Delta Sigma Phi
Delta Sigma Phi (ΔΣΦ), commonly known as Delta Sig, is a fraternity established in 1899 at The City College of New York (CCNY). It was the first fraternity to be founded based on religious and ethnic acceptance. It is also one of three fraternities founded at CCNY (now a part of the City University of New York (CUNY)).
Not to be confused with Delta Sigma Pi.Delta Sigma Phi
December 10, 1899
City College of New York
Active
National
Better Men, Better Lives
Primary:
Nile Green
Carnation White
Secondary:
Desert Gold
Royal Purple
White Carnation
The Carnation
108 active (including colonies)
233 chartered
6,000+ collegiate
150,000+ lifetime
Delta Sig, DSP, D Sig, Sig
5975 Castle Creek Pkwy Drive N, Suite 465
Indianapolis, Indiana 46250
United States
Since its inception, Delta Sigma Phi has chartered chapters at 233 different colleges and universities, with 106 actively operating undergraduate chapters and colonies across the United States as of 2023.[1] The fraternity has more than 6,000 undergraduate members and more than 120,000 living alumni members.[2] More than 150,000 men have been initiated into Delta Sigma Phi since its founding.
Delta Sigma Phi is a charter member of the North American Interfraternity Conference. Its national headquarters are located in Indianapolis, Indiana, at the Fairbanks Mansion, the former home of Vice President Charles Warren Fairbanks.
History[edit]
Beginning[edit]
At the end of the nineteenth century, most fraternities were exclusively Christian or Jewish and barred membership to individuals based on religion. When a group of friends at the City College of New York tried to join a fraternity, they were denied membership because their group was composed of Christians and Jews. In response, they organized the first Delta Sigma Phi chapter on December 10, 1899. The chapter was called Insula due to its location in Manhattan.
In late 1902, with five members from Insula signing incorporation papers, Delta Sigma Phi was incorporated with the purpose of spreading "the principles of friendship and brotherhood among college men, without respect to race or creed." By 1903 the fraternity had established chapters at Columbia University and New York University.
Delta Sigma Phi recognizes Charles A. Tonsor Jr. (Christian) and Meyer Boskey (Jewish) as its two primary founding fathers. Although Boskey was one of the original members at the City College of New York and Tonsor was one of the charter members of the chapter at New York University, it is believed the fraternity first was developed by a group of nearly a dozen men. During the short period when men of Jewish faith were barred from membership, many of the fraternity's founding documents were ruined. Given the circumstances, the national organization adopted both Boskey and Tonsor as the "founders" given their lifelong commitment to the fraternity and their service as visionaries for the development of the fraternity's ritual and national expansion.
Growth and World War I[edit]
In the two years after the 1914 Convention, Delta Sigma Phi almost doubled in size with the addition of ten chapters. In 1915, the first West Coast chapter, Hilgard chapter at UC Berkeley was installed. Hilgard Chapter was named after a dean at the university and is the fraternity's only chapter without a Greek letter designation, taking the place of the Xi Chapter.
Also in 1914, the fraternity decided to admit only white men of the Christian faith, thus rejecting the founders' vision. Many Jewish members and other minorities left Delta Sigma Phi or joined others, including Meyer Boskey, who withdrew active participation in the fraternity for an extended period.
As a testament to the geographic shift of the fraternity, the 1916 convention was held in Chicago, Illinois. By this time, Delta Sigma Phi had expanded the number of staff, and a national headquarters was created at the Riebold Building at Dayton, Ohio.
When the United States entered World War I in 1917, Delta Sigma Phi had more than 1,000 initiates and nineteen active chapters. During the war, more than three-quarters of the fraternity's membership served the government in some capacity with half of that number in combat duty overseas. Although colleges and universities remained open during the war, many chapters suspended their operations when most of their members were called to service. Some chapters never recovered from the disruptions of World War I.
Roaring Twenties[edit]
Delta Sigma Phi continued to expand during the 1920s, with many local fraternities and other social clubs petitioning for membership. Among these was Phi Nu fraternity at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. When Phi Nu was chartered as the Alpha Omicron chapter, Delta Sigma Phi became an international fraternity.
During this time, Delta Sigma Phi published its first pledge manual, the Gordian Knot. It was based upon a manual previously published by the Epsilon chapter at Penn State. The Gordian Knot is considered to be one of the first pledge manuals to be published on a fraternity-wide basis. Another tradition started at this time was the Sailors' Ball, first held at the Alpha Chi chapter at Stetson University. Today, the Sailors' Ball is an annual event that is a semi-formal counterpart to the Carnation Ball, the fraternity's formal banquet.
Depression and World War II[edit]
Two months after the Wall Street Crash of 1929, Delta Sigma Phi's yearly convention was held in Richmond, Virginia. Despite the financial uncertainties of the time, a traveling secretary was added to the fraternity payroll. During the Great Depression, the fraternity's national growth came to a halt; college enrollments declined and those who attended college were less likely to be able to afford fraternity membership. Several chapters became dormant and/or lost their equity in chapter properties. Among these were Alpha and Gamma.
The only chapters chartered during the Great Depression were Beta Kappa at the University of Alabama and Beta Lambda at Wake Forest University. During this time, Executive Director A.W. Defenderfer moved the fraternity headquarters to his insurance offices in Washington, D.C..; Delta Sigma Phi was re-incorporated in Washington, D.C. in 1929. Delta Sigma Phi banned Hell Week in 1938.[3]
Although the fraternity was rebounding by the late 1930s, World War II caused another disruption. Many members joined the war effort, leaving the chapters weak. The fraternity's only Canadian chapter at McGill University became dormant, with many of its members joining to Commonwealth Forces. By 1944, only eleven of the fraternity's 43 chapters were active.
The Sphinx was the first symbol adopted by the fraternity at the time of its inception. Chosen for its longevity and stability over centuries. Other symbols include a lamp, a lute (depicted as a lyre), a Gordian Knot, and the Egyptian Pyramids. The white carnation was chosen as the fraternity's flower because it contains the fraternity's colors; white and Nile green as well as being a relatively common and sturdy flower that can grow in almost any climate. The publications of the fraternity are often named after its symbols:
The pledge emblem is a white circle with a green equilateral triangle set inside of it. Gold lines radiate from the center of the emblem to the three points of the triangle in addition to outlining the circle and triangle. The pledge emblem is very prevalent in the symbolism of the fraternity; not only is the emblem on the pledge pin, but the emblem also graces the flag, the membership badge and the basic design is also the basis of the fraternity's seal.
It is also common tradition for a New Member to present their "Big" with a decorated paddle.
Programs[edit]
The Delta Sigma Phi convention is its longest-running national program. July 2015 marked the 59th Biennial & Convention.
Delta Sigma Phi's flagship leadership program is the Leadership Institute, celebrating its 20th anniversary in the summer of 2013. The Leadership Institute is based on Kouzes & Posner's Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership. Regional Leadership Academies (RLAs) were developed following the adoption of Vision 2025 to provide development and training on the business and day-to-day operations of chapters.
Developed in 2008, the Bruce J. Lowenberg Summit is a three-day retreat before the traditional start of the spring semester for vice presidents of recruitment (VPR) and new member educators. In 2014, the Summit was endowed with a $1 million donation from Bruce Lowenberg (Missouri, 1958).
In 2014, Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity hosted its first service immersion trip to Honduras in partnership with the Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values (AFLV). Fifteen undergraduate students attended along with a few staff members from the fraternity and AFLV to learn about the importance of service and intertwine it with the ritual teachings of the fraternity.
Charities[edit]
Red Cross[edit]
Blood, Sweat & Cash was developed as a national initiative to envelop the fraternity's efforts for the American Red Cross. The fraternity participates in National Preparedness Month each September and National Red Cross Month each March, the latter being the premiere focus for chapters to raise funds and host spring blood drives. Chapters are encouraged to explore opportunities to help the Red Cross and determine which fits best with their institution. This offers students a chance to innovate and differentiate what they do between chapters.
Delta Sigma Phi Foundation[edit]
The Delta Sigma Phi Foundation is a charitable and educational not-for-profit organization, separate and independent from Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity. Funds raised through the foundation covered the costs of the Leadership Institute while supporting other programs from the fraternity.
Scholarships[edit]
The McKee Scholarship program is made available by the late Hensel McKee, Washington 1930, and his late wife, Jeanette. Scholarships are available to undergraduate members and those alumni members who are pursuing graduate degrees.
Individual chapter or member misconduct[edit]
In 2001, the Kappa chapter at Auburn University had its charter revoked after a Halloween party where members were present in blackface, Ku Klux Klan robes, and simulating a lynching.[5] After being reinstated, their charter was again revoked following numerous incidents involving hazing, vandalism, alcohol and harassment in 2017.[6]
In 2014, the chapter at San Diego State University was shut down due to a string of hazing and alcohol violations, and misconduct, including waving dildos at protestors during an anti-rape rally on campus.[7]