Sigma Nu

Sigma Nu is a social, values-based fraternity that was founded at the Virginia Military Institute in 1869 and established at Columbia in 1908 as the Delta Gamma chapter. Sigma Nu's brownstone is located at 556 West 113th Street (between Amsterdam and Broadway), close to McBain and across the street from Watt. The chapter boasts a highly diverse returning membership of 50 brothers for fall 2012, and has initiated nearly 1,200 Columbia men throughout its storied history on campus. Fraternity members are involved in a wide variety of academic, extracurricular, pre-professional, and athletic communities at CU, with brothers serving as leaders in dozens of Columbia student groups. Sigma Nu's primary ambition is the expansion of Greek Life's mandate beyond just social and philanthropy events (although the chapter certainly remains committed to both). Towards that end, the fraternity has organized a number of unique initiatives, including partnerships with start-ups interested in launching at CU, the Columbia Sigma Nu Historical Initiative, and cooperative campus programming with student groups such as the Columbia Iranian Students Association, Orchesis, GlobeMed, and Youth for Debate. In addition to its characteristic focus on broadening fraternity activity, Sigma Nu has a rapport for staying true to the core fraternal values of brotherhood and brother development. "We are not a yacht club" is a favorite phrase, and the fraternity supports meaningful brotherhood bonding through activities including camping, sports games attendance, and bowling, as well as the personal growth of its brothers through participation in workshops, study sessions, and professional networking events.

You can find more information at: sigmanucu.com

Awards

Sigma Nu is in an exciting period of success and rapid growth. In recognition of our tremendous progress, Columbia's Sigma Nu chapter was awarded the following awards in the 2011-2012 academic year:

NATIONAL AWARDS

- Excellence in Personal Values & Brotherhood Development - 25% Increase in Manpower - Most Improved Chapter

CAMPUS AWARDS

- Service Award - Philanthropy Award - Campus Involvement Award

Community Service

Sigma Nu is considered one of the more service-oriented fraternities at Columbia. Besides participating in all the large scale events on campus including Relay for Life, CCO (Columbia Community Outreach), and CU Dance Marathon, members also participate in all Greek-sponsored fundraisers, such as Theta's Breakfast at our CASA, AXO's "LipSync", and various other annual and one-time events. After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the fraternity sponsored a comedy show with a comedy central stand up comedian in John Jay lounge and all proceeds went to relief efforts.

Sigma Nu also supports a program at Hunter College called (Project HAPPY). Every weekend Sigma Nu brothers travel to the Hunter Campus and assist in giving sports instruction to autistic individuals. The main focus has been in swimming and water safety, however brothers also volunteer with tennis, bowling, basketball, and other activities. Each spring Sigma Nu sells raffle tickets to raise money for Project HAPPY.

As of 2010, Sigma Nu began officially supporting the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation, specifically working for the Help4Ezra cause. Ezra, a four year old boy in need of matching bone marrow, is the cousin of a Sigma Nu brother which prompted the group's involvement.

Awards

In 2009, Sigma Nu was named the Most Outstanding Chapter in the Columbia Fraternal system. In 2009, Sigma Nu also earned several awards for the outstanding size of their recruiting class. In 2010, Sigma Nu again was named Most Outstanding Chapter.

Trivia

• It is widely rumored that Julia Stiles once spent the night in Room 33.
• The goal post from the streak-snapping Columbia-Princeton football game, from 1987, where the Columbia Lions came out victorious over the Princeton Tigers 17-14, resides in the backyard.
• The Members Room was completed in 2009, the most recent of several upgrades to the House.
• In the 80s and earlier the poorly insulated kitchen was actually a poorly insulated single - for this reason it was known as the "cheese locker".
• In 1984, when Bozo the Clown pretended to run for president to raise opposition to the incumbent Reagan he gave a well received speech at Columbia University. His 'Body Guards' were all Sigma Nu brothers (dressed in suits, sun glasses, and round red noses), as some brothers at the time were members of a band called 'The Nasty Bozos'.