Sigma Gamma Chi

The crest of Sigma Gamma Chi

Sigma Gamma Chi (ΣΓΧ) was the name of the fraternal organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Though it once was a national organization, it later only operated at the University of Utah. SIGMA GAMMA CHI stands for "Service to God and Country".

History

Sigma Gamma Chi originated with Lambda Delta Sigma. It was fraternity founded in 1936 by Lowell L. Bennion, director of the University of Utah's Institute of Religion. Soon afterwards it also admitted women into its membership. In 1967 the LDS Church assumed management of the group and it was divided into a fraternity, Sigma Gamma Chi, and a sorority, Lambda Delta Sigma.^[1]

For decades the organization expanded, and grew. Creating new Chapters within Sigma Gamma Chi and the sister organization Lambda Delta. The girls outnumbered the men 6 to 1. Service to the community was in the form of man power, everything from repairs to (example); Jewish Community Center to creating Christmas baskets for the needy. Fraternity sponsored dances and parties made it easy for young men to meet beautiful young women, with mutual interest. There was at one time several charters at campuses throughout the United States. The Latter-day Saint Student Association (LDSSA) (Unlike Sigma Gamma Chi student elected officers) replaced the organization with church callings. The student officers, being chosen by, presiding institute director teachers at the UofU institute of religion. This is how the Church leaders decided to replace the student ran Fraternity and Sororities, removing them from the LDS Institutes of religion. Before the end, only the University of Utah was authorized to host this organization. Unfortunately since the expansion of any Fraternity or Sorority housing, has been banned at the U of U, from adding any additional fraternity houses to the Campus on Greek Row, at the University of Utah. There is now no way to expand, due to housing, to include Sigma Gamma Chi or any other new Greek House to the University of Utah. This all due in part to a local law passed in the 1980s by the local SLC government and council, headed up by a retired assistant police chief council member. In the past a new president of Sigma Gamma Chi was called annually to replace the previous president. Officers positions as in any organization of this type included VP, Secretary, Pledge trainer etc. Learning the Greek alphabet, and many other parts of Fraternity life were required and expected of the pledges.

As of Friday, 10 June 2011, Sigma Gamma Chi exists only as a chapter of history.

Organization

At the University of Utah Sigma Gamma Chi (ΣΓΧ) was composed of twelve chapters (Alpha, Beta, Chi, Delta, Iota, Mu, Nu, Pi, Rho, Sigma, Phi and Xi). Chapters typically met each week on either Wednesday or Thursday night. These meetings were held at the LDS Institute of Religion to the South of The U of U campus (1780 E South Campus Dr). Sigma Gamma Chi was led by the Inter Chapter Council composed of a president, and officers he selects from the twelve chapters. Each chapter was led individually by a Chapter President, who assigned other officers from within the chapter.

Chapters

Pi - Was formerly known as PI RHO, however the chapter did not break off into the two chapters Pi and Rho. The fraternity originally had two letters for each chapter, however one of the chapters' letters conflicted with the lettering of another recognized fraternity, so all of the chapters were forced to reduce to single Greek letters. The chapter Rho came several years later. This chapter was well known for their tight brotherhood. It is quite common for members of Pi to keep in touch after several decades. Many members still hold true to their chapter's values and ideals to this day.

See also

• LDS Student Association
• W. Rolfe Kerr

External links

• September 1986 Ensign 'The LDS “Greeks”: Lambda Delta Sigma and Sigma Gamma Chi'

Notes