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Sigma Gamma Chi
ΣΓΧ
The crest of Sigma Gamma Chi
Founded1967; 58 years ago (1967)
University of Utah
TypeReligious
AffiliationIndependent
StatusDefunct
Defunct date2011
EmphasisLatter-day Saints
ScopeNational
MottoService to God and Country
PillarsSpirituality, Brotherhood, Service, Leadership, Scholarship, and Patriotism
Member badge
Chapters105
Members15,000 lifetime
HeadquartersSalt Lake City, Utah
United States

Sigma Gamma Chi (ΣΓΧ) was a fraternal organization sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Although it once was a national organization, it later only operated at the University of Utah where it was established in 1967. The last chapter closed in 2011.

History

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Sigma Gamma Chi originated with Lambda Delta Sigma, a fraternity for Latter-day Saints founded in 1936 by Lowell L. Bennion, director of the University of Utah's Institute of Religion. Soon afterward it also admitted women into its membership. In 1967, the LDS Church assumed management and divided the organization, making Lambda Delta Sigma a sorority and creating Sigma Gamma Chi as its fraternity.[1]

For decades the organization expanded and grew, creating new chapters within Sigma Gamma Chi and the sister organization Lambda Delta Sigma, and women outnumbered men 6 to 1.[citation needed] There were several charters at campuses throughout the United States. The fraternity's community service projects included repairs to the Jewish Community Center and creating Christmas baskets for the needy. It also sponsored dances and parties for young men to socialize with young women.

In 1978, Sigma Gamma Chi absorbed Delta Phi Kappa, the fraternity for returned missionaries.[2] By 1999 it held 15,000 members in 105 chapters.[3] In June 2000, it was announced that the fraternity would be absorbed by the new church organization Institute Men's Association in September 2000.[3][4] The seventy chapters that were active at the time were allowed to keep their Greek letter name but functionally became chapters of the Institute Men’s Association.[4] Eventually, the fraternity declined until it only remained at the University of Utah where at one time it had as many as thirteen chapters.[5][6]

In 2011, the LDS Church closed all groups still operating as fraternities and sororities, replacing the remaining twelve chapters of Sigma Gamma Chi with non-collegiate "young single adult" congregations for Mormons between ages eighteen and thirty.[7]

Symbols and traditions

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The Greek Letters Sigma Gamma Chi were selected to stand for "Service to God and Country", the fraternity's motto.[8][9] The fraternity's six ideals or pillars were spirituality, brotherhood, service, leadership, scholarship, and patriotism.[10]

Membership

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Membership in Sigma Gamma Chi was open to anyone who wanted to join.[9] Members were required to attend an institute class and live according to standards of the LDS Church.[10] They also attended weekly chapter meetings.[10]

Organization

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At the University of Utah, Sigma Gamma Chi had twelve chapters (Alpha, Beta, Chi, Delta, Iota, Mu, Nu, Pi, Rho, Sigma, Phi, and Xi). Chapters met weekly on either Wednesday or Thursday night. Meetings were held at the LDS Institute of Religion to the South of the University of Utah campus at 1780 East South Campus Drive. Sigma Gamma Chi was led by the Inter Chapter Council composed of a president and officers he selected from the twelve chapters. A chapter president led each chapter and assigned other officers from within the chapter.

Sigma Gamma Chi elected a new president annually to replace the previous president. Officer positions included president, vice president, secretary, and pledge trainer.

Chapters

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Sigma Gamma Chi had the following known chapters, with inactive chapters and institutions in italics. The fraternity originally had two Greek letters for each chapter's name. However, one chapter's letters conflicted with the lettering of another recognized fraternity, so all chapters were forced to reduce to single Greek letters.

Chapter Charter date and range Instiution Location Status References
Alpha 1967 University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Inactive
Beta University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Inactive
Delta University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Inactive
Iota University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Inactive
Mu University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Inactive
Nu University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Inactive
Xi University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Inactive
Pi University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Inactive [a]
Rho University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Inactive
Phi University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Inactive
Chi University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Inactive
1978 Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona Inactive [2][11][b]
Boise State University Boise, Idaho Inactive [11]
1978 Brigham Young University Provo, Utah Inactive [2][c]
Dixie State University St. George, Utah Inactive [12]
Fullerton City College and California State University, Fullerton Fullerton, California Inactive [11][13]
1978 Idaho State University Pocatello, Idaho Inactive [2][d]
Knoxville Institute of Religion Knoxville, Tennessee Inactive [14]
LDS Business College Salt Lake City, Utah Inactive [15]
Long Beach City College Long Beach, California Inactive [11]
Orange Coast College Costa Mesa, California Inactive
1978 Ricks College Rexburg, Idaho Inactive [2][11][e]
Delta Epsilon Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake City, Utah Inactive [10][16]
San Diego State University San Diego, California Inactive
Snow College Ephraim, Utah Inactive [17]
1978 Southern Utah University Cedar City, Utah Inactive [2][18][f]
University of Idaho Moscow, Idaho Inactive
Mu Eta Pi University of New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico Inactive
University of Southern California Los Angeles, California Inactive
University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee Inactive [16]
University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Inactive [11]
University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming Inactive [11]
1978 Utah State University Logan, Utah Inactive [2][g]
1978 Weber State College Ogden, Utah Inactive [16][2][11][g]
  1. ^ Pi was formerly known as Pi Rho
  2. ^ Formed from a chapter of Delta Phi Kappa, established in 1951.
  3. ^ From a chapter of Delta Phi Kappa, established in 1929.
  4. ^ Formed from a chapter of Delta Phi Kappa, established in 1966.
  5. ^ Formed from a chapter of Delta Phi Kappa, established in 1949.
  6. ^ Formed from a chapter of Delta Phi Kappa, established in 1965.
  7. ^ a b Formed from a chapter of Delta Phi Kappa, established in 1927

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Doxey, Cynthia. "Lambda Delta Sigma". In Arnold K. Garr; Donald Q. Cannon; Richard O. Cowan (eds.). Encyclopedia of Latter-day Saint History. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (October 20, 2024) "Inactive Men's". Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed January 11, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Hartley, William G. "Sigma Gamma Chi". In Arnold K. Garr; Donald Q. Cannon; Richard O. Cowan (eds.). Encyclopedia of Latter-day Saint History. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book.
  4. ^ a b "New Institute Associations Will Reach More Young Adults". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. June 2000. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  5. ^ Jana (2007-10-12). "Upon One Strength, Another is Built — Exponent II Blog". Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  6. ^ Sykes, Shinika A. (February 21, 2006). "Are U.'s Greeks past their peak?". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  7. ^ Stettler, Jeremiah Stettler (September 23, 2011). "U. students ask: Where's my Mormon fraternity, sorority?". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  8. ^ Carrie Moore (September 14, 1996). "Roots of LDS Sorority Date Back to 1936". Deseret News. Archived from the original on September 6, 2018. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
  9. ^ a b Larsen, Kent (February 20, 2000). "Many LDS Fraternities, Sororities". Mormon News. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  10. ^ a b c d Weaver, Sarah Jane (1998-05-16). "30 years of service". Deseret News. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h Smith, Laura Lee. "The LDS 'Greeks': Lambda Delta Sigma and Sigma Gamma Chi". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  12. ^ Dixie 1974 Yearbook
  13. ^ College Sweethearts return to CSUF
  14. ^ Durm, Leanne (1995-02-09). "Seminary program offered at institute". The Daily Beacon. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  15. ^ The Improvement Era June 1969, p2
  16. ^ a b c "LDS fraternity, sorority celebrate with service". Church News. 1998-05-16. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  17. ^ "LDS fraternity honors 10,000th member". Church News. 1991-08-31. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  18. ^ Southern Utah State College Photographs Sigma Gamma Chi
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