Sweetheart of Sigma Chi

[TSteven]

Who Will Be the Next International Sweetheart of Sigma Chi?

Do you know of a woman who exemplifies the ideals of Sigma Chi every day? Do you know someone who would serve as a role model for all of our brothers? Can you think of the sweetest girl of all the girls you know? Assuming you have answered yes to at least one of these questions, you should consider submitting a nomination for the 2005-2007 International Sweetheart.

Carrie Davis, [Pi Beta Phi] Sigma Chi’s current International Sweetheart, has served our Fraternity with distinction and honor. She has brought new luster to the White Cross and we will forever be indebted to her service.

Carrie will be passing on the torch to the 2005-2007 International Sweetheart at the 2005 Grand Chapter. This new role model for Sigma Chi will be elected by the undergraduate delegates, based upon a group of three finalists selected by the Sweetheart Selection Committee. These finalists are selected from dozens of nominations submitted by our chapters. In order to start that process, the committee is prepared to receive nominations.

© 2004, Sigma Chi International Headquarters

[texas*princess]

Interesting.. I had no idea Sigma Chi (or any fraternity) had "international" sweethearts.

[TSteven]

From an article introduction in The Magazine's Winter 2000-01 issue

A Way-Brief History of "The Sweetheart Of Sigma Chi"

Let's start with the song. Recorded by dozens of vocalists-including matinee idol Rudy Vallee-arranged by scores of orchestras, a hit of the Big Band era, and title to two Hollywood movies, "The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" had humble beginnings: it was born from a young Sig zoning out in class.

As legend has it, Byron D. Stokes, Albion 1913, wrote the song's lyrics during an afternoon lecture in the spring of 1911. A few hours later, he handed them off to chaptermate F. Dudleigh Vernor, 1914, who set them to music while seated at an Albion chapel organ. The song premiered at the chapter's 25th reunion shortly thereafter. From there its melody traveled to other chapters, and then to the world. (GIs carried the melody through World War II, leaving it echoing in the ears of the peoples of Japan and Korea, Sweden and Germany, Italy and Australia.)

Thirty-seven years later, at the 1948 Grand Chapter, the Fraternity had its first election of an official International Sweetheart of Sigma Chi. [The three judges were John Wayne; Milton Caniff, the noted cartoonist of Steve Canyon and other comics; and Steve Hannagan, the #1 press agent of the 1940's.] Michigan State's Barbara Tanner [Kappa Alpha Theta] was selected from six finalists. The event made the front page of newspapers across the country. [Miss Tanner was featured on the cover of "The Ladies Home Journal."]

Although the aura of the song differs from its original intent-Stokes wrote it not as a moony love letter, but as a paean to what he called "the ideal brotherhood"-the song's melody, its lyrics, its title, all remain linked to our Fraternity's identity. The song can be heard at chapters across North America, in groups of brothers young and old, at weddings, at Formals, on the steps of sorority houses. It is indeed an anthem.

© 2004, Sigma Chi International Headquarters