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From
The Magazine of Sigma Chi - Winter 2000-2001
By Cory Rigler,
Beta Delta '98 The spirit of Sigma Chi, as conceived by the Founders
more than 100 years ago yet visible and alive today, is based on the theory that
friendship among members, sharing a common belief in an ideal, and possessing
different temperaments, talents, and convictions is superior to friendship among
members having the same temperaments, talents, and convictions; and that genuine
friendship can be maintained without surrendering the principle of individuality
or sacrificing one's personal judgment. With these words, Sigs
everywhere sought to break free from the cookie-cutter molds of the
stereotypical fraternity man. From the Founders, we learned that there was
strength in diversity and that we could add significant depth to our chapters by
inviting young men into our order who were of different temperaments, talents,
and convictions. As a result, we
are one of the largest international fraternities and boast members of nearly
every demographic group. As popular as The Spirit of
Sigma Chi is, it is also contains one of the most frequently misunderstood
phrases in our teachings. While an undergraduate at the
University of Montana and as an active alumnus for Sigma Chi, I have been
shocked at the number of 10/90 chapters I’ve seen. A 10/90 chapter is where
10% of the brothers do 90% of the work, and vice-versa. In almost every case, the 90% of the brothers doing 10% of
the work justified their lack of participation to “different temperaments,
talents, and convictions.” Throughout
the years, I have heard this line used by misinformed brothers to defend apathy,
financial delinquency, and even drug and alcohol abuse. Although I certainly never met
the man, I am pretty sure that Franklin Howard Scobey would be rolling over in
his grave if he ever learned how some Sigma Chis are applying this theme of
diversity to their chapters. The
point of The Spirit is that an organization comprised of diverse members
working towards the same goal will hands-down be more successful than an
organization comprised of identical members working towards a common goal.
Unfortunately, too many brothers think that this teaching allows them a
mandate to deviate from the values and ideals that we hold so dear as Sigma Chis. Think now about the Founders of
Sigma Chi and what made them significant. Was it the fact that they all came
from different backgrounds and had different interests and career paths?
Or, was it, the fact that these seven very different young men came
together to further the belief that by working together, they could help each
other to develop their characters in an atmosphere of brotherhood?
Would Sigma Chi be the great fraternity it is today if the Founders were
not united in wanting to build an organization capable of teaching us to
constantly better ourselves by opening our hearts and minds? Think about your chapter now.
Is it a 10/90 chapter? If
so, which camp are you in and why? In
the professional world, there are a few terms to describe the 10% of people who
do 90% of the work: these are the CEOs, the Presidents, the Directors, and the
Managers. Meanwhile, the 90% who do
10% usually work for the people in the first group.
A company cannot survive or succeed if everyone does not work together to
make the organization and themselves the absolute best that it can be.
Why should our chapters be different? Through the lesson of the Founding of Sigma Chi, we learn that by bringing together people from incredibly diverse backgrounds and by working together, no obstacles can ever stand in our way. It is not enough that you and I, as brothers, are different. Unless we take advantage of our different strengths and apply them to a common goal, our differences will divide us more than they will unite us- this is the intent of The Spirit of Sigma Chi.
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