Currently, during pledge walk, the pledges are told about a fire razing the Delt house when it stood on the Law School library lawn. The story goes on to tell how Sigma Psi had no house of their own at this time and so we had been storing items in the basement. These items were lost to the fire. I have come to find out while writing this article that that is not true. There was no Delt house fire- the University bought it from the Delts and moved them to their current location. However, I have found out that we lost items that were stored in the University Archives during the Adelbert fire. Delt. Adelbert. These stories most likely melded over time. Regardless of which building burned down, with the loss of these items, it is possible that we are left not knowing a significant portion of our history. Indeed, it seems that our "history" changes every four years, as exemplified with this fire story.

The rituals that we practice now do not seem to be 104 years old. Who wrote them? When? What were our rituals prior to that time? What was the personality of the sorority when you were in it. What was hell night? What experiences embodied Sigma Psi for you?

We hope that you can answer some of these questions for us. Please feel free to write us a letter telling us what you know about Sigma Psi, even if you recently graduated. We will all be history some day. And some of the more lively stories can be published here, for the enjoyment of all Sigs.

Also, if you have any scrapbooks or Sigma Psi letters, we would appreciate any additions to our history file. Of course, we understand that these may have sentimental value, but we hope that you will bequeath them to the chapter.

Thank you for your help.

IE&SL,
Mary Pattison

Please direct your responses to:
Sigma Psi Sorority
Continuous Member Educator
11923 Carlton Rd.
Cleveland, OH 44106

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CHANGING WITH THE TIMES- A KINDLER, GENTLER SIG EXPERIENCE
-By Dawn Woodcox '01
Over the past few years, the Sigma Psi pledge program has undergone some major revision. Gone are many things that were once seen as hallmarks of the program by some actives. These days, pledges aren't made to suffer through weeks of intimidating line-ups, nor do they experience the hours of stressful quizzing that once categorized Sig Experience.

The pledge program today emphasizes respect through understanding. While the pledges still respect the active chapter, they no longer fear them (as many of us probably did). Since the pledges start befriending the actives from the beginning of the program, the end result is a much more integrated chapter - even before the pledges are fully initiated. Pledge participation in events such as mixers, chapter meetings, and even Greek Week has skyrocketed. They even drop by the house just to hang out - something I know I never did.

Many of you out there must be thinking, "But how do they earn their letters? How do they get that same feeling of accomplishment at the end of it all?" This is where the Pledge Educator comes in. Her role has become much more prominent in the current program. Since the pledges no longer have to recite information in front of the whole chapter, it is up to her to impress upon them how important it all is. This has been done in different ways, depending on who the Pledge Mom is and what the pledge class is like.

Overall, the program has become much more flexible, allowing the Pledge Mom to work with the pledges in a way that will best benefit them. Since the pledges can now learn everything on their own terms (within reason, of course), they actually develop a better understanding of our central values than they used to.

Sig Experience itself has also changed dramatically. Instead of the grueling final exam that it was, it is now much more of a retreat - a time for the pledge class to bond, and to get to know more about the sisterhood that they are about to become a part of. Lighthearted activities, such as the fashion show, are interspersed with more serious moments, such as the explanation of each part of the day. Everything that has been removed from the day is now explained to the pledges, so that they can understand the historical significance of it. It also allows them to fully see a local sorority in action, adapting and changing to meet the demands of a new generation of members.

Some things will never change, though. Most everyone still cries during their first fireside, their eyes still light up with joy when they get to put on their first set of real letters, and they all still do a double take when the President calls them "Active" for the first time. Sigma Psi's methods may have changed, but her spirit is alive and well.

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Alumnae Tea
The Alumnae Tea will be held on Saturday, April 21 at 3:00 at the house.

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Births