History from The Delta
Conversation
100 Years Ago...
The December 1918 issue of The Delta was one to remember. The United States was at the end of World War One which occurred in November 1918 and it was something to be proud of. In an article titled The Finish of Hunism speaks about the changes that have come from this war ending and all who have been affected by this time. Sears states, “The task has been so titanic and so compelling that none might rest for a single moment to measure the full meaning of the conflict or contemplate the heroic greatness of the results”. We will always remember our Brothers who served.
50 Years Ago…
The year of 1968 was the year of Sigma Nu Centennial. During the year they announced the Sing Sigma Nu album to commemorate the hundred years of history. They also created a Centennial Logo which is a Golden Serpent which was coiled as 100, with two heads to resemble Janus, God of Beginnings to signify the founding at the very beginning of the month. The statement was made “One unblinking eye is focused with pride on our first century, the other looks ahead with confidence to the next”. Unfortunately, due to the Editor, Alan Wheeler moving on from Sigma Nu that year, the centennial festivities took place the following June of 1969. The festivities in the next issue included Centennial operations and the Special Centennial Convocation.
25 Years Ago…
The Winter issue of The Delta opens with an article about the return of the Golden Years. Sigma Nu members started out living in housing on campuses together until the first official chapter house was purchased for Beta Iota (Mount Union) in 1902. From the beginning till the end of WWII there was millions of dollars given to houses and chapters around the country from the National Defense Education Act. This time known as the Return of the Golden Years was about restoration and construction of chapter houses and this began as a trend. The declination of chapter homes started in the 1980’s. Post-Vietnam War drug culture took over and the fraternities were told to take in any and all students, leaving the houses in a terrible state. The number of men joining fraternities was at an all-time low. The time after this was a time that allowed the buildings to be renovated and the houses were brought back to life around the country and welcomed new students. The Golden years showed people coming together, scholarships being awarded, and leadership and cultural development. “The Chapter home was in fact a home away from home and the experience helped students move more gracefully into the world.”