[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 77 (Monday, June 13, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H4364-H4366]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1430
    HONORING THE SIGMA CHI FRATERNITY ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 150TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. KLINE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 163) honoring the Sigma Chi 
Fraternity on the occasion of its 150th Anniversary, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 163

       Whereas the Sigma Chi Fraternity was founded in 1855 by 7 
     young men at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in order to 
     establish ``an association for the development of the nobler 
     powers of the mind, the finer feelings of the heart, and for 
     the promotion of friendship and congeniality of feeling'';
       Whereas the Founders of the Fraternity believed that 
     admission to the Fraternity should include men of good 
     character and fair ability with ambitious purposes, congenial 
     dispositions, good morals, a high sense of honor, and a deep 
     sense of personal responsibility;
       Whereas for 150 years, the Sigma Chi Fraternity has played 
     an integral role in the positive development in the character 
     and education of hundreds of thousands of young men;
       Whereas the brothers of Sigma Chi, being of different 
     talents, temperaments, and convictions, have shared countless 
     friendships and a common belief in the founding ideals of the 
     Fraternity;
       Whereas the Sigma Chi Fraternity experience has served as a 
     foundation for post-collegiate success and achievement in all 
     fields of endeavor, from the sciences to education to 
     business to professional athletics to public service;
       Whereas the Sigma Chi Fraternity has 202,600 active 
     brothers in 219 active chapters at colleges and universities 
     in 2 countries, making it one of the most highly respected 
     and well-regarded national fraternities in the world; and
       Whereas Sigma Chi brothers continue to enrich and 
     contribute to the quality of life in their communities by 
     volunteering innumerable hours of service to nonprofit 
     activities and organizations locally and, at the national 
     level, to the Children's Miracle Network, an alliance of 165 
     hospitals and healthcare facilities across the United States 
     and Canada that provide needy children with critical 
     healthcare services: Now, therefore, be it

[[Page H4365]]

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress recognizes and honors the Sigma 
     Chi Fraternity on its 150-year anniversary; commends its 
     Founders and all Sigma Chi brothers, past and present, for 
     their bond of friendship, common ideals and beliefs, and 
     service to community; and expresses its best wishes to this 
     most respected and cherished of national fraternities for 
     continued success and growth.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite of Florida). Pursuant 
to the rule, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kline) and the gentleman 
from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kline).


                             General Leave

  Mr. KLINE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 163.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Minnesota?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KLINE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 163 offered by my colleague, the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gerlach). House Concurrent Resolution 
163 honors the Sigma Chi Fraternity on the occasion of its 150th 
anniversary.
  The Sigma Chi Fraternity was founded in 1855 at Miami University in 
Oxford, Ohio, by seven young men that wanted to establish, and I quote, 
``an association for the development of the nobler powers of the mind, 
the finer feelings of the heart, and for the promotion of friendship 
and congeniality of feeling,'' close quote.
  Today the Sigma Chi Fraternity continues to thrive. Its membership 
has grown to 202,600 active brothers in 219 chapters at colleges and 
universities throughout the United States and Canada. Its members 
continue to enrich and contribute to the quality of life in their 
communities by volunteering countless hours of service to nonprofit 
activities and organizations at the national and local levels.
  The members of Sigma Chi exemplify the characteristics that the 
founders of the fraternity believed they should have for admission to 
the fraternity, good character and fair ability with ambitious 
purposes, congenial disposition, good morals, a high sense of honor and 
a deep sense of personal responsibility.
  The Sigma Chi Fraternity has also played an integral role in the 
positive development in the character and education of these young men 
that have served as a foundation for success and achievements in all 
fields of endeavor, from the sciences to education to business to 
professional athletes and to public service.
  Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize and honor the Sigma Chi 
Fraternity on the celebration of its 150th anniversary and commend the 
fraternity and its members for its service and achievements over the 
years.
  I urge my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 163.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, it is an absolute privilege and thrill for me to take 
this opportunity to cosponsor this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I am a Sigma Chi. My father was a Sigma Chi. My next 
younger brother is a Sigma Chi. And each of our three sons are Sigma 
Chis. So this moment, when we honor the fraternity of our choice on the 
occasion of the 150th anniversary, it has added meaning to me and to 
us.
  I also wish to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gerlach) 
for introducing this resolution, which is cosponsored by other Sigma 
Chis, the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr), the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Oxley), the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. 
Pickering), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Schwarz), the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), as well as me.
  I also wish to thank the Education and Workforce Committee and the 
House leaderships for bringing this resolution to the House floor so 
very quickly.
  Sigma Chi Fraternity was established by its seven founders on 
commencement day at Miami University June 28, 1855. These seven young 
men broke away from the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity to form ``an 
association for the development of the nobler powers of the mind, the 
finer feelings of the heart, and for the promotion of friendship and 
congeniality of feeling.''
  In 1951, I had the opportunity to pledge this fraternity at the 
University of Missouri at Columbia, and from that time on I have been 
aware of the many outstanding members of our fraternity through the 
years, people like Andy Grabau, people like John Wayne, Larry McMullen, 
Ed Matheny, Herbert Shouse Jones, John Alden Tower, Governor James 
Blair and so many, many others.
  Sigma Chi currently has 202,600 active brothers in 219 active 
chapters at colleges and universities in two countries.
  It is one of the most highly respected and well-regarded national 
fraternities in the world. It also encompasses not just our country, 
but the country of Canada.
  Sigma Chi brothers continue to enrich and contribute to the quality 
of life in their communities.
  Perhaps tie something in regard to the House of Representatives to 
the people working together with their colleagues in which they learn 
of good character and fair ability and ambitious purposes, congenial 
dispositions, good morals, a high sense of honor and a deep sense of 
personal responsibility. All of this has added to our country.
  The history of Sigma Chi is long and interesting. Being founded in 
1855 at Oxford, Ohio, it went through the War Between the States and 
went through the First World War where 103 brothers of the fraternity 
lost their lives and gave the full measure of devotion to World War I. 
It also went through the Second World War where so many members of the 
fraternity fought, some who died and some who were missing. One who 
received the Medal of Honor, a Captain Maurice Britt from Arkansas 
received such an honor.
  On a more personal level, the chapter to which I belong at the 
University of Missouri in Columbia was founded on September 26, 1896. 
At that time one of the founders, a former brigadier general in the 
Union Army, Benjamin Piatt Runkle, who, by the way, is buried over here 
at Arlington Cemetery, gave a speech to that crowd and to those new 
fraternity members. In that speech he spoke to them by saying, you are 
the offspring of the grandest civilization the world has ever seen. 
High places are vacant, and men filled with a fraternal spirit must 
take them. Go forward, faithful, patient, courageous and obedient, ever 
remembering that the hope of the Nation is in her young men, and that 
behind the great unknown stands God keeping watch over his own. And 
what Benjamin Piatt Runkle said on that day in September 1896 in 
Columbia, Missouri, is just as true today.
  So it is a real privilege and honor for me to cosponsor and represent 
this side of the aisle in honoring the Sigma Chi Fraternity on the 
occasion of its 150th anniversary, which will be celebrated on the 24th 
and 25th of this month in Cincinnati, Ohio.

           The Sigma Chi Fraternity: A Historical Perspective

       1855--Sigma Chi Fraternity is founded at Miami University, 
     Oxford, Ohio
       1861--During the Civil War, 265 of the 432 total Sigma Chi 
     membership (That's 60%) fight in the conflict. Of this 
     number, 147 were in the Union forces, and 118 were with the 
     Confederacy.
       1861--``ln Hoc Signo Vinces,'' a secret motto since 1856, 
     becomes the official public motto.
       1870--The eighth Grand Chapter, held in Philadelphia, 
     adopts blue and gold as the fraternity's colors. These colors 
     are now standardized as Blue and Old Gold.
       1881--The Fraternity's first magazine, ``The Sigma Chi'' is 
     established under the supervision of the Theta Chapter at 
     Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania. In 1926 it became ``The 
     magazine of Sigma Chi.''
       1882--Delegates of the 14th Grand Chapter, held in Chicago, 
     elect John S. McMillim, DePauw 1867, as the first Grand 
     Consul.
       1893--Honorary Sigma Chi, President Grover Cleveland, is 
     initiated on January 26. He is the only Sigma Chi to have 
     held the office of President of the United States.
       1911--``The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi'' song was written in 
     June for the 25th Anniversary Reunion of Alpha Pi Chapter at 
     Albion College, Michigan. Byron D. Stokes, 1913, wrote the 
     words in one afternoon in class. He then

[[Page H4366]]

     gave them to F. Dudleigh Vernor, 1914, who set them to music
       1914--The Fraternity adds 103 Brothers to its Fraternity 
     Gold Star Honor Roll for giving their last full measure of 
     devotion during World War I.
       1922--After 67 years as a national organization, Sigma Chi 
     becomes international when it installs the Beta Omega Chapter 
     at the University of Toronto on April 22.
       1929--L.G. Balfour, Indiana 1907, establishes the Balfour 
     Award, the highest undergraduate honor in the fraternity. The 
     annual award recognizes the most outstanding graduating 
     senior of each undergraduate chapter, province and 
     International Fraternity of that Academic Year.
       1929--Past Grand Consul George Ade, Purdue 1887, writes 
     ``The Sigma Chi Creed''
       1935--The Fraternity creates the Significant Sig Award. 
     This award would be presented at Grand Chapter to alumni 
     whose achievements brought honor and prestige to the 
     Fraternity. Seven Medals were presented at the 42nd Grand 
     Chapter held in Chicago.
       1942--Several thousand Sigs, stationed all over the world, 
     serve in the Armed Forces during World War II. Congressional 
     Medal of Honor winner Captain Maurice L. Britt, Arkansas, 
     1941, becomes the war's most decorated United States Officer. 
     During the War the Fraternity lost 724 members, seven times 
     as many as it lost in World War 1.
       1948--Sigma Chi commences the Order of Constantine, the 
     fraternity's highest honor, which is bestowed upon alumni 
     members who have devoted long and distinguished service to 
     Sigma Chi
       1955--The Fraternity celebrates its Centennial in June 28 
     in Oxford, Ohio, as a part of the 50th Grand Chapter, which 
     met in Cincinnati.
       1971--The Grand Chapter marks the climax and resolution of 
     the nearly 15 years of internal strife in the Fraternity over 
     the proposed initiation of minority groups. Grand Chapter 
     delegates voted to remove the restrictive passages in the 
     Fraternity's Governing Laws, validating earlier actions of 
     the Executive Committee and granting active chapters 
     increased autonomy in membership selection.
       1977--The Fraternity recorded its 150,000 initiate.
       2001--Eleven Sigma Chis die in the September 11th terrorist 
     attacks on the United States.
       2005--Grand Consul Lee Beauchamp announces the Fraternity's 
     zero tolerance policy for hazing, alcohol abuse, and 
     substance abuse. The Executive Committee approves a new 
     statement of Position on Academic Performance. Among other 
     provisions, it requires members to attain a GPA of 2.5 out of 
     4.0 (or the equivalent), or a GPA that is above the campus' 
     all-men's average, whichever is lower.
       2005--Sigma Chi celebrates its 150th birthday with a grand 
     celebration in Cincinnati.

  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KLINE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
I will be very brief. I just want to add my congratulations to the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) on being a proud member of this 
fraternity. And it is exciting, I am sure, to see a father-to-son 
tradition established there. So I extend my congratulations to the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) and all my colleagues who are 
fortunate enough to be a member of this very great fraternity.
  I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise today in strong support 
of H. Con. Res. 163, honoring the Sigma Chi Fraternity on its 150th 
anniversary.
  Like hundreds of thousands of men across the country I am honored to 
be a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.
  Although I was a Sigma Chi at the University of Maryland, I share a 
strong bond with my brothers across the country and around the world, 
including my fellow Sigma Chi men in Congress. We are connected by the 
shared tenants of our fraternal organization and we try to live our 
life by the ``Jordan Standard''--the Cornerstone of the Sigma Chi 
Fraternity.
  Sigma Chi played an important role in my personal development and 
provided me with relationships that will last a lifetime. These 
experiences are not unlike the experiences that millions of other men 
and women have had with their respective fraternities and sororities.
  Although sometimes ridiculed, the Greek system on the whole--without 
question--has made countless positive contributions to society.
  Many of our Nation's leaders, from those in business to those in 
public service, are members of fraternities or sororities, including 
our current President. The benefits to our communities from these 
individuals--whose first leadership and service experiences were often 
through their involvement with the Greek System--are immeasurable.
  Furthermore, beyond planting the seeds of leadership, fraternities 
and sororities compel their members to conduct themselves in accordance 
to the highest standards of honor, morality, and academic excellence.
  Since its inception in 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, OH, Sigma 
Chi has helped young boys develop into strong, well-rounded, Sigma Chi 
men. I am proud to be a part of this fine organization and I 
congratulate Sigma Chi on its 150th year anniversary. May its good 
deeds and reputation of excellence endure for the next 150 years.
  I ask my colleagues to join me and the other original cosponsors, 
Representatives Gerlach, Farr, Hyde, Oxley, Pickering, Schwarz, 
Shuster, and Skelton, in support of this legislation.
  Mr. KLINE. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kline) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 136, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as 
amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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