Magister’s Pre Report:
The purpose of the pledge process is to prepare the pledges for a meaningful initiation and for their life as an active member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. This pledge program is focused on the following: 1) to have personal understanding of the material which will be learned in our ritual, 2) to simulate a mini-chapter, 3) to provide a comfortable environment for the pledges to development themselves as men and as leaders, and 4) to establish and develop the relationships between the pledges and actives, amongst the class itself, and with the alumni and outside community.
Guidelines:
(See Magister Pledge Policies)
No mandatory pledge events will involve alcohol or any other drugs
A pledge reserves his right to say “No.”
A pledge is not a boy becoming a man; he is a man becoming a Sigma Chi
Outlined below is the weekly schedule for pledge meetings. The pledge process will be composed of a night of formal pinning and seven pledge meetings. Each pledge meeting will begin with a quiz on the material assigned the week before. These quizzes are to prepare the pledges for the International Exam on week seven. After the quizzes, the pledges are guided in a discussion about the importance they found in the material they were just quizzed upon. Once this discussion ends, the pledge class consul begins his leading of the business portion of the pledge meeting. The pledges should be allowed to discuss their business amongst themselves, without interruption from the Magister or active members in attendance, unless called upon. This is a time for the pledge class to think for themselves and to come together as a group. With the conclusion of the pledge class consul’s leading of the business portion, the Magister will lead the pledge class in an activity. The purpose of these activities is to develop the pledges as leaders. To be a leader, each member must be comfortable with the members around to share himself, sharing their values, sharing their strengths, finding inspiration, developing a plan of action, putting that plan into action.
- Becoming comfortable with the members around to share themselves
Activity: Pledges AND Actives are given the option to sing a favorite song with the pledge class
Partner Speed Dating with 7XL T-shirts or Ball Question Game
- Sharing their values
Activity: Straw Activity
Significance: There are many ways to play the game—everyone has different values
- Sharing their strengths
Activity: Holding of Charter
Significance: Each member has certain strengths they can use as a Sigma Chi
Unveiling of Big Brothers
- Finding inspiration
Activity: Sweetheart gives speech and specifics on how a man of good character should conduct himself around women. And, pledges bring in inspirational quotations
Knots – Everyone joins hands in the middle of a circle of 8-10 people and they have to untangle themselves
- Developing a plan of action
Activity: Pro/Con Fraternity Debate
Significance: Pledge class realizes what is good about their chapter, how others perceive us, and how we need to conduct ourselves
- Putting that plan into action
Activity: Brotherhood Retreat
Other Activities:
Other Activities: Roll the marble down short pipes into bucket
Roll the marble down short pipes into bucket
Alternated Musical Chairs
Week Zero: January 20th 7:00pm
Formal Pinning
Post Pizza
Announce that pledges prepare a favorite song to sing at first meeting
Week One: January 25th 8:00pm
Theme: Becoming comfortable with the members around to share himself
Activity: Pledges are given the option to sing a favorite song with the pledge class
Announced during week 0
Hand out Norman Shields
Elements of pledgeship (pg. 15)
Calendar of Events
Letters to Parents
Big-Brother/Little-Brother Program
Interviews (Have 5 done by our next meeting)
Dues
Brotherhood Retreat
Fundraising
Service
Social
Pledge Class Project
Learn Active Brother’s Names
Learn about responsibilities of Consul, Pro Consul, Annotator, Quaestor, Chief Justice (Judicial Board), and Chapter Advisor
Ball Question Game
Candle Pass
Tuesday Morning
Activity January 27th 7:00am in front of Sobrato, bring gym clothes
Pledges and actives play basketball in gym; mix teams with pledge/active
Week Two: February 1st 8:00pm
Theme: Sharing their values
Activity: Use straws and tape to suspend ping-pong ball above head height
Significance: There is more than one way to play the game everyone has different values
Founding of Sigma Chi (pg. 37-38)
Circumstances leading to and major details, facts and dates of the founding.
Two Founders – Runkle, Jordan (pg 41,44)
A broad understanding and knowledge of the Founders; including full name, traits or virtues associated with each and specific contributions to Sigma Chi.
Jordan Standard (pg. 21)
An understanding of The Jordan Standard as a minimum requirement to receive a bid to begin pledging in Sigma Chi. Memorize the actual Standard.
Learn about responsibilities of Social Chair (Sorority Chairs), Service Chair, Fundraising Chair, Philanthropy Chair, and Brotherhood Chair
Nominations of Officers
Consul, Pro-Consul, Annotator, Quaestor, Social, Service, Fundraising, Brotherhood, Freshmen Judicial Board Representative, Philanthropy Representative
** Sweetheart Song (pg. 64-65)
Activity-Straw towers
Candle Pass
Big-Brother Preferences
Emailed to Magister
Week Three: February 8th 8:00pm
Theme: Sharing their strengths
Activity: Holding of Charter
Significance: Each member has certain strengths they can use as a Sigma Chi
Two Founders – Lockwood, Cooper (pg 43, 45)
A broad understanding and knowledge of the Founders; including full name, traits or virtues associated with each and specific contributions to Sigma Chi.
Constantine (pg. 48)
Understanding why Founders chose his vision and victory as a fraternal lesson
The Spirit of Sigma Chi (pg. 23)
The ability to write The Spirit of Sigma Chi and discuss its meaning.
Badge (pg. 51)
The ability to draw the Badge
Motto (pg. 52)
The ability to write the public motto
Seal (pg. 51)
The ability to draw the Seal
Election of Officers
Activity-Big Brother/ Little Brother Ceremony
Candle Pass
Big Brother/ Little Brother Activity
Big Brothers take out Little Brother after pledge meeting
Big Brother Activity – Pledges stand in circle with rope and equally support one another as they lean back. Brothers surround the group and observe
Do it again, but this time with pledges blindfolded and the rope broken. Big brothers quietly wait behind their Littles and catch them as they fall.
Discuss the significance of this.
Week Four: Monday February 15th at 8:00pm
Theme: Finding inspiration
Activity: Sweetheart gives speech and specifics on how to conduct yourself as a gentleman to other women. And, pledges read inspirational quotations
Knots—Everyone joins hands in the middle of a circle of 8-10 people and they have to untangle themselves
Two Founders – Bell, Scobey (pg 42, 46)
A broad understanding and knowledge of the Founders; including full name, traits or virtues associated with each and specific contributions to Sigma Chi.
The purpose of Sigma Chi (pg 19)
An understanding of the Purpose of Sigma Chi as outlined in the Governing Laws.
Province Chapters (pg 80-85)
List the names of the chapters in the Northern California Province
Greek Alphabet (pg 37)
A familiarization of the Greek alphabet
Learn about responsibilities of Magister, Recruitment Chair, and Risk Manager
Activity-Holding of Charter
Candle Pass
Week Five: Monday February 22nd at 8:00pm
Theme: Developing a plan of action
Activity: Pro/Con Fraternity Debate
Significance: Pledge class realizes what is good about their chapter, how others perceive us, and how we need to conduct ourselves
One Founder – Caldwell (pg 47)
A broad understanding and knowledge of the Founders; including full name, traits or virtues associated with each and specific contributions to Sigma Chi.
Ritual (pg. 25-28)
An understanding of what rituals are, and how the Sigma Chi ritual impacts our members and others.
Sigma Chi Creed (pg. 22)
The ability to write The Sigma Chi Creed and discuss its major themes.
Learn about responsibilities of PR Chair, Tribune, Historian, Scholarship Chair, Marshall, Chapter Editor, and House Manager
Activity-Pro/Con Fraternity Debate
-Brick Activity
Candle Pass
Week Six: Monday March 1st at 8:00pm
Theme: Putting that plan into action
Activity: Planning Brotherhood Retreat & Brick Activity
General Fraternity programs
Names and at least two duties of the Grand Consul, Grand Pro Consul, Grand Quaestor and your Province’s Grand Praetor. (pg 136-137)
Nor-Cal United’s Grand Praetors: Paul Cole and Jeff Twibell
Know at least four resources offered by the Sigma Chi International Headquarters and staff. (pg 140-142)
A familiarity with the Constitution and Executive Committee regulations, especially in regards to organization. (pg 108-139)
The ability for undergraduates to serve in governance and on committees. (pg 134-136, 140-141)
An understanding of the organizational structure of Sigma Chi. (pg 134-136)
Four legal entities of Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi Corporation
Constantine Capitol Inc.
Risk Management Foundation
Sigma Chi Foundation
An understanding of the four legal entities of Sigma Chi. (pg 140-145)
Chapter Officers (pg. 69-71)
Names and at least two duties of your chapter’s Consul, Pro Consul, Magister, Quaestor, and Annotator.
Consul: Ryan Davidson
Pro Consul: Eric Steinberger
Annotator: Jim Sullivan
Quaestor: Adam Pecoraro
Magister: Zach Chong
Name and at least two duties of your Chapter Advisor. (pg 123)
Chapter Advisor: Jesse Rivera
Individual Membership
Contributions you will make to any specific area of chapter activity and/or the involvement that can be expected of you as a member in college and as an alumnus.
Your understanding of the meaning of true brotherhood.
An understanding of the responsibilities of being a member of Sigma Chi.
Activity-Brick Activity
Week Seven: Monday March 8th at 8:00pm
International Exam
Tested on all of the material previously required of you to know
Tuesday Morning Activity Ideas – 7 a.m.
Week 1: Basketball with the brothers mixed with the pledges
Allows the pledges to get acquainted with more of the brothers and a little extra bonding between them
Week 2: Take a lap with everyone around Bellomy Field then play Ultimate Frisbee with active members and pledges
Week 3: Rope circle with actives gathered around observing. Rope circle BROKEN blindfolded with Big Brothers behind to catch them.The circle will demonstrate the trust the pledges must have in each other (whether that be sharing your values or saving your own neck). The catch demonstrates that the big brother will always be there for them to catch them even when they don’t think they need help—then some sport (weather affects what we play)
Week 4: Prepare sweetheart song to sing for the sweetheart and bring her breakfast
Week 5: Decorate the pledge class brick—Then some sport (weather affects what we play)
Week 6: Basketball with the brothers mixed with the pledges
Week 7: Team Dinner—Then some sport (weather affects what we play)
Sports: Basketball, Dodgeball, Ultimate, Football,