United States . "I believe our will is being thwarted by the national organization through a suit that is using trademark laws but is about something a little different. The UM chapter won the support of the fraternity chapter at the University of California, Berkeley, according to lawyers responding to the lawsuit. "It did feel sort of like we were pioneering something," said Stoneback, who served as president of the fraternity from 2017-18. The society affirmed it is an all-male organization, that its constitution does not allow females to join, and that it would not amend the document to let women become members, the suit says, adding that Michigan Sigma Phi violated the rules and permitted women to join and live in the fraternity house. 1913 | Central Michigan University | Phi Sigma Sigma | Delta Iota Chapter | Aim High ♡ Stephanie Stoneback was a sophomore at the University of Michigan when a member of Sigma Phi invited her to pledge the fraternity, whose members at the time were mostly men. Est. ", "We do believe students are best served by a broad range of student organizations on campus — including both single-sex and co-ed — and organizations should set their own membership criteria," Shelton said. Our main focus is to build balanced men through pursuing a sound mind and sound body, while staying true to the values of virtue, diligence, and brotherly love. Delta Sigma Phi is a member of the Interfraternity Council. 907 Lincoln Avenue Ann Arbor Michigan. Contact Email E: zgelfand@umich.edu . The Michigan Eta Chapter of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity was founded on May 8, 1965. Michigan Eta Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. Abstract The Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity collection documents the activities of the Alpha Phi Omega, a Service Fraternity on Eastern Michigan University campus. These are people who are standing up for civil rights, inclusion and gender equality. Our house is also close to downtown Ann Arbor, the Farmer’s Market, and many fantastic restaurants and bars. Alpha of Michigan Chapter of the national Sigma Phi Society founded on March 4, 1858. The following is a list of the chapters of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.They are listed by school name, their Greek letter designation, and the year in which it was first chartered. With over 850 alumni, it is one of the largest and strongest fraternities on campus. Dinsmore & Shohl, the law firm for Sigma Phi Society, declined to comment. "The shift to gender-inclusivity reignited interest in the organization," lawyers for Michigan Sigma Phi said in response to the lawsuit. “These are progressive University of Michigan fraternity members,” said David Nacht, a lawyer for Michigan Sigma Phi. The chairman of National Sigma Phi met with leaders of Michigan Sigma Phi between February and July of 2020, but the fraternity continues to use the fraternity's trademarks, according to the lawsuit. "At the 2019 General Convention, the female members of Michigan Sigma Phi were not allowed to participate or even allowed into the room during the Convention’s meeting, and the proposal was not placed before the General Convention for a vote," the response to the lawsuit said. Unlike many, we are a nationally dry fraternity. Michigan Sigma Phi, founded at UM in 1858, previously was a member of the university's IFC but left in the early 2000s, Stoneback said. Our sisterhood focuses on providing assistance and encouragement to all sisters as they accomplish their academic and career goals. Phi Sigma Phi - Epsilon Lambda Chapter is a social Fraternity at the University of Michigan - Dearborn. During summer 2017, Michigan Sigma Phi attempted to try and amend the constitution and bylaws of Sigma Phi Society so each chapter could decide its membership. We believe we have created a relevant fraternity experience we all can be proud of. Western Michigan University is currently home to over 30 organizations that make up our fraternities and sororities. As a social organization, our goal is to promote our brotherhood within the campus community. The Michigan Eta chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon was formed in 1965. Register now for the 2020 Balanced Man Scholarship. While the lawsuit is steeped in arguments around issues of trademark, it raises a host of questions, including whether women should be allowed to join a fraternity on a college campus, and what happens when a fraternity member is a man who transitions to a woman, or is nonbinary. Since then, Michigan Sigma Phi has initiated dozens of others members who are not men and have taken up the cause of gender inclusivity in a fraternity, according to Stoneback. Phi Sigma Phi became the 66th member fraternity of the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) in 1997. "That is not a phrase you hear often. The national fraternity learned that Michigan Sigma Phi began using the fraternity's name again without complying with the fraternity's constitution, the lawsuit said. For more information on this fraternity, click any of the links below (website, Maize Pages, and Fraternity & Sorority Contact List). The parties weren't hard to find, with Alpha Delta Phi and Sigma Chi blaring music that bounced from the walls of the Michigan Union, and more … The unusual move came after a fraternity member who was male began to identify as a woman while rushing and pledging the fraternity earlier that year. Stoneback accepted and became part of Michigan Sigma Phi's fall 2016 pledge class, which included five men and four other women. “That is not a … Phi Sigma Pi is recruiting achievers that are passionate about developing as leaders and improving humanity through scholarship, leadership and fellowship. Mission Statement: Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP) is dedicated to fostering standards of excellence in the Extension System and developing the Extension profession and professional. Sigma Phi. Phi Sigma Pi is recruiting achievers that are passionate about developing as leaders and improving humanity through scholarship, leadership and fellowship. Michigan Sigma Phi was struggling to find people to live in the fraternity house when it decided to expand membership. You're invited to meet our Members and learn about the process of joining Phi Sigma Pi at one of our upcoming events! Please provide an email in which people can contact the organization: The UM fraternity continued to oppose gender-based discrimination, elected Stoneback as the president and resumed efforts to amend the constitution and by-laws of the national fraternity, the chapter said in its filing. With over 850 alumni, it is one of the largest and strongest fraternities on campus. It is not clear how many other fraternities across the nation initiate people who are not men. Wait, you aren't? "National Sigma Phi has suffered irreparable harm to the valuable Trademarks, including infringement and dilution thereof, and to National Sigma Phi’s image, identity, and goodwill," said the lawsuit. Click on the link to receive additional information. Phi Sigma Phi is a partnering organization with the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. "But honestly, it really just felt like I was joining a group of friends.". The local chapter at CMU was founded on May 18, 1979 by Winston K. O’Neal and William D. Allen. 71 likes. ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — A fraternity at the University of Michigan is being sued by its national organization after accepting women as members. 907 Lincoln Ave . Delta Sigma Phi at WMU, Kalamazoo, Michigan. A 60-day notice to active members and alumni was required before the vote, and the UM fraternity learned the best way to do that was through the fraternity's national publication but the notice was "mysteriously delayed" and "the proposal was not noticed in time," according to the chapter's response to the lawsuit. Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity Revocation of the privilege of being a Registered Student Organization by Central Michigan University in December 1999 for a period of three years following incidents involving theft, fights and a history of alleged violence. UM is home to 17 social fraternities represented by the university's Interfraternity Council. But the lawsuit says that during its 2019 national convention, Sigma Phi Society voted on motions brought by Michigan Sigma Phi. A federal judge is … Our Mission & Purpose Who we are and How we lead Delta Sigma Phi is a nationally recognized Fraternity built on the commitment of uniting men of exceptional character to respond to the needs and demands of our society. Mission and Philanthropy. After the convention, Michigan Sigma Phi lost permission to use the trademark fraternity letters and insurance for the fraternity house in October 2019, according to the lawsuit. Contact Information . Sigma Phi Epsilon and Theta Chi Epsilon took third with “Madagascar,” and the Four Wheelers at Michigan Tech finished in fourth. Cece did not respond to an email requesting comment. These organizations are under umbrella organizations referred to as “councils” – Interfraternity Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Multicultural Greek Council, and the College Panhellenic Council. Phi Rho Sigma owns a historic English Tudor home in Kerrytown, just two blocks from the Taubman Health Sciences Library and the University of Michigan Medical Campus. The national fraternity sent a cease and desist letter to the UM chapter in December 2019, telling Michigan Sigma Phi that "no gatherings, parties, events, rush, pledge events, or any other activities of any kind or nature are to occur using the name Sigma Phi, the Greek letters of Sigma and Phi, or any other intellectual property of Sigma Phi anywhere on or off the University of Michigan campus,” according to the lawsuit. "Nationally, over a quarter million students choose to enjoy a positive and enriching single-sex fraternity experience which best fits their needs.". "These are progressive University of Michigan fraternity members," said Nacht. Provide us with your email address below and you'll start receiving the Michigan Eta Pasty henceforth! ", © 2021 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper. Many of the fraternities and sororities are still active and accepting new members. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. is a collegiate and professional fraternity founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students with nine other Howard students as charter members. But Michigan Sigma Phi continue to operate without liability insurance coverage, "subjecting both its members and National Sigma Phi to undue exposure.". SigEps have proactively addressed these challenges, in part, by becoming substance-free in August 2018. The Michigan Eta chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon was formed in 1965. Stephanie Stoneback was a sophomore at the University of Michigan when a member of Sigma Phi invited her to pledge the fraternity, whose members at the time were mostly men. About. In the all-nighter competition, The Climate Action Triad took top honors with “Lorax,” followed by the Swing Club with MHA taking third place overall. As a forward-thinking fraternity, we understand that times are changing, and we can either lead or get out of the way.  This is also a time when fraternities are negatively stereotyped and scrutinized. Sigma Phi Society said the UM fraternity members' actions are causing harm to the national organization and its trademarks, used in commerce since 1920. But Todd Shelton, spokesman for the North American Interfraternity Conference, called Michigan Sigma Phi's actions "atypical. And we just want to give them a right to do so and have a voice.". Ann Arbor, Mi 48104 . Michigan Sigma Phi, Proudly powered by WordPress. Joining SigEps is not a short-term decision.  It is a long-term, support and mentorship organization. Another member began to identify as non-binary, meaning their gender identity did not fit male or female. After the first five women were initiated in Michigan Sigma Phi in 2016, the fraternity decided it needed to be gender inclusive, as membership was dwindling, the fraternity was struggling to find people to live in the rooms in the house, and finances were low, according to a response to the lawsuit. If you have questions, please contact the State of Michigan (SIGMA VSS) Support Center at SIGMA-Vendor@Michigan.gov or by calling 517-284-0550. But the fraternity continued to use the Greek letters, the suit says. Sigma Phi. Organization Information National Founding: December 10, 1899 at the College of the City of New York But within one of the court filings, the society's lawyers wrote: "In a nutshell, Defendants want to continue to operate as a Sigma Phi Chapter, identify as a Sigma Phi Chapter, and use the Trademarks — without following the rules. Additional Information . Stoneback … Are you getting the Michigan Eta Pasty? Soon after, Cece, along with other board members of the fraternity, resigned, according to the lawsuit. The legal battle also comes as many fraternities across the country have been the subject of negative news involving sexual assault, excessive alcohol use and hazing, said David Nacht, a lawyer representing Michigan Sigma Phi. At a hearing Thursday before U.S. District Judge Denise Page Hood, a lawyer for the UM fraternity will argue for the judge to lift a preliminary injunction issued Oct. 23 that ordered the chapter to stop using the fraternity's name and its Greek letters. The Detroit News reported that Stephanie Stoneback joined Michigan's Sigma Phi's fall 2016 pledge class, which included five men and four other women at … Days after the 2019 cease-and-desist letter, Michigan Sigma Phi's then-president, Anthony Cece, reportedly complied and covered up the Sigma Phi letters on the fraternity house. Michigan Sigma Phi was struggling to find people to live in the fraternity house when it decided to expand membership, according to ABC News. 2,040 Followers, 397 Following, 352 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from ★ Phi Sigma Sigma ★ (@cmuphisig) Vision Statement: Epsilon Sigma Phi leads the Extension System in promoting and supporting professionalism in Extension. As a forward-thinking fraternity, we understand that times are changing, and we can either lead or get out of the way. Respectfully, Defendants cannot have it both ways.". WMU's newest fraternity, arriving Fall 2019! We are a fraternity that not only helps you succeed while at Michigan Tech, but also supports you in life and your career after graduation. The State of Michigan SIGMA VSS Support Center office hours are 7:00 AM until 5:00 PM EST, Monday - Friday. Our sisterhood was founded for women in a rigorous academic program - engineering - making academic excellence and professional success in an already formidable and male-dominated field even harder. Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity shut down by the University amid hazing concerns Thursday, November 8, 2018 - 5:01pm The University of Michigan’s Interfraternity Council voted Wednesday to remove the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity from campus, the Office of … Sigma Phi Society — the New York-based national organization that touts itself as the oldest Greek fraternity in the country — is now attempting to sever ties with the UM fraternity in a lawsuit filed last week in U.S. District Court in Detroit. Stoneback — who lived for 2 1/2 years in the fraternity house at 907 Lincoln Ave. and is an alumna working for a publishing company in New York —  remains active on the fraternity's alumni board and supports the chapter's stance. "It is my view the majority of the alumni and the undergraduates … would like to support gender inclusivity," said Stoneback. Michigan Sigma Phi eventually received a cease and desist to stop using the Sigma Phi name, Greek letters or any other intellectual property on UM’s campus because National Sigma Phi … Listed are all of Central Michigan University's social Greek organizations throughout history (current as of August 2019). Does that sound like you? The Sigma Phi chapter at the University of Michigan is being sued by its national headquarters for admitting female and non-binary members into the traditionally male fraternity. You're invited to meet our Members and learn about the process of joining Phi Sigma Pi at one of our upcoming events! 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