What is it that compels many members to a lifetime of commitment and membership?
Is it brotherhood?
The spirit of idealism?
Or is it something more?
The spirit of idealism?
Or is it something more?
It was a Matter of Principle
The rich history of Sigma Chi reveals the passing of lifelong ideals from its founders to its successors. A matter of principle gave birth to what is today known as one of the largest greek organizations. We call this the principle of merit over loyalty.
The Cornerstone
Miami University in Oxford, Ohio — a battleground for this principle, and the birthplace of Sigma Chi.
It began in the autumn of 1854, with one of the 12 members of the Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE) chapter. This member sought support from his brothers, hoping to secure an elected position as the office of "poet" in the school's literary society, the Erodelphian. Because of brotherhood ties with the Erodelphian, he assumed with complete confidence he would win the candidacy.
To his surprise, four brothers declined to cast votes for him during the election period. The "dissenters" instead supported another candidate, arguing that the other Miami student possessed superior poetic talents. Two more members then joined their side, admiring their courage of conviction.
This begged the question:
It began in the autumn of 1854, with one of the 12 members of the Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE) chapter. This member sought support from his brothers, hoping to secure an elected position as the office of "poet" in the school's literary society, the Erodelphian. Because of brotherhood ties with the Erodelphian, he assumed with complete confidence he would win the candidacy.
To his surprise, four brothers declined to cast votes for him during the election period. The "dissenters" instead supported another candidate, arguing that the other Miami student possessed superior poetic talents. Two more members then joined their side, admiring their courage of conviction.
This begged the question:
Merit or loyalty?
With the fraternity divided, relations quickly went awry. As an attempt to settle these differences, the six brothers who favored the principle of merit proposed a dinner meeting with the other six members. Despite expectations of reconciliation, only one estranged member came to the dinner — a brother by the name of Whitelaw Reid.
Minor Milikin, a DKE alumnus, accompanied Reid. Having only heard a one-sided account of the incident, he unfairly declared wrong the actions of all of the dinner hosts. To add insult to injury, he claimed that the instigators must be expelled, with the supporters allowed to maintain membership after appropriate punishment.
Upon hearing this, dissenter Benjamin Piatt Runkle threw down his membership badge. He exclaimed,
Minor Milikin, a DKE alumnus, accompanied Reid. Having only heard a one-sided account of the incident, he unfairly declared wrong the actions of all of the dinner hosts. To add insult to injury, he claimed that the instigators must be expelled, with the supporters allowed to maintain membership after appropriate punishment.
Upon hearing this, dissenter Benjamin Piatt Runkle threw down his membership badge. He exclaimed,
I didn't join this fraternity to be anyone's tool! And that, sir, is my answer!
Those words, like the "shot heard around the world," sparked revolution. By April 1855, the six members received notice of their expulsion from DKE. However, these six young men decided to make a name for themselves and establish a new fraternity. After associating themselves with brilliant organizer named William Lewis Lockwood, their founding membership increased to seven.
On June 28th, 1855, these seven founders founded what we know today as Sigma Chi
On June 28th, 1855, these seven founders founded what we know today as Sigma Chi
*Referenced using the SigmaChi.org website