma Chi, which has 38 members, had its annual Fight Night on Monday night in the Houston Room, University Center Underground, and was able to raise $6,000, Thomas Monroe, a mechanical engineering junior and Sigma Chi's risk management officer, said.

T-shirt sales were $15 while tickets were priced at $10. All proceed went to the Children's Miracle Network.

"We do this to support the CMN, all the proceeds are donated to them," said hotel restaurant management junior and Sigma Chi member Brian Saxenian. "All the chapters of the fraternity, all Greeks or anyone else on campus that wants to be involved are invited."

CMN is an international non-profit organization that raises funds and awareness for more than 170 children's hospitals throughout North America, according to a press release.

Seven students from Oxford, Ohio's Miami University, founded Sigma Chi in 1855. The UH Chapter of Sigma Chi, which was founded in 1956, has made Fight Night an annual event for more than 30 years.

"The Ultimate Fighting Championship is growing, and boxing has always been popular," Saxenian said. "It is good to see the turnout we had. The event is always a good time for all."

Fight Night is funded through fraternity dues, and previous fundraising events, Saxenian said.

"It was a lively event," anthropology senior Jaime Olmo said. "The fighting was amateur, but they all put a lot of heart into it."

Fight Night featured ring girls, professional officials, music, refreshments and 10 three-round bouts in front of a crowd of about 500.

The opening fight featured fellow Sigma Chi members squaring off. Monroe was victorious over hotel and restaurant management junior Andrew Soliz.

"I got a little excited when I knocked him down in the first round," Soliz said. "It was a good fight, though. I was just a little out of shape."

For Monroe, the overall event was a rewarding one.

"Fight Night was just a whole lot of fun on top of helping the charity."

With the weeks leading up to the fights, other members also took formal boxing training.

"I started training some of the fighters five weeks before the event," said Willy Boyd, head trainer of Ringers Boxing Club. "(Five weeks) is such a short-time to prepare for a fight - especially since these kids are fighting for the first time, so they just learned the basics."

One fighter came into Fight Night with previous experience in a different style of fighting, representing the College Republicans.

"I've fought previously for Fit Gym, I usually do mixed-martial arts," said political science junior Kelly Waterman. "But I could not pass up this opportunity to have a fight on campus."

Other fraternities and sororities were on hand, such as pledges from Phi Mu.

"The money goes to the same philanthropic organization (CMN), so we are here to lend support," said business sophomore Dawn Winston.

Posted By: Mike Schroeder

Overheard Conversation

I was sitting in psychology today and some kid in front of me was
talking with his friend about Fraternities although he called them
"Frats". He was telling his friend why he decided not to join one and
to be honest he reminded me of myself just a few months ago. His
reasons were:

-I don't need to pay to be friends with people.
-Why should I pay more money to live in a sometimes messy house when i
could live with my friends now off campus?
-Why should i pay money to buy booze when i can get what i want with
my own money?
He also made some sarcastic remark about "fake brotherhood".

While i was hearing this I could only shake my head. In only a few
weeks I've learned so much about how Sigma Chi works. I've realized
how tight the bond is between brothers and how members really care
about the work they put into raising money for charities and having a
positive impact on the community.

I just thought this was kind of fitting after the Greek 101 yesterday.
Many people view fraternities simply as drinking clubs but don't
recognize all the positive effects of Greek life.

So i punched the kid in the back of the head.

Just kidding LOL.

BTW apparently Evan has a twin sister at Rutgers -I Hope everyone saw
that picture!

-Chris Algiere

Spring is Just Around the Corner

Today is the first day in a significant while when the temperature bar will rise above fifty degrees. Along with the ushering in of March, these signs can only mean one thing. Spring is racing towards New Brunswick and the Rutgers community. Spring, second to summer on my list of favorite times of the year, can be associated with a great deal of things. Whether it be students relaxing on the grassy knolls of Livingston campus or kicking back and relaxing on the benches by Brower Commons, everything and everyone seems to come to life. In the opening scenes of many college movies, the audience is exposed to huge fields of lively students playing sports, having lunch, and hanging out with their respective groups. Although Rutgers can't really compete with this surreal view of college life, the warm weather brings our best shot at attaining this type of lifestyle.
I can't mention spring and daylight lengthening without the mention of sports. Baseball, America's pastime, is emerging and Spring Training is starting up. To represent a completely biased view, everything gets better with the commencement of the baseball season; life gets that much sweeter. The Keller cup Spring sports are around the corner and Dance Marathon preparations are being made. With so many events around the corner, Spring will be a busy season and I think I speak for everyone in our class when I say that it could be the best one we've ever had.

Posted By: Evan Hackler