Sigma Nu is an Honor fraternity. We are a fraternity, not a club, for men, not boys, based upon the Honor Principle, not expediency or situational ethics.
So what can Sigma Nu do for you? The short answer is that you will get out of it what you put into it. For those who strive, Sigma Nu can:
- Develop lifelong friendships and brotherhood.
- Build a worldwide network of Sigma Nu connections.
- Teach valuable business, interpersonal, and social skills.
- Develop leadership abilities and confidence.
- Provide opportunities to give back to the community.
- Help you become the best version of yourself.
Sigma Nu can give you a chance to get the most out of college; to leave a legacy.
Imagine being a part of something great—a group of the top leaders and social gentlemen who are involved on campus, possess high academic standards, recruit the best men, and most importantly, hold themselves to a high sense of Honor—a genuine fraternity.
Built by you.
No Hazing
In 1869, the founder’s of Sigma Nu came together to militate against the hazing culture at the Virginia Military Institute. It has since been Sigma Nu’s pride and honor to be the first fraternity founded specifically as an anti-hazing organization.
The Zeta Upsilon Chapter of Sigma Nu takes a serious anti-hazing stance and will continue to be a campus leader on the anti-hazing front. We believe that pledging should be an educational process in which one is challenged to be a more mature, responsible version of oneself, and never should a new member have to compromise or degrade himself in order to gain membership in our Fraternity.
Sigma Nu Fraternity defines hazing as:
“…any action taken or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off Fraternity premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule. Such activities may include but are not limited to the following: paddling in any form; creation of excessive fatigue; physical and psychological shocks; quests, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, road trips or any other such activities carried on outside or inside the confines of the chapter house; the wearing of public apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste; engaging in public stunts and buffoonery; morally degrading or humiliating games and activities; late work sessions which interfere with scholastic activities; and any other activities which are not consistent with fraternal law or policy or the regulations and policies of the educational institution.”
Sigma Nu opposes the practice of Hazing.
People often associate hazing with fraternities. Sigma Nu is unique in the fact that we were founded based on Honor, which stems from our Founders rebelling against the common practice of hazing at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. That principle still holds true today.
The Fraternal Staff works tirelessly to educate our undergraduate and alumni members on the importance of teaching our Candidates (new members) through activities free of hazing, primarily our LEAD Program (Leadership, Ethics, Achievement, Development). Sigma Nu also sponsors an anti-hazing hotline and email address to anonymously report acts of hazing.
This service is not only available to our undergraduate members, but to you as well. Should you believe that someone is being hazed, please call our toll-free Anti-Hazing Hotline at 1-800-NOT-HAZE or send an email to anti-hazing@sigmanu.org. You do not have to give your name.
For more information on hazing and how to report hazing, please visit the Office of Student Life. You can also learn more about Sigma Nu’s Anti-Hazing Initiatives.
Leadership
In each of our chapters, every man who joins will have the opportunity to run for one of 18 leadership positions. Through formal training, resources, coaching, experience and practice, these officers will develop their leadership skills as they learn how to manage and lead an organization.
A part of our mission has been, and always will be, to develop ethical leaders inspired by the principles of Love, Honor and Truth.
The LEAD Program is Sigma Nu’s highly acclaimed five-phase ethical leadership development program. The men who join Sigma Nu will start LEAD during new member education, and can continue their development throughout their entire time as a collegian. To learn more, visit the LEAD Program page.
In addition to the formal leadership positions, programs, and training that Sigma Nu offers, some of the best opportunities lie in the informal and intangible leadership experiences that happen—building an organization from the ground up, learning how to manage and deal with people, balancing business and brotherhood—these invaluable experiences build character, maturity, and especially leadership.
Service
Community service (giving time) and philanthropy (raising and donating money) are important parts of the Sigma Nu experience.
Our Sigma Nu chapter will organize community service projects, participate in other campus organization service activities, and provide service opportunities for individual members. We will also host philanthropy events and other student organization philanthropies.
These provide great opportunities to contribute time and raise funds for charity, build social connections, establish friendships, and have fun in the process.