Sigma Society

{{Short description|American collegiate secret society}} {{for|the fictional society|The Bye-Bye Sky High IQ Murder Case}} {{Infobox fraternity |name=Sigma Society |birthplace=Washington and Lee University |affiliation=Independent |country=United States |state=Virginia |status=Active |type=Senior society |emphasis= |scope=Local |chapters=1 |founded={{start date and age|1880}} |city=Lexington |letters={{lang|grc|Σ}} |nickname=Sigma, Washington Society}} The '''Sigma Society''' is a secret senior society at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.<ref name=":2">Carrere, John. (4 October 1966) "[https://dspace.wlu.edu/bitstream/handle/11021/29353/RTP_19661004.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y History of W&L Secret Clubs]," ''Ring-tum Phi'', vol. LXVII, no. 8., p.2. via Washington and Lee University, accessed August 18, 2023.</ref> Founded around 1880, it is the oldest society in operation at the university.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0">Sigma Plaque, installed in 1994, outside the science library at Washington and Lee University, in Lexington, Virginia.</ref>

==History== The Sigma Society was founded at Washington and Lee University in 1880. It was considered a senior ribbon society.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |date=February 14, 1911 |title=Sigma Society Elects Members |volume=14 |pages=6 |work=Ring-tum Phi |issue=15 |url=https://dspace.wlu.edu/bitstream/handle/11021/27723/RG39_RTP_19110214.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |via=Washington and Lee University}}</ref> Its membership typically consists of twelve to fifteen students.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" />

Though qualifications for membership are not published, members historically consistently comprised the top students on the campus, rated by overall strength rather than academics.<ref>"Sigma Announces Six Goats," ''Ring-tum Phi'', Washington and Lee University, 8 February 1916, p.5.</ref><ref name=":2" /> In its early decades, the society's members were mostly athletes.<ref name=":2" />

In December 1996, the ''Ring-tum Phi'' student newspaper reported that the Sigma Society had a reputation for hazing that was often worse than that of the campus fraternities.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Prossner |first=Erica |date=December 6, 1996 |title=Secret Society Hazing Ignored |volume=98 |pages=1 |work=Ring-tum Phi |issue=13 |hdl=11021/32075 |url=http://hdl.handle.net/11021/32075 |via=Washington and Lee University}}</ref>

== Symbols and traditions == The society's symbol is the Greek capital letter Sigma ({{Lang|grc|Σ}}).<ref name=":2" /> Its members received a button bearing the {{Lang|grc|Σ}}'''.<ref name=":1">"Sigma 'Goats' in Evidence," ''Ring-tum Phi'', vol. 18, no. 15, February 2, 1915, p. 4. via Washington and Lee University,</ref>''' The Sigma was also branded on the stomach or right groin of members.<ref name=":2" /> Jane Horton-Marcella, campus student health physician, wrote a letter to the student newspaper in November 1988, noting that Sigma Society was branding its initiates; she had assisted two students the prior year with infections from this branding.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Horton-Marcella |first=Jane |date=November 3, 1988 |title=Sigma Society - A Burning Issue |volume=88 |pages=2 |work=Ring-tum Phi |issue=8 |url=https://dspace.wlu.edu/bitstream/handle/11021/32536/RTP_19881103.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |via=Washington and Lee University}}</ref>

The society's annual initiation ceremony takes place on George Washington's birthday—February, 22.<ref name=":5" /><ref>"Sigma Initiation Washington's Birthday," ''Ring-tum Phi'', Washington and Lee University, 2 March 1910, p. 4.</ref> The organization is often referred to as the "Washington Society."<ref>"Sigma Celebration," ''Ring-tum Phi'', Washington and Lee University, 1 March 1909, p.3.</ref>

The "P.A.M.O.L.A. R.Y.E." emblem that is often found inscribed on chairs, desks, and in bathroom stalls throughout the university campus and greater Lexington area is related to the society and was referenced in the group's yearbook page in 1974.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=1974 |title=Calyx Yearbook |url=https://www.e-yearbook.com/yearbooks/Washington_and_Lee_University_Calyx_Yearbook/1974/Page_79.html |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=e-yearbook.com |publisher=Washington and Lee University - |page=79 |language=en-US |publication-place=Lexington, Virginia}}</ref>

== Activities == Although the society's membership is public, the inner workings of the group remain unknown. In the early 20th century, the group held well-attended balls annually, including its annual German (a formal dance) and its Easter Ball.<ref>"Sigma Society Held Banquet on Monday," ''Ring-tum Phi'', Washington and Lee University, 26 April 1924, p. 3.</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=May 13, 1925 |title=Finals Program Offers Many New Attractions |volume=28 |pages=1 |work=Ring-tum Phi |issue=57 |url=https://dspace.wlu.edu/bitstream/handle/11021/27958/RTP_19250513.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |via=Washington and Lee University}}</ref> It had a reputation as a "campus drinking and socializing club" according to William Rehnquist, former chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Rehnquist |first=William H. |date=1999 |title=A Tribute to Lewis F. Powell, Jr. |url=https://scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1532&context=wlulr |journal=Washington and Lee Law Review |volume=56 |issue=1 |page=21}}</ref> However, a rocky relationship with the administration forced the group to remove itself from active university participation in the 1930s.<ref>"Sigma Probe," ''Ring-tum Phi'', Washington and Lee University, 6 March 1936, p.1.</ref>

The Sigma Society donated a plaque to the university to commemorate two alumni who died in World War I: Clovis Moomaw, a member of the law school class of 1912, and James Arthur Lingle Jr., law school class of 1915.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Goodwin |first=Kelsey |date=2022-10-25 |title=New Plaques Dedicated at the Memorial Gateway |url=https://columns.wlu.edu/new-plaques-dedicated-to-the-memorial-gateway/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=The Columns |language=en}}</ref> The bronze plaque was originally installed in Lee Chapel but was moved to Washington and Lee's Memorial Gateway in October 2022.<ref name=":3" />

== Sigma Cabin == Historically, Sigma Society met in the Sigma Cabin on campus. The university paid the Sigma Society $15,000 (${{Inflation|index=US|value=15000|start_year=1994}} in today's money) when it tore down the Sigma Cabin in 1994. The university needed the land to build the Telford Science Library.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

A plaque at the Telford Science Library commemorates the former Sigma Cabin, reading: "Near this site stood the cabin which, for more than sixty years, was the meeting place for members of the Sigma Society…Founded in 1880, the Sigma Society is one of the oldest, continuous social organizations at W&L."<ref name=":0" />

==Prominent members==

*Harry "Cy" Young, Washington and Lee Class of 1917 *Dick Boisseau, professional football player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dick Boisseau NFL Stats and Bio - Pro Football Archives |url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerb/bois00050.html |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=www.profootballarchives.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=23 November 1988 |title=1930's Football |pages=34 |work=Rappahannock Record |url=https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=RR19881123.1.34&srpos=9&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-%22sigma+society%22------- |via=Virginia Chronicle (Library of Virginia)}}</ref> *Justice Lewis Powell Jr., Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Washington and Lee Class of 1929<ref name=":4" />

== References ==

Category:Collegiate secret societies Category:Student societies in the United States Category:Washington and Lee University Category:Student organizations established in 1880 Category:1880 establishments in Virginia Category:Local fraternities and sororities