F Justice HAZING 2015 SUMMER HARM FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMERALD SIGMA When we first moved to our beautiful new Executive Office in Lebanon, TN back in 2013, I knew that it would be important for us to establish relationships ABOUT THE EMERALD in town with all the important local politicians, successful attorneys, and major business owners. That's when I was introduced to the local Rotary Club, and I Volume XCIX, Number 2 Summer 2015 found out they were established on December 4, 1921. (ISSN 1074-5289, USPS 011-013) This was no ordinary Rotary Club. I was warned ahead of time that this particular The Emerald has been published since 1911, Rotary Club had some strange traditions at the start of each meeting, but they and is published two times a year by Sigma Pi Fraternity, 106 North Castle Heights Ave, did have the top 75 leaders in Wilson County attending. My curiosity got the Lebanon, Tennessee, 37087 best of me. and additional mailing offices. It was my very first meeting. They started by introducing all the visiting guests Submission Deadlines to the rest of the Rotary Club with a brief biography of what they do for a living. Spring February 10 (Digital Platform) Summer May 10 (Print Opt-In Only) That's when it happened. The entire group starting singing together. "You're a Fall September 10 (Print All Addresses) Grand Old Flag" and "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" were the songs chosen for that particular day, along with piano accompaniment. I thought to myself that my voice was horrible. I might not be asked to come back. Against my better ABOUT SIGMA PI judgement, I joined in with the singing, and it felt great. I remember feeling instantly part of their team, I remember thinking this was different than every Sigma Pi Fraternity, International was founded other meeting I've ever attended, and I instantly forgot (for the moment) all the at Vincennes University, Vincennes, Ind. on other things that were consuming my life at the time. I was inspired. "Way to go," February 26, 1897. The Executive Office said the President of the Club. "Y'all sounded great today!" is located in Lebanon, Tenn. Sigma Pi has chartered more than 230 chapters in North This story repeats itself every Tuesday afternoon. I'm now the President Elect of America and has initiated over 100,000 the Rotary Club and I'm left wondering if we should continue this tradition that members since 1897. they've had in place since the 1920's, or should we change our ways? The founding fathers of Sigma Pi Fraternity are: Rolin Rosco James (1879 1953) One other interesting note about Rotary International that helped me answer that William Raper Kennedy (1877 1944) question. They have 1.2 million members across the globe who come together to James Thompson Kingsbury (1877 1950) create positive, lasting change in their communities. They all subscribe to the George Martin Patterson (1877 1960) "Four-Way Test". Of the things we think, say, or do: EDITORIAL STAFF 1. Is it the truth? 2. Is it fair to all concerned? EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR Chris Carter (Middle Tennessee '11) 3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships? ASSISTANT EDITOR 4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned? Philip Aiello (Wisconsin-Oshkosh '15) BUSINESS MANAGER Fraternities have lots of tradition in our identity. We have our letters. Our creed. Jason Walker (Georgia '96) Our history. Our values. These things will never change. We believe that the next CONTRIBUTORS generation of Sigma Pi members should keep those things sacred and pass it on. Kevin Pons (Johnson & Wales '06) We've also heard in the media recently that fraternities need to change their Ryan Armstrong (lowa '12) GS E. Andrew Morris (Murray State '70) traditions. No matter which tradition we are talking about, I would challenge Jimmy Berents (Wake Forest '17) Joseph Crafton (Kentucky '18) you and your brothers to apply those traditions to the "Four-Way Test" in order Ryan Khuri (Louisville '12) to determine if it is a tradition we should keep in our chapters. Donald Abels (Middle Tennessee '12) Ryan Miller (Oklahoma State '16) Thea Zunick If it's a Halloween theme party that could insult people based on race, ethnicity, Brett Stewart or sexual orientation, then the answer is clearly no. If it's a hazing practice that we have no idea why we do it other than tradition - "it happened to me SO I'll do it to the next guy" - then the answer is clearly no. How about the chants that SHARE YOUR STORY we sing? How about the awards we hand out at every chapter meeting? Are we Send pictures & stories to: really promoting the values of Sigma Pi in everything that we do, or do we let those values go for certain chants or certain awards in the chapter? emerald@sigmapi.org or Sigma Pi Fraternity Traditions can be very good when we ask the right questions and really think 106 N. Castle Heights Ave. Lebanon, TN 37087 about what we are doing, and then consciously ask ourselves if it matches the values of Sigma Pi. That tradition will show the best of who we are. II Fraternally, sigmapi.org @sigmapi theemerald.org @sigmapialumni myEII mysigmapi.com sigmapi.org/linkedin Michael Ayalon (Buffalo '97) Member, North-American FRATERNITY Executive Director COMMUNICATIONS Interfraternity Conference ASSOCIATION