Sigma Chi
Founded in the Fall of 2004, as Kappa Pi Omega, Sigma Chi[1] (ΣΧ) was the newest Fraternity at Knox. Sigma Chi Lambda Alpha was shut down on October 28, 2024.
Despite their overwhelming need to be seen as "the good frat", in the summer of 2020 several current and former Sigma Chi members were accused of, and admitted to, sexual assault. These acts happened both during Sigma Chi events and in their chapter house over the course of the previous several years, and were common knowledge to other Sig Chi brothers. In October of 2020 Sigma Chi announced the creation "working groups" where they consulted members of the community and survivors as to the best path moving forward for the chapter.
Despite an overwhelming response that the chapter should disband, they announced in the world's worst Twitter post that they will continue to move forward as a chapter. Since then, they have continued to ignore criticism, going so far as suspending 5 new pledges who spoke up about their discomfort with the chapter's refusal to listen to literally anyone who isn't a rabid supporter of theirs. In the years following, they continued to struggle to recruit on this campus. In Spring 2023, the fraternity consisted of three seniors, until a group of four freshman and sophomores pledged to join the fraternity in hopes of having their own campus house and organization. As of Winter 2024, Sigma Chi began actively recruiting new members and expanding their member count.
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Academics[edit]
Sigma Chi had a strong emphasis on academic excellence, and offers tools to help members achieve their academic goals. Their commitment to scholastic achievement was apparent in their history. They required all of brothers to achieve a minimum GPA of 2.90. Sigma Chi posted a group GPA of 3.2, which was the highest GPA for a Greek organization on campus at the time. They supported their academic ambitions by holding study sessions and offering tutoring to help fellow brothers realize their potential.
Well-rounded lifestyle[edit]
They also strongly believed in the importance of a round lifestyle while at Knox, balancing academics with campus involvement, and taking time to relish the opportunities afforded to us by college life. It was the fusion of all these elements that made for a complete college experience, and provided each member of the organization with a solid foundation upon which to build a successful life.
Chapter members participated in many organizations and teams on campus. One of the most strenuous activities members engage in is dodging any and all responsibility for their actions.
Parties[edit]
Sigma Chi was known for nudism, especially at the annual Anything But Clothes party, which was held at a fraternity for the first time in fall 2006. Other popular parties were the Nightshift, Mayhem, Pimpin' 'Round the World, Get Funked Up, Pajamarama, and Jock Jams. The previously mentioned parties have happened less and less in recent years.
Officers[edit]
Consul[edit]
Pro Consul[edit]
Risk Manager[edit]
Annotator[edit]
Oliver Horton Peter Walker 2010-2011
Quaestor[edit]
Magister[edit]
Recruitment Chairman[edit]
Historian[edit]
Social Chair[edit]
Kustos[edit]
The Sweetheart[edit]
The Spicy Liver[edit]
Controversy[edit]
At the time Sigma Chi was founded (then as KPO), the Inter-Fraternity Council opposed their petition. IFC contended that the process for establishing a new fraternity had been subverted and expedited for no reason. IFC also felt that allowing a group largely consisting of first years to establish a new fraternity during Fall Term flew in the face of the long established rule that prevents established fraternities from recruiting first-year men until Winter Term. The Administration disregarded the wishes of IFC and allowed Sigma Chi to proceed.
Sigma Chi's recruitment strategy has also created some controversy. Prior to Sigma Chi's founding, the established Fraternities did not practice "informal" or year-round recruiting, as the IFC bi-laws were read to be essentially forbidding this practice. As such, the other fraternities only pledged new members at the end of the formal Rush period. However, Sigma Chi took advantage of ambiguous language in the IFC bi-laws and began recruiting and pledging members year round. As of 2007, (thanks to one of the founding brothers, Randy Geary '09 who was elected IFC President for the '07-'08 academic year) IFC was working to clarify the rules so that all fraternities would be on a level playing field regarding recruitment.
The alleged sexual assaults in 2020 ostracized Sigma Chi from the Knox campus, with members struggling to distance themselves from the history of sexual assault.
