Sigma Chi’s newest chapter at Carnegie Mellon University made a large spectacle for its entrance into the Fraternity.
The Lambda Pi Chapter’s Initiation on Nov. 3, 2012, at the University Club on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus for its installation totaled 58 members, the largest Initiation class for an installation since the Kappa Chi Chapter at Villanova University initiated 68 members on Dec. 10, 2005.
Chapter Consul Wade Alford, 2013, enjoyed the experience of having a large pledge class through the colonization process and Initiation. “The experience was awesome because some of us have been working [during the colonization process] for two years,” Alford said. “We are a very big, but well-bonded brotherhood. It was nice that we were able to get initiated all together.”
As the Sigma Chi Alpha colony, it had its Phase II report accepted on May 14, 2012, and its Phase I report accepted on Nov. 14, 2011, after submitting its Declaration of Intent on March 17, 2011, and having its call-to-vote unanimously approved by undergraduate and alumni chapters on Sept. 29, 2012. The chapter is proud of working its way to a charter in less than two years of colonization.
“At the beginning of colonization, we were a bit overconfident and thought it was going to take less time,” Alford said. “We were just trying to get through it and make it happen. It was definitely satisfying because [colonizing a chapter] was a difficult thing to do.”
The chapter faces many goals and challenges in its future. With many members graduating in the spring, including Alford, the chapter will feature a new executive committee beginning next semester. The chapter also has goals to host its first Derby Days, win the Peterson Significant Chapter Award and win several on-campus competitions.
The chapter also hopes to move into a larger chapter house that has a better location on campus next year. “I am really excited for the future because a lot of our new members have shown that they have what it takes to become leaders,” Alford says. “There are a lot of opportunities for the chapter and I think the chapter is in a good position to take advantage of those opportunities.”
The Fraternity now totals 240 chapters, nine colonies and one interest group. Any Fraternity expansion questions can be sent to Directors of Expansion Nick Conway, CAL. STATE-FRESNO 2010, and Matt Pagan, NORTH FLORIDA 2010. Conway can be reached at (847) 869-3655, ext. 221, or nick.conway@sigmachi.org, and Pagan can be reached at (847) 869-3655, ext. 208, or matt.pagan@sigmachi.org.
