One of our main goals as a chapter has been to “challenge” the Greek stereotype on the University of Iowa campus. We believe that the majority of the student body and the community as a whole views fraternity and sorority life as the combination of kids irresponsibly partying, being self-centered, and academically lazy. We hope to help bring back the popularity of Greek life and to bring back its respectability. Xi Chapter actively recruits men who maintain character of the highest standards and that display academic determination. In short, we are a fraternity of gentlemen that encourages a balance between active school work and an active social life.

 

Academics

 

In Sigma Pi, we strive to promote the intellectual growth of every member and to assist our men in succeeding at college life and helping them to prepare for advanced degrees or work. With this goal comes mentoring and incentives to support academic achievement. Academic success is also promoted by the fraternity having a minimum GPA of 2.25 to remain of member status as well as having a $500 scholarship available to incoming freshmen. As a Sigma Pi, you will have the advantage of being able to seek the advice of upperclassmen and to study with the many other brothers who share similar goals and aspirations in life.

 

Our goal is to help undergraduate men overcome the obstacles of collegiate life, thus preparing them for the numerous challenges faced upon graduation. Sigma Pi expects its members to accept the challenge of developing their academic and leadership skills among the many others that are needed for a lifetime of success.

 

Leadership

 

To maintain our standards, we constantly work to bring new men into our brotherhood that are natural leaders. From there, we turn natural leaders into even better leaders through programs, conferences, and chapter duties and responsibilities. The gentlemen of Sigma Pi go on to be leaders in their communities, nations, and the world.

 

Our chapter currently has two different levels of positions which allow members to become engaged into starting at day one of membership. Both executive positions and committee positions allow our members to develop their leadership potential. Though you aren’t eligible for every single executive position as a pledge, you are encouraged to become a part of your pledge class executive board. We have several committees in our chapter ranging from Intramural to Philanthropic that are easy to get involved with and offer a great stepping block to building your leadership resume.

 

Social Life

 

A day in the life of a Xi Chapter member is never a boring one. While we constantly strive for success academically and within the community, a big part of being a Sigma Pi is simply just enjoying our years here at the University of Iowa.

 

Almost every week throughout the semester, we join up with one of the many sororities here on campus for a planned social. These include get-togethers such as themed parties, my-ties, and other organized events. It’s important to Sigma Pis to keep a strong relationship with the rest of the Greek community and socials are a fun and easy way to meet new people. They also are a great excuse to relax and have fun after a stressful few days of class and work. Our socials are always something that our members look forward to every week.

 

Besides socials, we also host a semi-formal in the Fall as well as a two-day formal every Spring. Our most recent semi-formal involved a bus trip to Dubuque for a boat ride and dinner on the Mississippi River. Formals have taken place in various locations in the great state of Iowa.

 

 

During Homecoming and Greek Week, Sigma Pis get the wonderful opportunity of spending time with their paired sorority. Together we work on skits for Iowa SHOUT! and Greek Week Follies, build Homecoming floats, compete as a team to win the Greek Week Olympics, and participate in many other planned events for each week. These are some of the best times of the year and are a really fun and exciting way to hang out with a sorority and meet others in the Greek Community.

 

Campus Involvement and Community Service

 

At Xi Chapter we value and encourage our members to be involved not only within the fraternity but with the rest of the campus and community as well. Our members are involved in dozens of different student organizations and community volunteerism opportunities. Joining these organizations, our members advance their skills, grow as a person, and develop many valuable leadership qualities.

 

This is one of the key components of being a Sigma Pi at the University of Iowa. Our members are heavily involved in the community and on campus. Especially with the University’s Pick One initiative, we feel that it is important for our members to be engaged in at least one campus activity. Our members mark their involvements and encourage other members to participate as well

 

A few examples include:

	Dance Marathon
	Army and ROTC Members
	I-Envision Entrepreneurship Club
	SCOPE
	University of Iowa Ski Club
	University Honors Program
	Interfraternity Council

 

Sigma Pi is very intent on giving back to the community and does so through philanthropic events and other community service projects. Our chapter regularly participates on other chapters’ philanthropies and sponsors yearly fundraisers for chosen philanthropies including the Sam Spady Project that we encourage everyone to participate in.

 

Brotherhood

 

If you haven’t figured it out already, being a brother in Sigma Pi is a whole lot more than just socials and service, it’s a group of guys who watch out for each other, aggrandize each other’s lives, and make college and all of the years after so much better. Brotherhood is knowing that you have not one, but dozens of guys supporting you throughout your college experience. Sigma Pi is all about brotherhood, true friendships, and a network of lifelong friends. The men who are together in this fraternity stick together and maintain friendships for a lifetime.

 

The bonds of friendship tie each of our members together during college and post-graduate years. It is the friendships formed that lead to smiles, laughter, and ultimately memories you will cherish for a lifetime. We see each other through thick and thin, through college and beyond, and always know that they can count on each other. In Sigma Pi, it is the individual that makes the difference in the experience and a collection of brilliant individuals leads to the experience of a lifetime.

 

Sigma Pi would not be complete without brotherhood events like chapter dinners, skydiving trips, tailgates, road trips, intramurals, Spring Break getaways, study breaks, and late nights just hanging out around the house.

 

One of our most recent brotherhood events was skydiving at Skydive Iowa. We took a road trip from the fraternity house to Brooklyn, Iowa. In between jumps we threw around footballs and frisbees, grilled out, and watched each other land after free falling from seven thousand feet. Overall, we had a great day!

 

 

New Member Education

 

The new member education program is the process that takes place during pledgeship. It provides our new members the chance to personally know the men of the chapter and allows our current men to get to know the new member. The program also provides basic information regarding fraternity life to the new member at both levels; Iowa and National. The program is designed as a laid back experience for our new members to become familiar with Sigma Pi and to start to enjoy their time at Iowa.

 

Each week the new members meet for about an hour to do a variety of activities. The meetings are held at the house, the IMU, and other places located around campus. For more information regarding our pledge education program, please e-mail our herald, Ryan Bartz.

 

To keep a fraternity filled with great young leaders, active recruitment is necessary. With successful recruitment, the best men available will be found and will proudly wear the Sigma Pi Badge. It is up to the individual chapters to recognize these great men and bring them into this sacred brotherhood, and we do an outstanding job.

 

One of the highlights of new member education is the close relationship between Big and Little Brothers. During the new member education process, older members adopt new members into their Sigma Pi families. These bonds are some of the closest in Sigma Pi, as families grow larger and larger.

 

Hazing Policy

 

Throughout our recruitment, new member education, and initiation, Sigma Pi is entirely hazing free. Hazing is against University of Iowa and Sigma Pi laws, rules, and standards. At Sigma Pi we are sincere about anti-hazing and strictly enforce anti-hazing policies as we believe that to build a successful brotherhood, hazing must not be a part of it.

 

Costs

 

Living in a fraternity is not as expensive as one might think. Living-in is actually cheaper than a double in the dorms and is far cheaper than a dorm single. It works out to be about the same as if one were to live in a mid-priced apartment or a house.