Sigma Chi Fraternity

Overview

The Sigma Chi Fraternity is a U.S. nonprofit organization founded on principles of friendship, justice, and learning. It was established at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in 1855 following a significant disagreement within the Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE) fraternity chapter.

History of Founding

In the fall of 1854, a dispute arose among the 12 members of the DKE chapter at Miami University over the election of a brother to the prestigious Erodelphian Literary Society. Four members, James Parks Caldwell, Isaac M. Jordan, Benjamin Piatt Runkle, and Franklin Howard Scobey, refused to support their fraternity brother for the position of Poet, instead backing a non-DKE student they believed had superior poetic talents. Thomas Cowan Bell and Daniel William Cooper, though not members of the Erodelphian, supported the four. This division led to a prolonged feud within the DKE chapter.

A dinner meeting in February 1855 at an Oxford restaurant attempted to resolve the issue. However, Minor Millikin, an advisor sympathetic to Whitelaw Reid and his supporters, intervened, leading to further conflict. Benjamin Piatt Runkle dramatically renounced his DKE membership, and five others followed, setting the stage for the founding of a new fraternity. In April 1855, after being officially expelled from DKE, these six began planning their new organization.

Founders and Establishment

The seven founders of Sigma Chi were Thomas Cowan Bell, James Parks Caldwell, Daniel William Cooper, Isaac M. Jordan, William Lewis Lockwood, Benjamin Piatt Runkle, and Franklin Howard Scobey. Lockwood, who had not joined a fraternity before, brought crucial organizational skills to the group. They officially formed Sigma Chi on June 28, 1855, wearing their badges publicly for the first time on Commencement Day at Miami University.

Principles and Values

Sigma Chi's foundation is built on the principles of friendship, justice, and learning. The fraternity emphasizes genuine friendships, congenial fellowship, and mutual respect. The Jordan Standard outlines the criteria for membership, including good character, fair ability, ambitious purposes, congenial disposition, good morals, high sense of honor, and personal responsibility. The Sigma Chi Creed further embodies these ideals by promoting fairness, decency, and good manners among members.

Notable Alumni and Impact

Sigma Chi has a broad network of successful alumni across various fields. The fraternity's chapters are active in promoting educational and community values, reflecting its core principles of fostering lifelong bonds and community service.

Chapters and Expansion

Today, Sigma Chi is one of the largest and most respected fraternal organizations in the United States, with numerous chapters across North America. Its history of fraternity and the bonds between its members have made it a significant part of American collegiate culture.