Old Letters

[alum]

Sigma Nu was founded at VMI so I can see the tie-in with military/war themes for their rush even if they are on a liberal or pacifist campus.

To me, a WWII theme in terms of parties would be more of the Andrews Sisters and the patriotism side.

[SNBullet]

How would you find a WWII theme offensive?

Due to our military tradition, we use patriotic images of American soldiers as part of our rush material. Since we live in Gettysburg there is a high concentration of reenactors, even in our own fraternity. Its not like we are goosestepping around the house. We have posters saying things like "Sig's Lead the Way" and such, just rephrasing some propaganda posters. The idea spawned years ago by a brother who was a viet nam vet and we have done a different time period every year that culminates in a period party, with music from the time.

And im looking for any pictures of letters, not just sigma nu

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by SNBullet

How would you find a WWII theme offensive?

Due to our military tradition, we use patriotic images of American soldiers as part of our rush material. Since we live in Gettysburg there is a high concentration of reenactors, even in our own fraternity. Its not like we are goosestepping around the house. We have posters saying things like "Sig's Lead the Way" and such, just rephrasing some propaganda posters. The idea spawned years ago by a brother who was a viet nam vet and we have done a different time period every year that culminates in a period party, with music from the time.

And im looking for any pictures of letters, not just sigma nu

I do not find this offensive at all considering SN back ground of being founded at VMI. It would be a natural thing for this SN chapter being located at one of the Civil Wars most hallowed battle grounds.

When you say letters, do you mean written letters of Greek type letters as we know them today?

Good luck in your quest for these types of info.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by SNBullet

How would you find a WWII theme offensive?

Due to our military tradition, we use patriotic images of American soldiers as part of our rush material. Since we live in Gettysburg there is a high concentration of reenactors, even in our own fraternity. Its not like we are goosestepping around the house. We have posters saying things like "Sig's Lead the Way" and such, just rephrasing some propaganda posters. The idea spawned years ago by a brother who was a viet nam vet and we have done a different time period every year that culminates in a period party, with music from the time.

And im looking for any pictures of letters, not just sigma nu

For what it is worth, "Sig" and "Sigs" are common nicknames for Sigma Chi. As such "Sigs Lead the Way" is quite accurate. However, if y'all have a Sigma Chi chapter on campus, then it might not help y'all - Sigma Nu - with your recruitment.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by TSteven

For what it is worth, "Sig" and "Sigs" are common nicknames for Sigma Chi. As such "Sigs Lead the Way" is quite accurate. However, if y'all have a Sigma Chi chapter on campus, then it might not help y'all - Sigma Nu - with your recruitment.

Ha.

This makes my initial post even coolerererer.

I looove Sigma Chis.

[SNBullet]

Originally Posted by TSteven

For what it is worth, "Sig" and "Sigs" are common nicknames for Sigma Chi. As such "Sigs Lead the Way" is quite accurate. However, if y'all have a Sigma Chi chapter on campus, then it might not help y'all - Sigma Nu - with your recruitment.

Its us and SAE on our campus. supposedly Sigma Chi is coming back, but thats to be seen.

i am really wondering what fraternity jerseys looked like. I know we all wear letters on tshirts today, but i have never really seen it in the past, they seen to be screen printed and not embroidered.

[bejazd]

out of curiosity...When did "wearing letters" as we know it today come into fashion? my parents were Greeks in the late 50s and they claim they never had the sweatshirts with letters as we do now. Both men and women had blazers with the crest. Women wore their pins on dresses and sweaters with skirts, never with pants. The sororities had sweatshirts with the crests and the name spelled out. My dad still wears his college class ring with the greek letters in the stone.

[Leslie Anne]

Originally Posted by bejazd

out of curiosity...When did "wearing letters" as we know it today come into fashion?

I'm not sure exactly when but it definitely was not in fashion in the 1940s. I have a lot of old yearbooks that I'm using for some research into particular groups. I've looked at the ones from the 40s and early 50s and letters simply weren't worn. The only minor exception seems to be during intramural sports.

I've found candid photos in those yearbooks with letters on houses, floats, plaques, etc. but the men in the photos are almost always wearing a coat and tie.

I have a few more yearbooks from that era that I still have to go through. I'll let you know if I find anything.

[SNBullet]

Originally Posted by Leslie Anne

I'm not sure exactly when but it definitely was not in fashion in the 1940s. I have a lot of old yearbooks that I'm using for some research into particular groups. I've looked at the ones from the 40s and early 50s and letters simply weren't worn. The only minor exception seems to be during intramural sports.

I've found candid photos in those yearbooks with letters on houses, floats, plaques, etc. but the men in the photos are almost always wearing a coat and tie.

I have a few more yearbooks from that era that I still have to go through. I'll let you know if I find anything.

Thats what i have found so far, simple black t shirts with letter for intramurals. I wanted to know if it was a local thing or widespread

[skylark]

Originally Posted by bejazd

out of curiosity...When did "wearing letters" as we know it today come into fashion? my parents were Greeks in the late 50s and they claim they never had the sweatshirts with letters as we do now. Both men and women had blazers with the crest. Women wore their pins on dresses and sweaters with skirts, never with pants. The sororities had sweatshirts with the crests and the name spelled out. My dad still wears his college class ring with the greek letters in the stone.

I'd love to hear a detailed answer/analysis of this, too. Where's oldu when you need him?

[Tom Earp]

Maybe the material and how letters were attached could be compared to the types of helments that the football team used.

Times and materials along with designs do change!

In the mid sixtys, the letters were printed on with a rubber type letters that after washing begin to fall of!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by SNBullet

We have posters saying things like "Sig's Lead the Way"

I hope you don't include the apostrophe.

No harm meant, this just makes me insane. Especially when students/graduates of higher learning institutions do it.