He may not have known that much about the ritual at all . . or didn't think ahead.

This quote seems to indicate that the group wasn't chartered until April 24th. Up till then they would have been considered pledges and not had access to the Ritual.

Any San Diego people tell us? Did Sig Ep just get chartered?

A Sig Ep can probably clarify this, but I thought that since they went to their "Balanced Man" program, Sig Ep doesn't have pledges anymore -- one becomes a brother immediately -- but that their ritual is gradually revealed to them over a period of time. How long that time is, either for an already chartered chapter or a colony, I have no idea.

In any event, it wouldn't be that hard to know that some religious overtones might be present in the fraternity's ritual -- every history of Sig Ep I have ever seen describes the founders' statement that:

This fraternity will be different, it will be based on the love of God and the principle of peace through brotherhood.

On the other hand, Sig Ep states at its website, under the heading A Fraternity of Firsts, that it was the

First major national fraternity to abolish membership restrictions based upon race, religion, or creed, five years before America’s civil rights movement.

Guess its hard to tell what a new member might have known or when he might have known it. But a lawsuit is crazy.

Not every chapter is a BMP chapters. I would say that it is current 50-50 between the traditional and BMP chapters.

But as James noted, the article suggests that the chapter was just chartered on April 24. (Of course, this may be wrong) Wouldn't any new chapter/colony be a Balanced Man chapter? I thought the only traditional chapters were older ones that chose not to make the change.

Oui, didn't read Jame's post. You are correct, new chapters has to go BMP. How the BMP function is pretty open. You can read the entire program on the national website.

The Cal Delta chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon was kicked out in 97 due hazing (It was REALLY bad apparently, pledges had to eat dog food etc.)

In the Spring of 01, they recolonized with the Balance Man program, and have been doing fine ever since.

While I respect everyone's decision to have a faith or not, I just wanted to point out tehse 2 creeds in particular.

While I am sure they were developed around the Christian faith, Phi Kappa Theta uses the word SPIRITUAL. You don't have to be Christian to be spiritual nor do you have to be religious.
Pi Kappa Alpha uses faith. In this day and age that could be any faith.

ASA has four aims: physical, intellectual, social and spiritual development of its members. "Spiritual" definitely doesn't mean Christian or even organized religion.

Here's the thing: I don't think it's fair for us to not warn these girls about religion in ritual during rush -- what if one of the girls who's rushing knows she won't be comfortable in a house that has Jesus/God/religious references in the ritual? If she doesn't find out before she signs her bid card, she'll end up having to depledge and wait a year before she can rush again, and at many schools this will limit her choices severely or deny her the opportunity altogether. IMO that's not fair to do to these girls -- we need to make it clear if religion is a part of our rituals. I also know that we are supposed to avoid any topics related to religion during rush . . . so what's the solution?

I honestly think that the national websites should make it OBVIOUS if their ritual includes religious references, especially if it's an integral part of the ritual that cannot be modified. That would be an easy solution for everyone involved -- so why isn't it done?

During last fall's formal recruitment I actually had several pnm's who asked me if religion was a really huge part of sorority... so I think it was good that they did ask, and that they knew early on that it wouldn't be a factor at all. In retrospect, I don't know if that is something they asked all the sororities, or just ours (because "Christian womanhood" is in our creed).. either way, I think it was really good of them to ask.

Our ALpha classes are told early on that if they are uncomfortable with religious references (like the Bible for example) that they could talk to our new member coordinator and that they wouldn't be forced to do anything that they would be uncomfortable with if it went against their religous beliefs.

Sigma Chi Fraternity's public motto comes from the Roman Emperor Constantine: "In Hoc Signo Vinces". Translated: "In this sign you will conquer." The reference (sign) is the White Cross. However, the significance is Constantine's discovery of noble principles in which he believed and for which he was willing to go to battle.

From the Theta Beta chapter at the University of South Florida.

http://www.usfsig.com/constantine.html

The seven Founders conceived the chief elements of Sigma Chi heraldry, including the White Cross. They admired the courage of those ancient warriors who were willing to fight - even to die - for their ideals. Consequently, our heraldry is influenced by a legendary feat of the Emperor Constantine, a man who demonstrated remarkable commitment to an ideal. Constantine was born in 272 A.D. and grew to become a fine soldier, ultimately achieving the rank of Supreme Emperor of the Roman Empire. Marching toward Rome on October 27, 312, Constantine's forces were pursuing the armies of Maxentius, a challenger to the crown.

En toutoi nika. Derived from the Latin translation, in hoc signo vinces, its meaning is "In this sign you will conquer." Early the next morning, Constantine dreamed that a voice commanded him to have his soldiers mark upon their shields the letter "X" with a line drawn through it and a mark across the top. Because this [the cross] was the symbol of Christ, the battle took on the significance of a holy cause, and, in fact, is considered an important event in religious history; many believe this marks Christianity's popular surge past paganism among the masses. Its significance for Sigma Chi, however, is Constantine's discovery of noble principles in which he believed and for which he was willing to go to battle.

The founders drew inspiration from the story of Constantine and thus from Constantine's vision. The significance of the design of the Sigma Chi badge, the White Cross, and of our public motto, "In Hoc Signo Vinces", is therefore evident. The words of our Founders reminds us, however, that "only as the ideals for which this badge stands take possession of my heart and become exemplified in my life will I ever know the true meaning of the White Cross of Sigma Chi."

As it was more than one century ago, the display of Sigma Chi heraldry identifies the wearer as a believer in a set of principles, and consequently "demands more of him than it does of other men." Thus, the heraldry of Sigma Chi provides much more than ornamental value - it also identifies all who wear it as Sigma Chi's and marks them as men of high ideals, noble purposes, and strong character.

Pi Lambda Phi never abolished such restrictions because it was founded on the principal of not having such restrictions...in 1895...that's a bit prior to the civil rights movement--but cheers anyhow to SigEp for removing them

As far as the creeds of fraternities that don't specifically mention God or whatnot but perhaps elude to it--I did inquire as to how this tended to translate within the fraternities. I was told that most have religious stuff in their rituals, etc--and yeah, I know that's mainly just tradition and all, but it's an issue for me

Phi Psi never abolished such membership restrictions, because we never had them.

This is interesting
 

a little history

Most fraternities are founded based on the freemasons (or other such secret societies), which require that you believe in God in order to join. Most of our rituals are very much the same because they all stem from the same source, freemasons rituals.

Every fraternity once had member restrictions. Heck, my fraternity at one point didn't allow minorities, jews or Catholics. Fortunately we live in a time when people don't take those kinds of stereotype-based restriction policies seriously.

Unfortunately we also live in a time when people forgot about God. And Suing because you're in a ritual you don't believe in, but yet is a central tenet of your fraternity is absolutely rediculous. Turn in your letters, don't sue. Dumb@$$.

Alpha Chi Omega does not use religion in our rituals, initiation, or any other aspect of Fraternity and hasn't since our ritual was re-written (I am sure the original writers of initiation - not our founders coincidentally - included it, but not since it was re-written several decades ago has it used religion).

In fact, we are voting to change ritual at convention this year to further clarify this aspect. So not only is it not mentioned in a religious context, its going to be MENTIONED that it is NOT MENTIONED in a religious context. Does that make sense?

It is so funny because of all the groups, we have never had to deal with this issue -- and we have such a Christian sounding name!! I can't tell you how many people think AXO for the religious reference to Jesus being the Alpha and Omega. Nope - not us!

I would say that I would have a big problem putting my hand on a Bible, kneeling at an alter, etc. -- not because I don't consider myself a Christian, but because I consider my sorority life being set apart from my religious beliefs.

And yes, we do discuss with our NM's the importance and significance of our ritual as a dramatization and not a religious experience. In fact, there is a little spiel that is read to both the NM's and the actives at every initiation to remind us of that. No one is in for any surprises and no life-size Jesus statues are going to be brought out :p

As for this guy - he is a fool, and I agree with ktsnake - he is trying to cover up the fact that he wasn't doing his job. If you disagree with ritual, you should leave -- and if you are initiated and disagree, then you should have the right not to participate, but also not to hold an office where that is going to be required.