The Sigma Chi fraternity is returning to Iowa State’s Greek community following the university sanctioning their chapter for hazing in 2017 and the subsequent vote by the International Fraternity’s Executive Committee to close the chapter in 2018.
According to previous reporting from the Daily, the Iowa State chapter was placed on interim suspension and later “was sanctioned for hazing, contempt, misuse of alcoholic beverages and controlled substances and violation of conditions of recognition” by the university in the fall of 2017.
A news release from the Sigma Chi headquarters in 2018 stated that the committee made its decision to close the chapter “due to accountability issues” and violating the terms of “a revitalization plan with the International Fraternity.”
Pete Rogers, president of the corporation board for Sigma Chi Beta Omicron and Sigma Chi alum at Iowa State, previously said the Sigma Chi house was where Triangle Fraternity is now when he was a student here from 1977 to 1981.
“All the experience I have had as being a Sigma Chi alum as an undergraduate, these guys will get the opportunity to have those same great memories and friendships built,” Rogers said.
According to Rogers, the reason they were off campus was because of “bad history with our previous group.”
“We lost the faith of the Iowa State University Greek system and the international decision was made to no longer have Sigma Chi at Iowa State,” Rogers said.
According to Billy Boulden, the director of Sorority and Fraternity Engagement, Sigma Chi is recognized by the university and are recognized as a colony rather than a chapter by the International fraternity .
Rogers said they will be able to use the house for social gatherings, chapter meetings and recruiting.
Lucas Smidt, a sophomore in computer science and current chapter president of Sigma Chi, said that after their time off of campus, the alumni wanted to see them back at Iowa State.
“I met [the president at the time],” Smidt said. “I just ran into him at an elevator on a random day, and we became best friends. So ever since then, it’s just been about building something from the ground up and starting your own legacy.”
According to Smidt, Sigma Chi are currently sitting at 24 members and their goal is to get up to 35 plus.
“We want the best guys, obviously, but we always want to provide the opportunity for guys to better themselves and become the best man they can be,” Smidt said. “They have the opportunity to build something and change the stereotype of what fraternities are and really just be something special,” Smidt said.
Stephen Terrill, past corporation board president and Sigma Chi alum at Iowa State, said they just went through a bad patch.
“We had to start from scratch all over again, and we’ve been doing that for the last three years,” Terrill said.
Terrill said they were fortunate the house became available at the right time, and the recruitment process has been good but also difficult.
“It’s been a little difficult because it’s hard to recruit new members when you don’t have a chapter house,” Terrill said.
However, Terrill said, “Things are happening fast,” and they have to reach 35 members to be reinstalled.
“Our chapter is going to be reinstalled, I think the schedule is for April, so then we can do the summer rush, and everybody can move in and fall,” Terrill said.
For more information on Greek life at Iowa State, visit the Sorority and Fraternity Engagement website.
Editor’s note: This article was updated to clarify Sigma Chi’s new status at Iowa State