Leaving home for college can be a stressful time for both students and parents alike. Sigma Pi understands this and would like to do everything possible to make this transition a smooth one. We have created this letter to inform the parents of our prospective members. Hopefully, all of the questions regarding your son’s decision about joining Sigma Pi will be answered. If you have any further questions about Sigma Pi or would like to set up a meeting with either our members or alumni, please contact our Chapter Director, Adam Tipton, by e-mail at tiptonad@mchsi.com or by phone at (573) 356-7267, or the Rush Chairmen: Jeff Reale at jrrtz7@missouri.edu or 314-779-6425, or Jeff Lakebrink at jsl6yf@mizzou.edu or 314-412-1604.

The Sigma Pi Fraternity house is located at 808 S. Providence in Columbia Missouri, 65203. When filled to capacity, our house comfortably lives 34 men. Some of the advantages of the Fraternity house include: a clean, secure, and comfortable living environment; spacious rooms furnished with a bed and dresser for each student; a quiet study room with computers, test files and reference materials; a sizeable kitchen and dining facility; a full time catering service; on-site washers and dryers; cable and internet access in each room; clean, private showers and bathroom stalls; along with recreational rooms equipped with a pool table, bumper pool table, a foosball table, a big screen television, and a 52" plasma in the main room.

College can be a time when students, especially first semester freshman, may find it hard to balance schoolwork with other social activities. Often times, schoolwork may be neglected because too many other distractions are taking place. For this reason as well as an overall attempt to encourage better academic achievements in their members, Sigma Pi fraternity requires study hours for all new members. The study sessions are nightly two-hour periods held from Sunday through Thursday at nearby campus locations or in the basement of the fraternity house. However, policies are not as strict as to say a new member cannot be excused from study hours if he has a job, family problems or simply a legitimate reason. The sole purpose of study hall is to make the sometimes-difficult transition from high school to college easier, and to ensure the academic success our members are looking for. Active members of the chapter are also encouraged to attend study hours and do so regularly. The efforts of our members are rewarded yearly by a scholarship given to the member of Sigma Pi with the highest grade point average.

Sigma Pi offers exceptional housing at rates lower than all of the Residential Halls. In addition to all the amenities that we have to offer, we have a declining rent scale, which reduces the amount based on the number of members living in house. Members will benefit from the decreased financial burden, while also profiting from all that Sigma Pi has to offer. These fees include the cost of living in the house with 14 meals a week.

* Price comparison based on double occupancy and a 17-meal plan.

Chapter dues, social activities, and philanthropy fees are set each year by the Chapter membership. Additionally, a one-time new member fee of $150 and a one-time lifetime initiation fee of $350 are established by the Sigma Pi International Fraternity. The Treasurer, Mike McCafferty at 314-315-1142, can provide additional details upon request.

The new members of our chapter spend one semester together as a new member class before being initiated into our brotherhood. Throughout this semester our new members learn about the history of Sigma Pi Fraternity International as well as the history of our local chapter; designated as the Gamma-Sigma Chapter. Each new member class elects their own officers who are responsible for the activities of the new member class. Some of these activities include community service projects, sorority serenades, and new member brotherhood events.

The University of Missouri is a socially dry campus. However, Sigma Pi has taken the extra step to create a completely substance free environment for our chapter house. Any member violating these policies will be immediately reprimanded and possibly removed by the chapter.

Sigma Pi offers many ways for our parents to stay involved with their son’s activities. We also encourage our parents to keep involved with our chapter’s daily activities if they choose to. Some of the annual events offered to each of our parents are:

• Father's Weekend - Held during the first semester each year. Some of the activities include a Brunch, Missouri football game and skeet shooting.
• Mother’s Weekend - Held during the second semester each year with a trip to a local winery, dinner and a comedy show for the mothers.

These are just a few of the highlighted events we have for our parents each and every year at the Gamma Sigma Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity. We, as a chapter, look forward to getting to know each and everyone of our member’s family, because as a true fraternity should be, we are all brothers.

Every parent wants to know what his or her son is doing at any given time. Some of the activities that your son will be participating in at Sigma Pi include:

• Intramurals - This offers your son a way to participate in almost any sport that they wish while giving them the opportunity to stay competitive throughout college.
• Homecoming – The annual celebration for alumni, which includes a blood drive, various service projects, house decorations, skit and dance competition and a parade.
• Greek Week – Very similar to Homecoming with a games weekend, which is substituted for the parade.
• Philanthropies – Weeklong events benefiting a local charity. These events include a sport competition, sorority serenade, and service project.
• Trick-or-Treat with Greeks and Holiday Lights – Annual events held for the children of the Columbia community including house tours and holiday themed activities.

If you would like further information for parents or would like to read about some of the advantages of going Greek at Mizzou, please visit the parent’s link of the Greek life website at http://www.missouri.edu/~stulife/greeklife/parents.htm.

Sincerely,

Aaron Hale
President
ajhp55@mizzou.edu                                    
(573) 480-4901

Adam Tipton
Chapter Director