Who We Are

More than 100 years ago, a Sigma Chi defined fraternity as:
“an obligation, a necessity, an introduction, a requirement, a passport, a lesson, an influence, an opportunity, an investment, a peacemaker and a pleasure.”

The Founding of Sigma Chi

A Disagreement
In the fall of 1854 a disagreement arose within the Kappa chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE) at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. This chapter consisted of 12 men. Six of them, led by Whitelaw Reid, supported one of the members for Poet in the Erodelphian Literary Society. Four of the other six members, James Parks Caldwell, Isaac M. Jordan, Benjamin Piatt Runkle and Franklin Howard Scobey, refused to vote for the brother because they knew him to lack poetic abilities. The man they did favor for that office was not a Deke. Thomas Cowan Bell and Daniel William Cooper were not members of Erodelphian, but their relation to the disagreement was unqualified endorsement of the four. Thus, they became six.
The chapter of 12 was evenly divided in a difference of opinion that ordinarily would have been decided one way or the other and immediately forgotten. But both sides considered it a matter of principle, and could not reach a compromise. During the ensuing months, the groups disagreed so much that their grew distant.
A Schism at Dinner
Chapter meetings, or attempted chapter meetings, occurred for months with the breach constantly widening. In February 1855, at an Oxford restaurant, a dramatic dinner meeting between the dissenting groups set the stage for Sigma Chi's founding. Bell, Caldwell, Cooper, Jordan, Runkle and Scobey hosted the event, hoping to mend ways with the other six. They were on hand early, awaiting developments with anticipation. Of the meeting, Founder Benjamin Piatt Runkle said, “With the kindest of intentions, we determined to give a dinner in their honor. I remember that the feast was prepared at the village restaurant, the guests invited, and on the appointed night we gathered and waited for the guests. They did not come for a long time, and then only Mr. Reid and with a stranger. He took into his confidence Minor Millikin (an alumnus of the fraternity from nearby Hamilton, Ohio) and the two decided on strenuous proceedings.”
Minor Millikin Steps Up
Millikin lost no time. “My name is Minor Millikin,” he said. “I live in Hamilton. I am a man of few words.” He then passed judgment on all of the matters in dispute. Since he had heard only one side of the story, his verdict was against Runkle, Scobey and the others who had originally opposed election of the DKE as the Poet in the literary society. Millikin found them guilty.
Next, Millikin unfolded a plan he and Reid had concocted by which “justice” could be satisfied with the formal expulsion of the leaders in the rebellion (undoubtedly Runkle and Scobey), after which the others, having been properly chastised, could remain in the chapter.
At this dramatic moment Runkle stepped forward, pulled off his DKE pin, tossed it upon the table and said to Millikin, “I didn't join this Fraternity to be anyone's tool. And that, sir, is my answer!” Runkle stalked out of the room, and his five colleagues followed.
Six Against Six
The final meeting of the 12 active members of Delta Kappa Epsilon was held in Reid's room in the “Old Southeast” building several days later. After a strenuous effort, led by Reid, for the expulsion of the six, with six against six on all vital issues, the meeting broke up in considerable disorder.
A rather prolonged correspondence ensued with the Delta Kappa Epsilon parent chapter at Yale, resulting in the April 1855 expulsion of Bell, Caldwell, Cooper, Jordan, Runkle and Scobey. It was at this time they began making plans to found their own fraternity.

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The Early Years

The Framework of a Fraternity
One of the best moves the first six Founders ever made was to associate themselves with William Lewis Lockwood. He had entered Miami early in 1855 but had not joined a fraternity. He was the “businessman” of the group and possessed a remarkable organizing ability. More than any other Founder, he was responsible for setting up the general plan of the Fraternity, much of which endures to this day.
During the latter months of the 1854-55 academic year, Runkle and Caldwell lived in a second-floor room of a building near Oxford's public square on High Street-now known as the birthplace of Sigma Chi. The Founders held many of the earlier organizational meetings of Sigma Chi in this room, and it was there that Runkle and Lockwood designed the badge. The White Cross was designed exactly as we know it today except for the letters Sigma Phi in the black center which were changed to Sigma Chi.
Having been members of Delta Kappa Epsilon, six of the Founders were familiar with the general outline of fraternity constitution and ritual content. They were considerably influenced by Lockwood, who had known little of Delta Kappa Epsilon or its differences. With all of their plans formally completed, the seven Founders of the new Fraternity announced its establishment by wearing their badges for the first time in public on Commencement Day at Miami University, June 28, 1855.
Built to Last
The working fraternal conceptions of Sigma Chi Fraternity have long been identified with the words friendship, justice and learning. These three elements were the basic ideals our Founders used in forming the foundation of Sigma Chi.
In their new fraternity, they held the qualities of congenial tastes, quality fellowship and genuine friendship to be indispensable. The element of thorough fellowship was regarded as a characteristic of all real fraternity endeavors, thus they sought true friendship.
n matters of general college interest, the Founders had refused to be limited simply by the ties of their DKE brotherhood. The Founders' new association was surely not planned to prevent laudable mutual helpfulness. On the contrary it was designed in every worthy way to enhance such helpfulness. The new fraternity stood for the “square deal” in all campus relations. It exalted justice.
Rigorous Academics
In the 19th century, the academics of college were very strenuous. College men of the day studied subjects such as spherical trigonometry; Roman history; odes and satires of Homer, Horace and Plato. A strong emphasis was placed on literature in all campus activities. In the literary exercises of the chapter, literary training was regular and rigid. Founder Issac M. Jordan once said, “We entered upon all our college duties with great zeal and earnestness, studied hard, tried to excel in every department of study, contended for every hall or college prize and endeavored to make our Fraternity have a high and honorable standing.” The founders placed learning in high regard and importance.
The Spirit of Sigma Chi
The Founders' unfortunate experience in Delta Kappa Epsilon, which they saw as a group focused on conformity for political gain, stirred their hearts and their spirit. They found it a necessity to allow and accept differences in points of views and opinions, realizing that doing so brought opportunities and pleasures. This “spirit” became documented as The Spirit of Sigma Chi. Though The Spirit calls for men who are inherently “different,” it is expected that the members, in their differences, remain responsible, honorable, gentlemanly, friendly-indeed all those characteristics that are also listed in The Jordan Standard.

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Alpha Chi Chapter History

1. Samuel G. Crawford started process toward petition in the fall of 1890
2. The petition and petitioners
   1. At the Washington convention the following petitioned for a new chapter in Sigma Chi:
      1. Samuel G. Crawford
      2. Francis John Pond
      3. John Foster
      4. Frederick Dale
      5. Payne Pettiborne Sturdevant
   2. The petition was referred to the Grand Consul
   3. Later two additional petitioners were added:
      1. M. Claude Thompson
      2. William Banks
3. In early February 1891, Grand Preator McPherson, of the first province, investigated the petitioners and made his report in the March Bulletin.
4. The Alpha Chi Chapter of Sigma Chi was founded April 22, 1891.
5. Alpha Chi was installed May 27, 1891 at the Bush House in Bellefonte, Pa. The ceremonies were performed by McPherson with the assistance of the Kappa Chapter, Bucknell.
6. ΑΧ was Sigma Chi’s 65th chapter and 10th in Pennsylvania.
7. Houses
   1. The first house was on South Allen Street (1891-1905)
   2. In 1905 a third floor fire destryoed the chapter house
   3. In 1906, the construction of the second house was completed on the corner of Pollock and Burroughs (occupied 1906-1972
8. M. Lawrence Shields
   1. Consul of ΑΧ in 1919
   2. Captain of the PSU varsity track team in 1920
   3. 1920 Olympic track participant
      1. Won the bronze in the Metric Mile
      2. Won the Gold in the 3000 meter team race
9. 1920's
   1. Founders Day
   2. Christmas Initiation Banquet
   3. Founder's Day Banquet
   4. The house on the corner of Prospect and Garner built in 1928
10. 1935 - $7,000 mortgage on second house paid off
11. 1950's
    1. ΑΧ's participated in Varsity Football and Wrestling
    2. Wrestlers:
       1. Joe Lemyre - 1952 Eastern Champion 167lbs
       2. Dick Lemyre - 1952-1954 Eastern Champion 130lbs (PSU's first three time champ)
    3. 1955 ΑΧ successfully kidnapped Navy's Mascot (a Billy Goat)
    4. ΑΧ sponsored the Marine Corps band in Rec Hall
    5. The first Derby Days was held and is now the longest running philanthropy
12. 1972 - ΑΧ moved into third house after second house was condemned
13. 1979 - The first Derby Dash was held
14. 1984
    1. A second floor room aws gutted by a fire, April 14th
    1. Extensive smoke damage and safety problems resulted in a new back fire stairwell to be constructed
    2. ΑΧ wins Greek Week April 15
    3. Mark Polinski elected first Homecoming King in the history of PSU
15. 1986
    1. Marc Silverbush was elected Homecoming King
    2. Sigma Chi wins the overall Homecoming trophy
16. 1987 - Doug Farber elected Homecoming King
17. 1988 - ΑΧ wins first place in Greek Games
18. 1989
    1. James Hinze earns Phi Beta Kappa (ΦΒΚ)
    2. Harvey Lee is the Penn State Mic-Man
19. 1994 - Bursted pipes over winter break cause extensive damage throughout the house
20. 1996 - Gerardo Jimenez elected Homecoming King
21. 1997 - Won Spring Week with Kappa Kappa Gamma (ΚΚΓ)
22. 1999
    1. Mike Ling elected IFC President
    2. Won Omega Epsilon (ΩΕ) Trophy
23. 2000 - Won Spring Week with Alpha Phi (ΑΦ)
24. 1998-2000 - Won Peterson Award
25. 2001 - 110 Anniversary at Penn State

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