Courtesy Art
By Bresha Pierce
Reporter
After a five-year hiatus due to noncompliance with Baylor policy, the fraternity Sigma Chi has made its way back to Baylor Campus, starting a new chapter for the 2015-2016 school year.
Student activities advisers and Sigma Chi alumni reached out to the students who are currently attending Baylor.
Seven students were named in the Sigma Chi chapter with dads, grandfathers and great-grandfathers who all pledged Sigma Chi at Baylor. Now there are more than 20 students in the chapter.
“I’m excited for the opportunity for Sigma Chi to be back on campus,” said Kendal Jarrett, the on-campus adviser and athletic academic adviser. “It’s a great opportunity for alumni and legacy to continue this chapter.”
Last week, recruiting events such as bowling and a BBQ were held to spark interest for the fraternity.
“There were four events held to encourage interest,” Kendal said. “On Friday we held an alumni dinner to encourage positive support from alumni and the Waco community.”
On wednesday Sigma Chi will host a public pinning ceremony in Barfield Drawing Room. Sigma Chi Headquarters staff will be pinning the founding fathers of the chapter.
In 2010, Sigma Chi was banned from campus because of failure to meet Baylor’s student activities policy. A Navarro college student died at an off-campus pledge event for Sigma Chi, according to a McLennan County police report.
A lawsuit was filed the morning after the death of the student, and according to an autopsy report, the teen died from cardiac arrhythmia caused by a type of heart disease.
Later that November, a court ruled the fraternity was not responsible for the death of the Navarro teen.
After the verdict, alumni and legacy holders wanted to see the fraternity back on campus. Former Sigma Chi member and current adviser to Sigma Chi Michael Jarrett said he was excited to announce the return of the fraternity.
Jarrett pledged Sigma Chi in the spring of 1995 and graduated in 1998. Michael attended Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law and is now the First Assistant Criminal District Attorney.
“Sigma Chi has a proud tradition of excellence at Baylor University and throughout the world,” Michael Jarrett said. “Leaders of business, politics, professional sports and clergy count themselves as member of Sigma Chi. I’m proud to see that Sigma Chi will return to campus and recruit young men who will serve as examples of gentlemen and scholars at Baylor.”
Sigma Chi is the largest fraternity in the world with 245 active undergraduate chapters. The Sigma Chi foundation provides over $2 million in scholarships each year and provide $8 million in leadership programs.
“The challenege for us is building a chapter here at Baylor that reflects the greatness of Sigma Chi internationally,” said president Kevin Pettit. “I am more than confident that with our foundation and the plans we have for the near future, we will be able to rise to the challenge and not only create an awesome chapter but also raise the bar for the whole Greek system.”
