Cross burning at SX-MTSU

[hoosier]

A firebomb was thrown at a Middle Tennessee State University fraternity Monday night.



A member of Sigma Chi said flames shot 15 feet into the air after someone set the fraternity's emblem, a concrete cross, on fire.

The cross was scorched but the home wasn't damaged.

Investigators said the suspect poured gasoline on the cross and onto the sidewalk.

School officials said the suspect meant to target the fraternity without hurting anyone.

If a suspect is found, they will be prosecuted, administrators said. If it’s a student, they could face expulsion.

[MTSUGURL]

Wow. Hadn't heard about this yet.

[Rudey]

That sucks. I wonder what the intent was.

Sigma Chi has a cross as their symbol? I know ATO and LXA hold Christian ideals highly and make use of the cross as well.

-Rudey

[PhoenixAzul]

The Sigma Chi badge is in the shape of a cross (and it's very cool looking!), and I do believe it has something to do with the references to the Norman Shield on their website.

[Tom Earp]

What intent, it was stupidity!

And yes, Lambda Chi Alpha, Alpha Tau Omega and Sigma Chi along with many others use Christian Ideals and have Crosses in their symbols.

Search Web Sites and see what are symbols, not what they may represent for Ideals of Rituals.

This shows another ineptitude of Greek Organizatins.

How can one say very nicely, But Way Go You F**King Morons Who did this!

This is disrespect at its highest.

[Lady Pi Phi]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
What intent, it was stupidity!

And yes, Lambda Chi Alpha, Alpha Tau Omega and Sigma Chi along with many others use Christian Ideals and have Crosses in their symbols.

Search Web Sites and see what are symbols, not what they may represent for Ideals of Rituals.

This shows another ineptitude of Greek Organizatins.

How can one say very nicely, But Way Go You F**King Morons Who did this!

This is disrespect at its highest.

Tom, who are you direting this comment too? Sigma Chi? Becuase if you are, you might want to re-read the article. It appears someone was targeting Sigma Chi. This was not an act of a Sigma Chi member.

[RhoSigma2003]

wow, this is new. I will call my ex that is a sigma chi and get some updates!

I mean, come on don't people have better things to do?

[Tom Earp]

Lady Pi Phi, I suggest that you go back and read my post.

I did not make a suggestion that it was by a SX.

I stated it was ineptude by someone nothing to do with SX. But, by someone else.

RhoSigma2003

Please do and let us know.

This is just what a All Greek Groups on a Campus needs.

[LightBulb]

Aww... that's sad.

It is awful that someone would disrespect someone's fraternity symbol like that, and it is even worse since it is a religious symbol!

[TSteven]

MTSU frat prank probed
By Erin Edgemon
DNJ Staff Writer

MTSU frat prank probed

Yellow caution tape surrounds the blackened Maltese cross positioned in front of the Sigma Chi fraternity house on the MTSU campus, which was damaged in an early morning prank.

The Murfreesboro Fire Department and MTSU Police are currently investigating an incident where someone poured gasoline on the fraternity's concrete symbol and lit it on fire at approximately 3 a.m. Tuesday, said Inspector Carl Peas of the Murfreesboro Fire Department.

The fire damaged the cross' paint, the sidewalk and the spotlight that illuminated the cross, he said.

"We have one witness who saw an individual running away from the building," Peas said. "We are developing suspects at this time."

The inspector could not say if the possible suspects were MTSU students.

Sigma Chi President Brett Smith said most of the residents of the house were not at home when the incident occurred.

"I am leaving it up to the officials to take care of," Smith said.

The fraternity president said he did not know why someone would have set fire to the cross.

"It was probably a prank that was not a good idea," Smith said. "It was a pretty extreme prank."

MTSU Police refused to release any information because the case is under investigation.

Originally published December 30, 2004
Copyright ©2004 The Daily News Journal.

[TSteven]

Eta Gamma chapter house


The White Cross

MTSU's Sigma Chi fraternity insignia shows the results of having gas poured on it and being set on fire.

[mmcat]

that's terrible...
no excuse, none whatsoever

[KSigkid]

Tom, I think the confusion was that you said "this shows another ineptitude of Greek organizations." That may be where people thought you were criticizing Sigma Chi.

That really is awful - I hope they are able to find who is responsible for the act.

[Tom Earp]

KSigKid, normally when something of this nature happens, it is done by a fellow Greek Organization, True? While it may seem to be a prank at the time, something of this nature could have turned out deadly.

I too hope that whom ever is responsible get caught and prosecuted to the fullist and if they are members of another Greek Organization will be expelled or a stern form of suspension.

Totally uncalled for!

[CutiePie2000]

OMG...that is brutal. Thank God their house didn't burn down and that no one was hurt.

Gasoline?? What the he** are people thinking??