Early years Sigma Chi

harry st. john dixon

harry st. john dixon, brother psi chapter @ university of virginia fought confederacy, kept record of sigma chis within vicinity on flyleaf of diary during american civil war. began planning confederate army chapter of sigma chi information. on september 17, 1864 dixon founded constantine chapter of sigma chi during atlanta campaign harry yerger, brother mississippi in dixon s division. dixon stated reasons war-time chapter created saying,

dixon , yerger contacted brothers listed in diary come meeting. met @ night in deserted log cabin few miles southwest of atlanta. dixon later wrote,

dixon elected sigma (president) , yerger elected chi (vice president); chapter initiated 2 men. badge in chapter 1 dixon had made silver half-dollar.

the last meeting held new year s day 1865. men @ meeting passed resolution pay tribute of respect 4 brothers chapter had died during war. in may 1939 constantine chapter memorial erected sigma chi in memory of constantine chapter , members. memorial located on u.s. 41 in clayton county, georgia.

purdue case

in 1876, emerson e. white became president of purdue university. required each applicant admission sign pledge not join or belong so-called greek society or other college secret society while attending school. sigma chi chapter @ purdue, established @ university, sent petitions faculty , pleaded case board of trustees, unsuccessful in changing rule.

in fall of 1881, thomas p. hawley applied admission university. having been initiated sigma chi, hawley refused sign pledge , denied admission. hawley took purdue court, judge ruled in favor of faculty s decision. ruled, however, faculty had no right deny hawley classes based on fraternity issue. case brought indiana supreme court, reversed decision on june 21, 1882. victory sigma chi allowed other fraternities @ purdue , led purdue president s resignation in 1883.