Alpha Sigma Chapter History
How the chapter got re-activated
Often times Phi Sigma Pi grabs a hold of a brother so that she or he just can't bear to part with Phi Sigma Pi after graduating from undergraduate studies. That is what happened with the reactivation of the Alpha Sigma Chapter. Want to know the whole story keep reading on my friend, my brother, or interested party.
In the spring of 1997, as Alpha Kappa brother, Rebecca "Becky" Halloran, prepared to graduate from UNC-Chapel Hill and anticipated a return to Richmond, Virginia began thinking about how she would stay involved in Phi Sigma Pi in the months and years to come. Knowing that she'd be going back to Richmond, she searched the list of chapters listed in the back of the Scholar's Province to see where the closest collegiate chapter would be to her when she got there. Little did she know that there had once been a chapter at Virginia Commonwealth University that had been inactive for about four years at that time. The more she thought about it the more it made sense to reactivate the chapter. Her 2 years at Alpha Kappa had been so meaningful, she wanted others to be able to have the Phi Sigma Pi experience too!
So she contacted National Headquarters to find out what needed to be done to get the chapter up and running again. After several conversations with the National Director of Expansion, Betsy Robinson Jaquith, Rebecca had a "to do" list to complete. She needed to contact someone at VCU who could provide mailing labels for students who met the national requirements for membership, obtain the mailing list and labels for nationals, and arrange for several meeting rooms to have information nights, organizational meeting for the new chapter members, and an induction ceremony. This seemed easy enough to Rebecca and she decided she would start making contacts once she got back to Richmond toward the end of May.
Unfortunately, getting Alpha Sigma re-started was a little more difficult than Rebecca had expected. Since she was not officially affiliated with the University as a student or employee the registrar, who had the information she needed, was hesitant to give her the list of students. Rebecca explained several times the purpose of Phi Sigma Pi and the benefit the organization would be to the VCU campus, but the registrar's office stood its ground. Frustrated but not willing to give up, Rebecca took a different angle. She made arrangements to meet with the Director of Student Activities and the Director of Greek Affairs, hoping to win their support of reactivating a previously existing organization. Finally after several meetings both in person with Rebecca and by phone with Betsy, the Director of Greek Affairs agreed to help by requesting the needed labels.
Finally by the end of the fall of 1997, over 4,000 labels were in hand. However, the labels were way more than anticipated and when Rebecca looked over them, she realized there were many people who were in fact not eligible for membership. The list had names of graduate students, 1st semester freshman, 2nd semester seniors, and special students that were only taking summer classes at VCU, none of which could join the chapter.So for several weeks, when she had spare time, Rebecca weeded through the mailing list removing the labels for those not eligible for membership. By January of 1998, the mailing labels had been forwarded to National Headquarters. But before the mailing could be sent out the meeting dates, times and locations had to be settled. Finding days and times that worked for both Rebecca and Betsy took a while and finally several dates in Mid-march were selected. Rebecca went back to the Director of Greek Affairs who helped her reserve rooms for the dates selected. With all the reservations made, finally over 3000 letters were sent to prospective members of the Alpha Sigma Chapter of Phi Sigma Pi.
On March 23, 1998, the first of several meet night sessions was held in the Commons Theatre. Between Betsy and Rebecca prospective members were given a general idea of what Phi Sigma Pi was all about and how it could be a very influential experience in the college years and beyond. Prospective members were also told how the reactivation process would work. That basically they needed to attend the organizational meeting the following week, where chapter officers would be elected, attend scheduled meetings between the organizational meeting and the induction to be held in late April. There would also be national induction fees, national dues and a national membership test for each person who wished to become a member.
A week later on March 30, 1998, the organizational meeting was held in the Forum Room of the Commons. Before starting the meeting, Betsy read the national pinning ceremony to the new prospective members so that they understood the importance of the fraternity's secrets and rituals. And all though they would all be inducted as part of the charter class in April they needed to understand the trial period of what future initiates would go through. None of the charter members were required to wear initiate pins, but several members suggested wearing purple and gold ribbons to show their pride in this new organization. During the organizational meeting, the first group of officers for the reactivated Alpha Sigma was elected and would be critical to the success of this new chapter. The elections were like pulling teeth, since many were unsure of what they were getting into as far as the fraternity in general much less jumping right into a leadership position.
Several meetings during April helped the chapter get organized and familiar with the rules, regulations and general activities of Phi Sigma Pi. Luckily they had an veteran brother in Rebecca Halloran who was at every meeting to help guide them when needed. Finally on April 20, the charter class of the reactivated Alpha Sigma was inducted after taking the membership exam. Although the scores were far from stellar, many showed great initiative toward embracing Phi Sigma Pi and the chapter as a whole would take the exam over the following fall. The induction ceremony was the first official ceremony for the new Alpha Sigma. Betsy, Rebecca and several visiting brothers from Alpha Kappa performed the induction ceremony for the charter class of #? New brothers and welcomed them to the Phi Sigma Pi circle of Brotherhood with the fraternity grip, greeting, and song. And from that moment on the rest is Alpha Sigma History!