Sigma Nu, Zeta Iota Chapter

Sigma Nu (ΣΝ) is a college fraternity with chapters in the United States and Canada. It was founded in 1869 at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. Sigma Nu is unique and distinctive in that we were founded on the principle of Honor. We have one towering standard: we seek men who can “govern each act by a high sense of honor.” We are a fraternity, not a club, for men, not boys, based upon the Honor Principle, not expediency and situational ethics.

Taken directly from our mission statement, Sigma Nu Fraternity exists to develop ethical leaders inspired by our three founding principles of Love, Honor and Truth. Further, we work to develop the mind, heart and character of each of our members so they, too, can realize our vision of “Excelling with Honor.”

The three main principles which Sigma Nu Fraternity were founded on were written into our creed: “To believe in the life of Love, to walk in the way of Honor, and to serve in the light of Truth.” We seek to live our lives inspired by brotherly Love, bound by the Honor Code and in search of Truth. It was the contention of our Founders that practical idealists, closely associated, and bound by these principle could more effectively develop the character and integrity which opens the door to greater opportunity and achievement. By studying, understanding and applying these principles, better men and ethical leaders are produced.

Leadership

Our primary mission is to develop ethical leaders. Sigma Nu offers its members opportunities to practice and acquire crucial leadership skills through promoting leadership in student organizations, in the local community and within our own fraternal organization. To that end, we offer a four part leadership development program (LEAD) as a tool to assist our members in both gaining the knowledge and developing the necessary leadership skills and abilities. The LEAD Program is a comprehensive ethical leadership development program designed to ensure participants "learn by doing."

Brotherhood

Sigma Nu means supporting and being supported by brothers. We are essentially each other’s family away from home. Our goal as brothers is to advance each other by all honorable means, whether it’s help with a tough course or advice on a personal problem. Brotherhood means more than mere friendship, it represents a serious lifelong commitment to each other and instills a sense of mutual respect, love and unity. Being a Sigma Nu means being a part of something much larger than oneself: there are over 10,000 collegiate members and 150,000 living initiates across the country in any given year.

Tradition

Sigma Nu has a rich tradition, both nationally and locally. When founded by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in 1869, Sigma Nu represented a radical departure from Fraternities of the time: based on the Honor Code and founded in opposition to the practice of hazing. These themes are embodied in our secret ceremonies and teachings which connect brothers both young and old. Our local chapter, Zeta Iota, has been a part of the San Jose State University community without interruption since 1951. Our alumni have become successful businessmen, political leaders and famous entertainers.

Scholarship

Scholastic achievement is of the highest priority for Sigma Nus as students at San Jose State University. We pride ourselves on not only maintaining good academic standing with the University, but with frequently having one of the highest overall GPAs among other fraternal organizations on campus. Every brother and candidate is expected to maintain a minimum GPA well above that required by the University and challenged to seek high honors. In order to promote academic excellence, Sigma Nu offers its members support in the form of group study hours, grade monitoring, learning skills workshops and scholarships.

Citizenship

Sigma Nus are members of the San Jose State University and greater Bay Area communities. As such, it is important for us to serve these communities by sharing our skills and resources. On campus, Sigma Nus are actively involved in student organizations and student government. We can be found planning and participating in events which bring life to the campus and raise money for charitable organizations such as St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and Second Harvest Food Bank. Every April we participate in Sigma Nu's Helping Hand Initiative, a national service initiative which benefits organizations such as Habitat-for-Humanity and St. Jude’s.

Social

We believe that having fun, meeting new people and building friendships is an important part of the college experience. As a result, Sigma Nu offers its members access to a wide variety of social activities such as exchanges with sororities, road trips to visit other Sigma Nu chapters in California, themed parties, brotherhood retreats and formal dances. Even if there aren’t any specially planned events, brothers and their guests are always hanging out, watching movies, shooting pool, playing cards or barbequing after a hard week of studying. There is always something going on at Sigma Nu.

Sports

Participation in sports is important in building teamwork, encouraging excellence through competition, developing a man’s character and promoting good health. Sigma Nu regularly fields intramural teams in Football, Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball and Softball competing against other fraternities and groups on campus. We participate in a wide range of other sporting events on campus matching all of our members’ interests and skills. Not only do we participate in sports, but we also big supporters of Spartan Athletics teams, frequently attending games and promoting Spartan spirit.

The Mission of Sigma Nu Fraternity

To develop ethical leaders inspired by the principles of Love, Honor and Truth.

To foster the development of each man’s mind, heart and character.

To perpetuate lifelong friendships and commitment to the Fraternity.

The Creed of Sigma Nu
by Walter James Sears

To believe in the life of love to win in the fresh morning of our youth the loyal love of faithful friends, who will go with us unmoved into the darkening shadows of life's closing day; and so to seek and to find, to have and to hold the friendships that will abide. To think of God as the common father of all men, and all men as a common brotherhood, thus recognizing the continuity of the Divine and the solidarity of the human life. To build somewhere in the wide world the sheltering walls of a home, however humble and obscure, where Love shall glorify the wife, Duty enshrine the mother, and Affection ennoble the child. To keep green the sainted memory of our loved and lost, their faults forgotten, their virtues enshrined in our hearts forever. To try bravely to do unto our fellow men as we should do unto us, reckoning not their lineage nor their wealth, but esteeming their manhood above their badge of rank. To let our lives be led by the spirits of Gentleness, Justice, and Mercy. And so to be true to the Knighthood of Love.

To walk in the way of honor; to exalt the fundamental virtues of the race; and, prizing every noble impulse, to realize so deeply the baseness of deceit, that no obligation will be more binding than our plighted word. To be steadfast in the performance of every trust, and, spurning the gaudy gifts of greed and power, to be content to live by our knightly vow that our honor is dearer to us than our lives; and so to esteem the man's character first, his culture second, and his pedigree not at all, unless he be worthy of it. Emulating the chivalrous deeds of courtesy, and sealing not our hearts against the torch of tenderness, to win the love and care of some incorruptible woman. And so to be loyal to the Knighthood of Honor.

To serve in the light of truth; to open wide, Life's windows to the revelations of heaven and earth. Avoiding the Phariseeism that belittles the soul and scorning the bigotry that blights the mind, to respect every altar of faith built in God's name, by every sincere worshiper to whom, if we cannot give our sympathy, we shall not deny the kindness of our manly silence; and, whatever our creed, to reverence the Christ as the Divine Compassion for struggling humanity - a compassion that, giving the world its gospel of human service, saves men to the end that they may serve their fellow men.

To seek in nature, the meaning of the Infinite Truth; to understand that the laws of growth are the laws of God to believe that the melody of birds, the laughter of children the unmeasured sacrifice of motherhood, and the ceaseless yearning of all men for a wider outlook and a nobler existence are prophetic of the perfect joy and love of another world and so believing, to find rest, as in the shadow of a great rock, against all the storms that beset us; catching from the silence of the starlit nights, the peace of the autumn days, the solemnity of the boundless seas, that spirit of Hope and Faith which soothes hurt of grief, heals the wound of wrong, and calms the fever of doubt.

To welcome the achievements of art and science, religion and learning, labor and law, under whose radiant banners battle the hosts of progress; honoring every honest student as the benefactor of his race, and every consecrated school as a bulwark of the Republic; and so to be loyal to the American university, as the home of American liberty, democracy, religion, and culture.

To guard with jealous care not only ancient rights of human freedom, in whose name we shall destroy all wrong and oppression, but also the newer rights of social service, the ultimate purpose of whose ministrations shall be to give to every life, the opportunity to enjoy the earth in the fullness of its beauty and grace, its comfort and good cheer; holding fast to the conviction that whatever sweetens our natures, uplifts our ideals, strengthens our character and disenthralls our spirits will us in the end into the full stature of a noble manhood; and, so inspires, to cling to the visions of our youth, and, despite the sordid struggles of the selfish world, to practice every day, as lads in college, and men in the world, the Faith of our Fraternity, thinking of it not only as the inspiring Ideal of a militant Brotherhood, but also as as creative force for the spiritual development of men, whose lives it shall dedicate to Love, glorify with Honor, and conquer for Truth. And so to be faithful to the Knighthood of Truth.

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