Study Guide For Quizzes and National Test of Sigma Nu
1. Recite the Creed of Sigma Nu.
To Believe in the Life of Love,
To Walk in the Way of Honor,
To Serve in the Light of Truth,
This is the Life, the Way, and the Light of Sigma Nu,
This is the Creed of our Fraternity
2. Recite the Greek Alphabet.
Alpha (A), Beta (B), Gamma (G), Delta (D), Epsilon (E), Zeta (Z), Eta (H), Theta (Q), Iota (I), Kappa (K), Lambda (L), Mu (M), Nu (N), Xi (X), Omicron (O), Pi (P), Rho (P), Sigma (S), Tau (T), Upsilon (Y), Phi (F), Chi (X), Psi (Y), Omega (W).
3. What are the five objectives of Sigma Nu?
1. To govern each act by a high sense of honor.
2. To bind together all of our members by ties of truth and lasting friendship
3. To protect, assist, advance and encourage each other by every honorable means in our power during life
4. To have plans for guidance and unity in action
5. To propose, discuss and agree upon these plans at meetings
4. What do the colors of Sigma Nu symbolize to a candidate?
Black: Confidence
White: Fidelity
Gold: Respect
5. Why is the Greek letter Omega not used in Sigma Nu?
Omega means the end (There is no end in Sigma Nu)
Session 1: Interfraternity
6. What was the first Greek Letter organization?
FBK
7. When are where was FBK founded?
1776, College of William and Mary
8. What was FBK?
A literary society
9. Who was the first founder of FBK?
John Heath
10. How many men started FBK?
5
11. What does FBK mean?
Phi Beta Kappa (ΦΒΚ) stands for Φιλοσοφία Βιοῦ Κυβερνήτης or philosophia biou kubernetes — "Love of wisdom, the guide of life."
12. What are the fraternities of the Union Triad?
KA Society
DF
SF
13. What was the first national fraternity?
SF
14. What are the fraternities of the Miami Triad?
BQP
FDQ
SC
15. Where is Miami University?
Ohio
16. What are the fraternities of the Lexington Triad?
SN
KA Order
ATW
17. Who was the first social fraternity? What year was it founded?
KA Society, 1825
18. Who occupied the first fraternity home and in what year?
KA Society, 1864
19. What was the first anti-secretive/non- secretive fraternity?
DU
20. What national fraternal organization assists and lends guidance to the men’s fraternities?
The National Interfraternity Council
21. What was the first Greek lettered women’s society? When and where was it founded?
KAQ, DePauw University, 1870
22. Who was the first true sorority?
GFB
23. What title did women’s societies use before the term sorority?
Fraternity
24. Who is the only Canadian national fraternity and in what year was it founded?
FKP, 1913
25. Who was the first international fraternity and in what year?
ZY, 1876 (Toronto)
Session 2 Sigma Nu History
26. Who were the founding fathers of Sigma Nu? (full names and numbers)
James Frank Hopkins, Alpha 1
Greenfield Quarles, Alpha 2
James McIlvaine Riley, Alpha 3
27. What is the year of the “Spiritual Birth” of Sigma Nu?
1866, when Hopkins first rebelled against hazing
28. What is the month and year of the birth of the Legion of Honor?
October 1868
29. What is the official founding date of Sigma Nu?
January 1, 1869
30. Where was Sigma Nu founded?
Virginia Military Institute
31. What are the birth and death dates of the founders?
Hopkins-Dec. 30, 1845-Dec. 15, 1913 68 years old 23 at founding of Sigma Nu
Quarles-April 1, 1847-Jan. 14, 1921 74 years old 21 at founding of Sigma Nu
Riley- May 16, 1849-May 6, 1911 62 years old 19 at founding of Sigma Nu
32. Which founder was a prisoner of war during the Civil War?
Greenfield Quarles, A2
33. Which founder was not a soldier in the Civil War?
James McIlvaine Riley, A3
34. What was our fraternity title before Sigma Nu?
The Legion of Honor
35. Who is considered the spiritual founder of Sigma Nu?
General Francis H. Smith
36. Who gave the first bible to James Frank Hopkins?
General Francis H. Smith
37. Who was responsible for the Honor code at VMI?
General Francis H. Smith
38. Who was the first Commander of A Chapter?
James McIlvaine Riley, A3
39. What titles were used before the use of Commander, Lt. Commander, etc.?
Greek letters, i.e. X-Commander, LC-Lt. Commander
40. What chapter designations were used before Greek letter designations?
Roman numerals
41. Who was the first Regent? How long did he serve in the position?
James McIlvaine Riley, A3, two five-year terms (10 years)
42. When and where did Sigma Nu become an international fraternity?
1949 University of Toronto (ZD)
43. What year was Sigma Nu headquarters established and where?
1926, Indianapolis
44. Who led the charge to build our shrine and headquarters at Lexington? (He was Executive Secretary at the time.)
Richard R. Fletcher
45. What year was headquarters established in Lexington?
1957
46. Who was the land purchased from where Sigma Nu Headquarters Shrine is today?
The family of General Francis H. Smith
47. What was the date our Fraternity Shrine and Headquarters office was officially dedicated in Lexington?
June 9, 1960
Grand Chapter
48. Who is considered a part of the General Fraternity?
The entire fraternity including the collegiate and alumni members, the chapters and colonies and all members
49. What is the legislative body of Sigma Nu?
Grand Chapter
50. Who was responsible for the first Grand Chapter?
Issac P. Robinson
51. When and where was the first Grand Chapter?
1884, Maxwell House, Nashville, TN
52. How many Sigma Nus attended the first Grand Chapter?
8
53. When can The Law of Sigma Nu be amended, revised, updated, etc.?
Grand Chapter
54. Who writes the Law of Sigma Nu International Fraternity?
The collegians and alumni at Grand Chapter
55. Who can vote at Grand Chapter?
Collegiate Chapters- 2 votes
Alumni Chapters- 1 vote
Division Commanders- 1 vote
High Council members 1 vote
Former Regents 1 vote
Staff members no vote
56. How often does Grand Chapter meet?
Every two years
57. When did the Grand Chapter convene during odd numbered years?
17th Grand Chapter, 1915, Denver Colorado through the 31th Grand Chapter, 1943, Chicago Illinois
58. What is the ranking order of the Grand Officers to the General Fraternity?
1. Regent
2. Regent-Elect
3. Grand Treasurer
4. Vice-Regents (4)
5. Collegiate Grand Councilmen (4)
6. Grand Chaplin
7. Grand Marshal
8. Grand Sentinel
9. Grand Historian
10. Division Commanders
59. How are the Grand Officers paid?
Grand Officers are volunteers who receive no financial compensation other than reimbursement for reasonable cost of official Fraternity business travel.
60. How do Sigma Nus become High Council members?
Elected by Grand Chapter
61. What is the collegiate representation on High Council?
The Four Collegiate Grand Councilmen
62. How does one become a Collegiate Grand Councilmen? How long does one serve?
Appointed by the Office of Executive Director, upon recommendation of Division Commanders. They serve until the next High Council meeting so as to allow representation from as many chapters as possible.
Writings
The Delta
63. What is our fraternity magazine called?
The Delta
64. Who founded The Delta?
John Alexander Howard.
65. Who was the first editor of The Delta?
John Alexander Howard
66. When was the first issue of The Delta printed?
April 1883
67. How many pages did the first edition of The Delta contain?
16
68. Why is it called The Delta?
For the three chapters in existence at the time
69. What were the three chapters?
A: VMI
L: Washington & Lee University
K: North Georgia
Ritual
70. Who drafted the first ritual?
James Frank Hopkins
71. Why was The Ritual not written in early years?
Committed to memory because other fraternities could not steal and reveal it
72. What was the secret book containing our rituals?
The Liturgy
73. Who wrote the first revision of the liturgy?
Perlee Rawson Bennett
74. Who wrote the revision of the current Liturgy and in what year?
Austin S. Landry, HN and Dr. Thomas R. Panko, QG in 1984
75. What was the Red Book?
The Liturgy by Bennett
LEAD Program
76. What is the candidate education manual called?
LEAD Phase I-The Legion of Honor
77. When was LEAD approved by Grand Chapter?
1988 at Grand Chapter in Scottsdal Arizona
78. What does LEAD stand for?
Leadership, Ethics, Achievement, Development
79. How Many phases are in the LEAD Program?
5
80. Who is the current Consultant to the LEAD Program?
David Mainella ZF, Bradley University
Other
81. Who Wrote the Long and Short Creed?
Walter James Sears, L
82. What Grand Chapter was the Creed first delivered?
13th Grand Chapter, 1907
83. Who wrote The Way of Honor, the preface in the Legion of Honor manual?
J. Richard (Dick) Vaughn, Y
84. What year was The Way of Honor first printed?
1960
85. Who was a silent co-author of The Way of Honor?
Richard R. Fletcher, DD
86. Who wrote the Story of Sigma Nu?
John Caulderhead Scott
87. What document contains the written rules and regulations of our fraternity?
The Law of Sigma Nu
Articles of Insignia
88. What are the seven important markers erected by Sigma Nu?
1. The triad marker at VMI.
2. The Founder marker at VMI
3. The marker to signify Hopkins’ room at VMI
4. Hopkins’ grave in Mablevale, Arkansas.
5. Riley’s grave in St. Louis, Missouri
6. Marker at McCrum’s Drug- Sigma Nu meeting place in Lexington
7. Pendleton-Coles House at VMI.
89. What is the most important possession of a Sigma Nu chapter?
The Charter
90. What was the first item owned by our fraternity?
The Alpha Chest
91. Where are the archives located for Sigma Nu Fraternity?
At the General Fraternity Headquarters in Lexington
92. What was the Sigma Nu badge designed after?
The White Cross of the French Legion of Honor
93. Who designed the badge of Sigma Nu?
James Frank Hopkins
94. Who, besides initiates may wear the badge?
Mother, sister, fiancé, wife, daughter
95. Can you son (if you have one) wear your badge?
No, unless he is an initiate
96. Who designed the Coat of Arms and when was it adopted by Grand Chapter?
Ellwood H. McClelland, GE 17th Grand Chapter in 1915
97. When was the official flag adopted?
By the 20th Grand Chapter in 1921
98. What is the proper order for displaying the official Sigma Nu flag?
National flag, state or province flag, college flag, and Sigma Nu flag
99. What does the red eye of the snake on the badge represent?
It is the January birthstone, the founding month of Sigma Nu
100. Who painted the Short Creed?
Ernest Wenner, EK, North Dakota
101. Who painted “The Founding of Sigma Nu” and in what year?
James Bowles Settles, GO, 1935
102. What does “The Founding of Sigma Nu” depict?
The forming of the Legion of Honor in October, 1868 by the three founders
103. Who painted “A Serpent, A Rose, and A Star” and in what year was it completed?
Elmer Paul Catts, DK, 1952
104. When and how was “A Serpent, A Rose, and A Star” introduced to the General Fraternity?
Appeared on the cover of the February 1960 Delta
105. Who painted “The Quest” and in what year was it presented to the General Fraternity?
Michael Jaszcak, DA, 1986 at Grand Chapter
106. What is the offical song of Sigma Nu?
The White Star of Sigma Nu
107. Who wrote and composed The White Star of Sigma Nu?
Jack T. Nelson, GB (wrote the music and lyrics)
Warren Piper , GB (contributor)
108. At what Grand Chapter was the song “The White Star of Sigma Nu” adopted?
1919, 19th Grand Chapter, St. Louis, Missouri.
109. Who proposed the white rose?
John Carmichael Jr., L
110. What does the white rose symbolize?
Purity of purpose and change
111. What does the rock symbolize?
Enduring strength and constancy
Funds
112. What is the current candidate fee?
$90.00
113. What is the current initiate fee?
$220.00
114. What is the fund that Headquarters operates out of?
The General Fund
115. What is the fiscal year of Sigma Nu?
July 1 through June 30
116. What are the four scholarship grants offered by the Educational Foundation?
1. Academic Encouragement: $100, $15 per semester
2. Education in Community Service- annual award
3. Emergency Aid: $100-$200 for financial hardships
4. Graduate Awards: $500, four per years
Fifth Point Properties
117. What is Fifth Point Properties?
Fifth Point Properties, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc., was launched in August 2003 with the goal of improving the quality of chapter housing available to chapters of Sigma Nu Fraternity.
118. What is the mission statement of FFP?
To facilitate the improvement of the Fraternity's collective housing stock while developing a source of financial strength for the Fraternity.
119. Who is the current President and Chief Operating Officer of FFP?
Steve Ratterman, BH
Trivia
Important Chapters
120. What is the highest award a chapter can receive at Grand Chapter?
Rock Chapter Award
121. What Sigma Nu chapter opened the east for other Sigma Nu chapters?
P, Lehigh University
122. What Sigma Nu chapter opened the west for other Sigma Nu Chapters?
N, Kansas
123. What Chapter is Bob Barker from?
EB, Drury
124. What chapter in Sigma Nu has two sections/branches?
HM, Kettering University
125. What state has the most Sigma Nu chapter, and how many chapters are there?
First: California with 19 chapters
Second: Texas with 16 Chapters
Third: Ohio with 14 chapters
126. In what states was SN the first fraternity?
Oregon, Washington, and Montana
127. What states have no Sigma Nu chapters?