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 its 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
Notable Past Awards
Most Outstanding Columbia chapter 2009, 2010
Community Service & Programmed Events
The chapter has raised about $13,000 each year for the past two years for philanthropic causes. In addition, on average, each brother has donated about 30 hours per year to community service through Sigma Nu. Aside from its philanthropy events, Sigma Nu hosts a wide variety of programming meant to develop our brothers, meaningful engage student communities, and build Columbia pride.
2011 - 2012 Events
- Two CEO's Unplugged Event
- Columbia Sigma Nu Historical Initiative
- DoUDeal Greek Entrepreneurship Event
- Whoot Launch
- Orchesis Night of Dance
- Participation in Mr. Fraternity and the SDT Talent Show
- Persian Culture Night
- Pencils of Promise Campus Campaign
- Take Back the Night
- Youth for Debate Karaoke Night
- GlobeMed Trivia Night
- McNally Plaza Park Clean Up
- Safe Horizon Anti-Domestic Violence Bracelet Sale
- Day of Service (Gandhi Day)
- Columbia World Cup
- Columbia Community Outreach
- Project HAPPY Fundraiser and Coaching
- American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life
2010 - 2011 Events
- Gift Of Life Foundation Bone Marrow Drive
- GrowNYC Stop ‘N’ Swap
- Youth for Debate Karaoke Night Fundraiser
- Columbia Community Outreach
- Columbia/Barnard Hillel Bone Marrow Drive
- Spring Clothing Exchange
- American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life
- Project HAPPY Fundraiser and Coaching
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'.
| Greek life at Columbia |
| IFC Fraternities: Alpha Delta Phi • Alpha Epsilon Pi • Beta Theta Pi • Delta Sigma Phi • Kappa Delta Rho • Phi Gamma Delta • Pi Kappa Alpha • Psi Upsilon • Sigma Chi • Sigma Nu • Sigma Phi Epsilon • Zeta Beta Tau |
| Panhel Sororities: Alpha Chi Omega • Alpha Omicron Pi • Delta Gamma • Gamma Phi Beta • Kappa Alpha Theta • Sigma Delta Tau |
| Multicultural Greek Fraternities: Phi Iota Alpha • Alpha Phi Alpha • Kappa Alpha Psi • Omega Psi Phi • Pi Delta Psi • Lambda Phi Epsilon • Sigma Lambda Beta |
| Multicultural Greek Sororities: Lambda Pi Chi • Sigma Iota Alpha • Delta Sigma Theta • Kappa Phi Lambda • Sigma Lambda Gamma |
| Inactive (de-recognized): Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon |
