Podcast
Questions and Answers
What year was the spiritual birth of Sigma Nu?
What year was the spiritual birth of Sigma Nu?
1866
What is the month and year of the birth of Legion of Honor?
What is the month and year of the birth of Legion of Honor?
October 1868
What is the official founding date of Sigma Nu?
What is the official founding date of Sigma Nu?
Jan. 1st 1869
Where was Sigma Nu founded?
Where was Sigma Nu founded?
Who were the founding fathers of Sigma Nu?
Who were the founding fathers of Sigma Nu?
What was the Sigma Nu Badge designed after?
What was the Sigma Nu Badge designed after?
Who designed the badge of Sigma Nu?
Who designed the badge of Sigma Nu?
Who besides initiates may wear the badge?
Who besides initiates may wear the badge?
What year was the flag adopted by Grand Chapter?
What year was the flag adopted by Grand Chapter?
Why was the Ritual (secret works) not written in early years?
Why was the Ritual (secret works) not written in early years?
What was the fraternity title before Sigma Nu?
What was the fraternity title before Sigma Nu?
What do the colors of the flag symbolize to a candidate?
What do the colors of the flag symbolize to a candidate?
What do the colors symbolize to a knight?
What do the colors symbolize to a knight?
Who wrote the Creed?
Who wrote the Creed?
What is our fraternity magazine titled?
What is our fraternity magazine titled?
Why is our magazine called the Delta?
Why is our magazine called the Delta?
Who founded the magazine?
Who founded the magazine?
What are the five objects of Sigma Nu?
What are the five objects of Sigma Nu?
What year was the Sigma Nu HQ established and where?
What year was the Sigma Nu HQ established and where?
Who is considered the spiritual founder of Sigma Nu?
Who is considered the spiritual founder of Sigma Nu?
Who gave the first Bible to James Frank Hopkins?
Who gave the first Bible to James Frank Hopkins?
What is the official song of Sigma Nu?
What is the official song of Sigma Nu?
Who wrote and composed the official song?
Who wrote and composed the official song?
Who wrote the Way Of Honor, the preface to the Legion of Honor?
Who wrote the Way Of Honor, the preface to the Legion of Honor?
Who wrote the story of Sigma Nu?
Who wrote the story of Sigma Nu?
Who painted 'A Serpent, A Rose, and A Star?'
Who painted 'A Serpent, A Rose, and A Star?'
Who designed the Coat of Arms?
Who designed the Coat of Arms?
What year did Grand Chapter adopt the Coat of Arms?
What year did Grand Chapter adopt the Coat of Arms?
What does the Chapter Grand or the Chapter Eternal symbolize?
What does the Chapter Grand or the Chapter Eternal symbolize?
Who proposed the White Rose?
Who proposed the White Rose?
What does the White Rose symbolize?
What does the White Rose symbolize?
What is the official name of the White Rose of Sigma Nu?
What is the official name of the White Rose of Sigma Nu?
What does the Rock symbolize?
What does the Rock symbolize?
Who is the 'Keeper of the Rock?'
Who is the 'Keeper of the Rock?'
What is the secret book containing our rituals?
What is the secret book containing our rituals?
What was the first Greek Letter Organization?
What was the first Greek Letter Organization?
What was the first true sorority?
What was the first true sorority?
What was the first Greek lettered women's society, where and when founded?
What was the first Greek lettered women's society, where and when founded?
What title did women's sororities use before the term sorority?
What title did women's sororities use before the term sorority?
What Sigma Nu chapter opened the east per se for other Sigma Nu chapters?
What Sigma Nu chapter opened the east per se for other Sigma Nu chapters?
What chapter opened the west per se for other Sigma Nu chapters?
What chapter opened the west per se for other Sigma Nu chapters?
What fraternities are in the Lexington Triad?
What fraternities are in the Lexington Triad?
What are the fraternities of the Miami Triad?
What are the fraternities of the Miami Triad?
What fraternities are in the Union Triad?
What fraternities are in the Union Triad?
Who was the first social fraternity?
Who was the first social fraternity?
What year was the HQ established in Lexington?
What year was the HQ established in Lexington?
Who led the charge to build our shrine and HQ in Lexington?
Who led the charge to build our shrine and HQ in Lexington?
What was he called?
What was he called?
Who writes the law of Sigma Nu International Fraternity?
Who writes the law of Sigma Nu International Fraternity?
What document contains the written rules and regulations of Sigma Nu?
What document contains the written rules and regulations of Sigma Nu?
What is the most important possession of a Sigma Nu Chapter?
What is the most important possession of a Sigma Nu Chapter?
What is the legislative body of Sigma Nu?
What is the legislative body of Sigma Nu?
How many votes does a collegiate chapter have at Grand Chapter?
How many votes does a collegiate chapter have at Grand Chapter?
How many votes does an alumni chapter have at Grand Chapter?
How many votes does an alumni chapter have at Grand Chapter?
How often does Grand Chapter meet?
How often does Grand Chapter meet?
How do Sigma Nus become high council members?
How do Sigma Nus become high council members?
How is the Executive Director placed in office?
How is the Executive Director placed in office?
Who was the first regent?
Who was the first regent?
What titles were used before Commander and Lt. Commander?
What titles were used before Commander and Lt. Commander?
What chapter designations were used before Greek letter designations?
What chapter designations were used before Greek letter designations?
Can your son wear your badge?
Can your son wear your badge?
What are the seven important markers erected by Sigma Nu?
What are the seven important markers erected by Sigma Nu?
What was the first non-secretive fraternity?
What was the first non-secretive fraternity?
What national fraternal organization assists and lends guidance to men's fraternities?
What national fraternal organization assists and lends guidance to men's fraternities?
What is the current candidate fee?
What is the current candidate fee?
What is the current initiate fee?
What is the current initiate fee?
What is the highest award a chapter can receive at Grand Chapter?
What is the highest award a chapter can receive at Grand Chapter?
When can the law of Sigma Nu be amended, revised, or updated?
When can the law of Sigma Nu be amended, revised, or updated?
What is the highest ranking Sigma Nu officer?
What is the highest ranking Sigma Nu officer?
What year did Sigma Nu become an international fraternity, and where?
What year did Sigma Nu become an international fraternity, and where?
When and where was the first Grand Chapter?
When and where was the first Grand Chapter?
Does Sigma Nu initiate honorary members?
Does Sigma Nu initiate honorary members?
Who are rats at VMI?
Who are rats at VMI?
Who were Hopkins rats?
Who were Hopkins rats?
What famous Sigma Nu was responsible for starting 32 chapters?
What famous Sigma Nu was responsible for starting 32 chapters?
What Alpha chapter alumnus led two movements for the Alpha affiliates program?
What Alpha chapter alumnus led two movements for the Alpha affiliates program?
Can you explain the basic requirements to become an Alpha affiliate?
Can you explain the basic requirements to become an Alpha affiliate?
What is an alumnus chapter?
What is an alumnus chapter?
How many alumni signatures are needed for the petition of the alumni chapter charter?
How many alumni signatures are needed for the petition of the alumni chapter charter?
Who approves alumni chapter charters?
Who approves alumni chapter charters?
Where are the archives for Sigma Nu fraternity?
Where are the archives for Sigma Nu fraternity?
What is the oldest active chapter?
What is the oldest active chapter?
Where is it located?
Where is it located?
What does a dormant chapter mean?
What does a dormant chapter mean?
What is a Sigma Nu colony?
What is a Sigma Nu colony?
Who wrote the long version of the Creed of Sigma Nu?
Who wrote the long version of the Creed of Sigma Nu?
Who painted the short creed?
Who painted the short creed?
When was the first issue of The Delta printed?
When was the first issue of The Delta printed?
When was the flag we know today adopted?
When was the flag we know today adopted?
What compromises the general fraternity?
What compromises the general fraternity?
Who was the first Sigma Nu commander?
Who was the first Sigma Nu commander?
Who drafted the first ritual?
Who drafted the first ritual?
May a brother resign his membership of Sigma Nu?
May a brother resign his membership of Sigma Nu?
The ritual we use today was adopted at what Grand Chapter?
The ritual we use today was adopted at what Grand Chapter?
Does the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation offer scholarship grants?
Does the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation offer scholarship grants?
In what booklet will you find all the service offered by the HQ office?
In what booklet will you find all the service offered by the HQ office?
What is the candidate educational manual called?
What is the candidate educational manual called?
Are there any international fraternities located at VMI?
Are there any international fraternities located at VMI?
What was the first item owned by our fraternity?
What was the first item owned by our fraternity?
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Study Notes
Sigma Nu History and Founding
- Spiritual birth of Sigma Nu occurred in 1866.
- Official founding date is January 1st, 1869, at Virginia Military Institute (VMI).
- Founding fathers include James Frank Hopkins (Alpha 1), Judge Greenfield Quarles (Alpha 2), and James McIlvane Riley (Alpha 3).
Organizational Significance
- The Legion of Honor was established in October 1868, prior to Sigma Nu’s founding.
- The flag was adopted by Grand Chapter in 1921 and symbolizes key principles including secrecy (black), silence (white), and obedience (gold) for candidates, while representing honor, truth, and love for knights.
Rituals and Creed
- Early Sigma Nu rituals were unwritten to prevent idea theft.
- The official creed, authored by Walter James Sears, emphasizes love, honor, and truth.
- The secret book containing rituals is known as "The Ritual".
Membership and Badge
- Membership badges designed after the White Cross of the French Legion of Honor; worn by initiates, mothers, daughters, and wives.
- The current candidate fee is $80, while the initiate fee is $190.
Legacy and Contributions
- John Alexander Howard founded "The Delta," the fraternity magazine, to represent the triangle of the first three chapters.
- The oldest active chapter is Beta, located in Virginia.
Historical Articles and Recognition
- James McIlvane Riley was the first regent and also drafted the first ritual.
- Richard J. Fletcher significantly contributed to establishing the fraternity’s headquarters in Lexington.
Chapters and Governance
- Pi Chapter at Lehigh opened the East and Nu Chapter at KU opened the West for Sigma Nu.
- Grand Chapter serves as the legislative body, holding votes and meeting bi-annually for amendments; collegiate chapters have 2 votes, alumni chapters have 1.
Symbols and Awards
- The White Rose symbolizes purity and is traditional to Sigma Nu, while "A Serpent, A Rose, and A Star" was painted by Elmer Paul Catts Jr.
- The highest award for a chapter is designated as “Rock Chapter”.
Miscellaneous Facts
- Phi Beta Kappa was the first Greek Letter Organization, founded in 1776.
- The term "fraternity" was used for women’s societies before "sorority" became prevalent.
- Sigma Nu has no honorary members and does not permit members to resign.
- The chapter grand symbolizes heaven, while the chapter eternal also reflects the fraternity's core values.
Education and Support
- Sigma Nu provides educational support and scholarship grants through its educational foundation.
- Current structures emphasize the importance of alumni involvement, with 10 alumni signatures required for an alumni chapter petition.
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