Advice to Current and Future Sigma Nu Colonies

While I attended San Diego State University, I decided to become a Sigma Nu Refounding Father after learning that the organization's values of Love, Honor, and Truth were congruent to mine. I grew up in a dysfunctional family, so I wanted to meet other ambitious men I could be proud to call Brothers. I met my closest Brothers, David Liao and Ever Gonzalez, during my time as a collegiate candidate. Ever was the Brother who invited me to become a candidate after we'd met at an internship. Through Ever, I grew to know David, who has my utmost respect.

My Sigma Nu colony, Eta Kappa at SDSU, failed over three years ago because of failed leadership choices that occurred after I graduated. However, the pain still feels fresh as I continue to find ways to volunteer my time preserving Sigma Nu's history in the form of song remakes and audiobooks. I wanted to become the official Grand Historian and attend many Grand Chapters, but now that dream seems far-fetched, shattered by forces beyond my control. I still produce fraternity art, but on an individual volunteer basis, a practice that helps me get up in the morning. I learned a lot of what I know from Bob McCully (Rest in Peace), who served as Grand Historian and was also from Eta Kappa.

A few months before I graduated, the Sigma Nu High Council formally gave Eta Kappa back its long-dormant charter. When I heard the news, I was the happiest I'd ever been in my life. I was assigned the badge number Eta Kappa 1011. I served the colony as videographer and photographer. I'd also spent countless hours building the colony's reputation on campus, which eventually earned me initiation in Order of Omega. Only the top 3% of IFC members are chosen to join its ranks. I had succeeded in my duties as Refounding Father, and I was able to rest my mind as an alumnus.

How wrong I was.

The colony prepared to become a Chapter by renting out a beautiful venue and inviting the High Council to attend initiation. The ceremony would have been grand, but some officers' egos became inflated, causing them to make impromptu parties that involved large amounts of alcohol. I had heard that a bucket was involved, but I wasn't sure in what capacity. The ringleader, now a disgraced Commander, was a legacy. His choice to wager all of the colony's badges ended up with the alumni also punished. All of our badges were revoked, included those who'd already graduated and were happily waiting for the initiation and to finally see The Ritual in person. The disgraced commander defected, with a handful of his clique acolytes, to another fraternity (which won't be named out of respect).

So to current Sigma Nu colonies, I give you a list of advice in no particular order. There may be a Part Two to this post, but here's what I fully remember.

• Follow all risk reduction guidelines without question.
• Expel all lazy, shady, impulsive leaders - even legacies. Do not hesitate as I did.
  • Try them at an Honor Board at the first time of being suspect.
• Have Truth Sessions at each colony meeting to air out grievances and to resolve issues between Brothers
  • Set aside a half-hour or more at the end of each meeting
• Always be recruiting high-quality men - look for men of different talents to cover all your bases
  
  

Thanks for reading. I hope this gives you some insight into my failures so that you and your colony could learn from them. I still serve on the Eta Kappa Alumni Board and keep in touch with my Chapter Advisor, Jim Stark. My books, the House of Sol Alpha Series, are based on my experiences in the fraternity. 


Here's to all of us becoming full Knights one day! Feel free to contact me on any social media if you have any questions.

Fraternally,
Jacob Veritas
​Sigma Nu, Eta Kappa #X
Order of Omega, Delta Sigma Initiate

News article on the incident:
​https://thedailyaztec.com/91541/news/sigma-nu-fraternity-ousted-from-campus-by-national-chapter/

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