So, you wanna be a Sigma Chi...
"Men join fraternities. The leaders of men join Sigma Chi."
--John Wayne, USC Class of 1929
Pledging Sigma Chi is one of the greatest opportunities a young man can have during his undergraduate years in college. Sigma Chi is one of the strongest fraternities at American University, and Kappa Rho is one of the strongest Sigma Chi chapters in the international fraternity
What exactly does one get out of pledging? More than you expect. You will develop relationships with your pledge brothers that last a lifetime. Ask any brother; the bond that we share is truly unique and something that most of us would not be able to seperate from the rest of our collegiate experience, having gone through the pledging process.
If you are reading this, we encourage you to come to our recruitment events. See for yourself if Sigma Chi is for you; we'll be there to answer any questions you may have.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who makes up what is known as Sigma Chi?
Sigs come from all walks of life. Our fraternity is composed of a diverse group of individuals who possess different temperaments, talents and convictions. The bond that binds members of Sigma Chi together is one of true brotherhood. We're very proud to be a fraternity that does not make members fit any sort of mold; rather, the road towards brotherhood is one of becoming closer to who you truly are, and that is the essence of Sigma Chi.
We have over 213,500 active members, 217 active undergraduate chapters, and 145 alumni chapters throughout the United States and Canada, making us one of the strongest fraternities in the world. You may know some of our brothers already, but not even know it -- John Wayne, Brad Pitt, David Letterman, Mike Ditka, and Merlin Olsen are all Sigs, among other famous alumni. Though we are proud of all our brothers, the ones most important to you are those who are already in your life. Several of our brothers have reconnected with family members or old friends when they found out that they, too, were a Sig. Even complete strangers have approached us, noticing our Sigma Chi apparel in an airport or a strange city, and offered a friendly greeting and hospitality. These moments are some of the greatest parts of being a Sig.
2. What is Kappa Rho?
Kappa Rho (abbreviated as KP, the greek letters for Kappa Rho) is the American University chapter of Sigma Chi. Each Sigma Chi chapter has their own greek letter designation. For example, the first chapter is the Alpha chapter. Kappa Rho is one of Sigma Chi's newest and strongest chapters.
3. Will I be hazed as a pledge?
Pledging is one of the most challenging and rewarding things you'll experience, but rest assured, you will never be hazed. Sigma Chi feels that hazing is not only immoral, but is completely contradictory to what we are trying to accomplish. Hazing never has, and never will help build the bonds of Brotherhood. Pledges are treated with respect and brothers will always be willing to help with the challenges that pledges face. As a pledge, you will always be in good hands. We will never ask anything of you that we would not do ourselves.
4. Does Sigma Chi fit the "Animal House" fraternity stereotype?
"When you play, play hard; when you work, don't play at all."
--Theodore Roosevelt
Sigma Chis have plenty of fun. You probably know this by now. We're also very focused on further developing the bonds of our brotherhood, and all of us understand that schoolwork comes first-- we're in college for a reason, right? Our brothers always have our priorities in check. We give back to the community every semester by donating to organizations like the Children's Miracle Network and the Huntsman Cancer Research Institute. We take service seriously, and we make sure that a good time is had when doing these events, be it raising money through Derby Days, or playing video games with children in a nearby hospital.
5. Aren't people in fraternities just paying for friends?
First of all, the dues that we pay do not go to individuals in the chapter. Dues are used to pay for social events, insurance, and other chapter operating costs. The money also goes to fraternity headquarters to ensure that the entire organization continues act as a strong, cohesive unit. Also, you can still obviously be friends with all of us without being a Sig, so the question doesn't hold much water.
6. What kind of a commitment is pledging? What about being a brother?
Being a Sig does not end once you leave university; once you are a Sig, you always will be a Sig. The commitment is lifelong. Pledging will take time, but it is well worth it. Some of the greatest learning experiences of your college years will be outside of the classroom, many of those occurring during pledging, and as a brother. We understand that taking part in any activity is purely the decision of the individual. Some are able to participate more than others, and several members hold office within the fraternity. As a Sigma Chi pledge, you will certainly be making a significant commitment, but not a minute will be ill-spent. Pledges will only be asked to do things that have purpose and meaning.
Being an officer is an excellent opportunity to learn leadership skills one could never develop in the classroom. Working on projects both on campus and in the community, engaging in great social activities, competing in sports, and taking part in a great organization are all important parts of being a brother in Sigma Chi. The time we spend participating in constructive activities for American University, its students, the community, and our own chapter is equivalent to time otherwise spent doing relatively nothing. It's all about seizing the day.