What Chi Omega is All About

Now that the subject has been breached, let me take the opportunity to set the record straight and share what my Greek sorority, Chi Omega, is all about. There are too many negative stereotypes about Greeks, and I have a feeling that if people really knew what they were about much more people would be apt to join or at least stop talking trash.

From chiomega.com:

Purposes: Throughout Chi Omega's long and proud history, six purposes have guided the direction of every chapter and brought its members unequaled opportunities for personal growth and development. Those purposes are Friendship, High Standards of Personnel, Sincere Learning and Creditable Scholarship, Participation in Campus Activities, Career Development, and Community Service.

The Chi Omega Foundation is the fund-raising organization of Chi Omega. Its purpose, through contributions from members, is to underwrite leadership, educational, and charitable programs. Through its tax-exempt, non-profit status, the Foundation is able to assist members with scholarships, grants, and leadership programs. Our Foundation provides the helping hand to sisters in need of important funds to complete their education, become vital community members, and to ultimately serve Chi Omega as role models and leaders.

Chi Omega Symphony - What We Live By: “To live constantly above snobbery of word or deed; to place scholarship before social obligations and character before appearances; to be in the best sense democratic rather than exclusive and lovable rather than popular; to work earnestly, to speak kindly, to act sincerely, to choose thoughtfully that course which occasion and conscience demand; to be womanly always; to be discouraged never; in a word, to be loyal under any and all circumstances to my fraternity and her highest teachings and to have her welfare ever at heart that she may be a symphony of high purpose and helpfulness in which there is no discordant note." - Ethel Switzer Howard, 1909

They published me again...

By: Chet Cannon
Issue date: 9/26/06 Section: Opinion

LDS fraternities are not what they claim to be.

Two-and-a-half years ago, I entered the MTC (Missionary Training Center) looking for fun and adventure. The last thing I hoped to find there was an impostor.

Before entering the MTC, I had pledged Sigma Chi at the U. After a tedious pledgeship, I earned the right and privilege to be numbered among the Sigma Chi brothers. I even got a T-shirt to prove it.

This T-shirt was and is very special to me, so there was no surprise that I took it to the MTC or when it became my MTC gym shirt of choice. I needed to represent.

One day, after a long series of intense scripture and language studies, a select number of us were released for our gym time.

Gym time is a special time for missionaries.

As I was saying, we were off to gym time, and when I entered the gym, I noticed a group of boys who didn't want me to join in any of their reindeer games. Naturally, a distraught look made its way across my face, but what to my wondering eyes should appear but a short, balding character beckoning my presence. My heart pounded, my eyes glistened and I let out a sigh as that character said, "I, too, am a Sigma Chi."

Could it be a true brother before me?

Then I heard those dreadful words: "Yes, I'm a Sigma Chi with LDSSA."

Brothers and sisters, LDSSA fraternities and sororities are not the same as Greek Row fraternal organizations. I still lose sleep thinking of the audacity that boy had to number himself among the few and the proud.

It is rumored that you so-called Sigma GAMMA Chi members don't even have to buy your friends like the rest of us. You know, on Greek Row I have been fortunate enough to buy several GOOD friends at a mere $200-$300 a head (I know what you're thinking: They practically sell themselves).

Who are you alleged LDSSA members fooling? What about pledgeship? Do you have one? I don't believe a weekly devotional with guest speaker John Bytheway constitutes a proper pledge experience.

I know how fraternal organizations are viewed through the eyes of the Mormon culture. I hear the negative remarks about how we resemble the Lamanites and Gadianton robbers of old.

Fraternal organizations and parties in general are often viewed as wolves in sheep's clothing,apparently harmless at first glance-but what lies beneath is both spiritually and mentally destructive. Now you want to be a part of all this?

In terms of soda, joining LDSSA is taking the diet approach-and I might even go as far as to say the Pepsi One approach-to a greek experience: rough and tough at first glance, but soft as Charmin double-quilted toilet paper deep down.

Don't think you can get away with it. We know it's a front. Sure you can attach "frat boy" to your name, but we know who you really are. I've even heard that your initiation is a late-night screening of "Saturday's Warrior" while binging on Pixie Stix and tropical punch Kool-Aid…sugar-free!!!

At least you get a cool T-Shirt.

I hear you LDS frat boys throw impressive parties with a great turnout. This is very admirable-however, I don't believe I stand alone when saying that this is all synonymous with the Book of Mormon story of the prophet Lehi and the tree of life. If you remember, in this story there was a great and spacious building-or institute-and the multitudes gathered there to point fingers and distract the true followers from their objective of achieving the desirable fruit. The strong held onto the iron rod.

Well, I am here to say that I personally held on to the iron rod. I did not stray. I partook of that fruit on Greek Row.

I'm just sticking to my guns when I say the LDSSA fraternal organization- otherwise known as Sigma Gamma Chi-is truly the barking dog that doesn't bite.


I wrote:

Cannon is a macho meathead
letter to the editor
Issue date: 9/28/06 Section: Opinion

Editor:

I don't know Chet Cannon personally, but I think I have him pegged. In my high school (emphasis on HIGH SCHOOL), I remember meatheads like Cannon who were overly fixated on worthless, meaningless?things.

His petty feud with other frat boys is a waste of time to print ("LDS fraternities: the sheep in wolf's clothing," Sept. 26) or read. Nobody cares about his macho complex about who is tougher. He's a Mormon too, how "tough" can he be? So, he's obviously insecure and feels alienated because of a stupid T-shirt.

This charitable kid at the MTC reaches out to try to talk to him. He shuns this kid because of a formality. Looks like he learned a lot on the mission. He then comes to the university and walks all over the "short, balding character" to score points with people as shallow as himself. At least I hope he scored points on Greek Row, because the rest of us think he is an absolute moron.

I would be embarrassed enough about having a condescending attitude of that magnitude-let alone having it printed in the newspaper. In fairness, I'm glad there are other Sigma Chi members representing the fraternity a lot better than Cannon.

I am not sure what you were trying to accomplish with the column, Cannon. But if you were trying to make yourself look arrogant and pompous, well done. Meathead.

Windypops

First Year, School of Medicine