Chain of Command: Year after year, fraternity fills top Student Government positions
September 29, 2009 by Laura Clark · 21 Comments
Ryan Smith, center, Grant Mills, right, Sam Gillespie and George Kington, far left, are all members of Sigma Chi. Photo by Adam Wolffbrandt | Staff
Dynasty is a word commonly used to describe the UK men’s basketball team. What about Sigma Chi?
From 2007 to present, three former Sigma Chi presidents have held some of the highest positions in UK Student Government.
Sigma Chi’s UK chapter, Lambda Lambda, has seen members Nick Phelps, Grant Mills and Ryan Smith rise to power in campus politics. Even though the current fraternity president, George Kington, is currently not considering involvement in SG, Sigma Chi recruitment chairman and SG senator-at-large Sam Gillespie is considering taking a higher step into student politics.
What some may see as a dynasty may be seen as a coincidence by others, especially by those involved.
“It is kind of funny how it happened,†said Mills, Sigma Chi chapter president in 2007-08 and vice president of SG alongside Tyler Montell in 2008-09. “I think it was by happenchance that it happened to be this way.â€
“It’s coincidental, it has nothing to do with being a Sigma Chi,†said current SG President Smith. “It completely happened out of the sky … some people believe it, and some people don’t.â€
“People raise eyebrows, but it’ll come and go,†said Phelps, 2006-07 Sigma Chi president and 2007-08 SG president. “There has been something special going on through Sigma Chi the last few years. But it can change with the next pledge class.â€
Gillespie attributed the draw of SG to wanting to make a difference on campus. Phelps said Sigma Chi’s leadership initiatives drove members to student politics. A deep appreciation for the university was Smith’s reason for taking both presidential responsibilities.
But each one of them, including Kington and Mills, used the words “being involved.â€
Tyler Montell, a former non-Greek SG president, said Sigma Chi was a different kind of fraternity.
“When I was a freshman, there wasn’t much precedence at all on campus involvement,†Montell said. “Now, there really has been … real results, and cause for so many Sigma Chi’s being involved in student organizations in leadership.
“They stress (members) to make a difference not only in fraternity, but all over the place.â€
STUDENT GOVERNMENT AND THE GPAC
Toward the close of each academic year, SG introduces a new president, vice president and administration to the ranks. The student body can vote for their candidates of choice through an online-voting system.
Before these online elections take place, the UK Greek Political Action Committee endorses an SG candidate after a candidate debate scheduled just before elections. GPAC chooses the candidate based on how well they will represent the interests of the Greek community, said Ben Duncan, SG Chief of Staff and president of the UK Interfraternity Council. However, Duncan said a candidate being in a fraternity or sorority has no influence on the GPAC endorsement decision.
“The only thing that matters when they walk into that debate is how good their ideas are and how practical they are,†Duncan said.
The GPAC consists of representatives from the IFC and the Panhellenic Council, as well as the recently added National Pan-Hellenic Council, who joined the committee before the 2009 SG elections.
Duncan said the number of council votes each group has depend on the size of each organization within the three councils. Before the most recent election, Duncan said the GPAC decided to only allow each fraternity or sorority chapter president to represent the Greek organizations at the debate to reduce the “politics†of each chapter choosing one representative.
Duncan said almost 40 organizations were represented and around 80 votes were cast at the 2009 GPAC debate, where Smith, along with vice president Kelsey Hayes, were endorsed.
In a March 2009 Kernel article, Smith said 18 of the last 19 SG presidential candidates who won the GPAC endorsement went on to win the election. Smith also said the endorsement not only spoke to the Greek community, but to the students and their desire for progress in SG.
SIGMA CHI
Phelps said being president of the fraternity was more difficult than being SG president.
“(Being Sigma Chi president) was great preparation for being SG president,†Phelps said. “That preparation was ideal, and it’s one reason you see such a correlation. Sigma Chi takes a leadership role … and other students recognize that.â€
Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Susan West said the UK Lambda Lambda Chapter of Sigma Chi is the largest fraternity on campus with more than 120 current members.
The fraternity is also the highest-ranked fraternity in average GPA, which is calculated by dividing the number of members by the number of credit hours taken, West said. Although the fraternity scored a 3.307 average GPA, West said that is the only way Greek organizations are ranked.
“We don’t rank the chapters,†West said. “They are only ranked by GPAs, not by best chapter because they all have different strengths.â€
Other fraternities who followed Sigma Chi in GPA rankings included Phi Kappa Tau and Pi Kappa Phi. Pi Kappa Phi’s chapter president, Alan Herbst, said there exists a “huge connection†between Greeks and SG.
“Many are Greeks, but it’s not the rule,†Herbst said. “Honestly, it’s just involvement. Guys who join fraternities have a desire to be involved … eventually (some) have leadership in their fraternity, too.â€
Kington said Sigma Chi prides itself on recruiting leaders and offering leadership workshops for members.
“Between encouraging guys to get involved and producing value-based leaders … that’s what has helped us develop the leaders we’ve had on campus so far,†Kington said.
HISTORY TO REPEAT ITSELF?
Whether or not the Sigma Chi-Student Government correlation is coincidental or conspiracy, it is noticeable.
“Sigma Chi has really blossomed in the last five or six years,†Phelps said. “We’re seen as leaders … But we’ve had great opponents, it’s not like we’re just walking into these things. It’s just credit of development of Sigma Chi.â€
Even Montell’s younger brother, Hunter, is currently pledging Sigma Chi.
“Tyler told me the one thing you want to do is you want to rush,†Hunter said. “(He said) hang out with Sigma Chi, but don’t let that be a bias.â€
Hunter said the possibility of running for a future SG position was definitely a possibility. His father is a state representative for House District 58 and his mother used to work in state government.
“I come from a family of politicians, it’s in my blood,†Hunter said. “But then again, I enjoy being around people and making a difference.â€
Kington has no plans to run for SG as of now because he said he wants to focus on the fraternity.
“I personally have not felt any pressure to run, or if I did run, I wouldn’t see any strong negative,†Kington said.
Gillespie said running for SG president was something he was considering, but said the position was a “lot of responsibility and a big undertaking.â€Â However, he said while the fraternity was not pressuring him to run, Gillespie said Sigma Chi naturally attracts leaders.
“(There was) no pressure by any means, but it’s just kind of the culture,†Gillespie said.
“Once you get the ball rolling in one direction, a lot of guys that get involved have that same passion. You kind of attract that kind of persona.â€
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Funny, didn’t the Kernel editorial board endorse each of the candidates mentioned right before the election? Must have been more than just well connected candidates…
What a joke. can we please not suck fraternities off on the school newspaper. lets talk bout the rapes that happen.
Come on Nakater…
I’m not a Sigma Chi but this story is impressive and the leadership they’ve been able to develop over the past six years has been special. If you know any of these guys, they are extremely intelligent and capable. If they were undeserving and had been hand picked to serve in these positions, then there may be a problem, but each of these guys has developed and risen to the top of arguably the best fraternity on campus.
Also, UK’s greek system has been extremely proactive in the education and prevention of sexual assault through the VIP center and SEEDS program. Fraternities generally go over the top in teaching respecting women and conducting yourself ethically. Of course some members of fraternities deviate from those standards from time to time, just like men who aren’t greek.
Lets just be honest, there are those who perpetuate the old “drunken frat boy” stereotype. There are some members of the greek community who are rude, misbehaved, and feel entitled, however you will find those same personalities anywhere.
No matter how you slice it, fraternities have been in existence this long because they provide great opportunities for men seeking to develop themselves professionally, socially, scholastically, and even spiritually. There are also many other organizations people join for the exact same reasons. Sure, some of the old traditions and rituals may seem silly or outdated, and maybe some are. The overwhelming truth is that different fraternity men benefit from their greek experience in many different ways, however the vast majority would never trade the experiences they had or the valuable lessons they’ve learned for anything.
Many guys choose not to join fraternities for whatever reason, and everyone including greeks are always accepting of that. People choose to develop themselves in different ways and there are tons of different organizations that you can be involved in. Greeks have absolutely no problem with those who are not greek, I just don’t see why that cant be reciprocated.
On behalf of the greek community, I sincerely apologize for whatever negative experience you’ve had with a fraternity or fraternity men that has lead you to believe there should be more media coverage of “rapes” than of greeks succeeding. Members of the greek system recognize its faults, people like you should recognize its successes.
You are all a joke. Sigma chi is a joke. They are nothing but half-decent politicians…
This is a prime example of our slanted system of power. The student government used to be a safe haven for Greeks. Whenever things went wrong and a fraternity or sorority would get in trouble, they could count on student government to go to bat for them. With Sigma Chi’s hand in UK’s back pocket and dominating the student government, they are only looking out for themselves and how to gain leverage over the rest of the Greeks to serve their own personal interests. UK wouldn’t dare question Sigma Chi for engaging in any ‘illegal’ activities (i.e. parties), but let’s get serious here folks, they do. We all try to. This is college. But unfortunately, this system is defunct. UK hates Greeks, but loves Sigma Chi. What an unfair environment. This school has lost all sense of fabric and direction. No smoking, no drinking, no Greeks, no living near campus, and no fun—well, except for Sigma Chi.
I realize the accomplishments that the men of Sigma Chi have acheived are great, whatever. My question to the Kernel is…why are you writing about these guys of Sigma Chi, when only about 130 people (the guys in Sigma Chi) are going to even care about this article? I believe the Kernel should be writing for all students to take interest in their articles and since our campus is only somewhere between 20 and 30% Greek..you guys are lacking about 70% of a student audience. Just saying…
I would much rather see the Kernel writing about things that Ryan is doing in SG this year, such as, TallyCats, etc..rather than praising the fraternity for creating some sort of legacy that no one cares about.
if you’re going to write about the accomplishments of the greeks in sga..why don’t you write about the nongreeks who i heard are running the senate this year.
I think that some of the writers who do the writing for front page articles sit back and relax and let some of the students who don’t do the “big articles” take a little of the heat. Let all those writers who have not had the experience in writing as senior or junior journalists and see what they can produce? Maybe a few articles would surprise or even catch an eye or two!
I don’t know why you think that Sigma Chi can get away with things. They’ve been in trouble for partying just like every other fraternity. It’s just a matter of the fact that they’re smarter about partying than stupid SAE and Delt and yet somehow still have the hottest guys and funnest parties.
happenchance? haha
The days of the “drunken frat boy” are extinct when it comes to Sigma Chi. There is not one negative to come from joining that organization, except for having people like Nakater and Mark above dislike you. Even if you take the most minor of roles, you still come out of it with friendships that will last your entire life. People who talk negatively about it simply have no real idea of what it is like to be in a fraternity and are skewed by movies/hearsay, or are just plain jealous. You can say what you want about “Sigma Chi having its hand in UK’s back pocket” and “Sigma Chi is a joke” but you will be hard-pressed to find ANY organization, Greek or otherwise, that contributes as much to the university.
Example whether it be good or bad, has a powerful influence, and Sigma Chi looks to be setting a positive example amidst a segment of too many negative ones.
Critics need to realize that the change they wish to see in the Greek system happens on a group by group, chapter by chapter–and young person by young person–level. In some sense, it is the greatest leadership challenge that those collegians in Greek organizations can attempt to tackle (too few choose to or take the responsibility seriously enough), and may be one of the most qualifying experiences for them to help lead UK.
It’s apparent at least those profiled in the article are taking it seriously, and it’s apparent by the ages of the students that there is a valuable element of mentorship happening, as well.
I’m glad The Kernel wrote about this group; if even the cynics take a step back and look at the bigger picture, this story suggests that the UK campus and community is at once healthy enough to produce–and thriving enough to facilitate–young people like those in this article. And everyone at UK should be proud of what that means for the university.
James D. – Davidson I suppose. Stop trying to run for SG. We didn’t want you to be a representative this time nor do we ever want you to represent students. You think you can run – not at UK.
Wait a second… Nothing bad to ever come out of sigma chi???
What about when the president of SGA/sigma chi (the Nick Phelps guy) accidentally sent an e-mail out directing derogatory comments towards Muslims??
That prejudice e-mail that was supposed to only go to “close friends” proved Phelps’ ignorance and showed everyone on the accidental list (a section of the student body) the type of person he is and the type of organization he represents.
You don’t think he led his fraternity that way? Huh? Ya think? Doyathink?
Sigma Chi doesn’t care about giving back to the school…
Sigma Chi cares about people seeing them give back to the school.
I know because I used to be one.
It’s a phony resume builder to them.
actually i like ryan smith. except one time he looked at me weird because he thought i was like 40 years old. but other than that he’s a decent guy.
I agree with Mark. Sigma Chis are a shame to humanity. They take innocent freshman boys, fill them with nonsense, and turn them into woman hating fear mongers. Mark and I have never done anything wrong, and every email that we send is always appropriate for everyone to scrutinize. If any of you Sigma Chis, or anyone else have anything to say about it, please send your mail to 1001 Glass House Way. We live there with our dog named Irony, and we brought him with us when we moved from 803 Ivory Tower St. I’m just ashamed that my buddy Mark used to be one of you people. Good thing you kicked him out so he didn’t have to be associated with the likes of you Homecoming kings and Greek Men of the year. You make me sick.
Well I have a question Gel, if you moved to Ivory Tower why didn’t you change the dog’s name too? Cause once a dog is stuck with a name like Irony, he’s never gonna get any nookie.
Listen guys…I’m not saying sigma chi doesn’t do well for the university… haha just kidding
It feels fake to win if your perception are the likings of sigma chi. Their profile are the foundation character why our country is such a disaster at this time, not a good resume builder to me. They should better get their act straight.
WHOEVER WHOEVER, wow. Thanks for having my name on your thoughts on this article, but let me make a couple things clear:
1. I HAVE NEVER RAN FOR AN SG OFFICE. I don’t know who the “we” you are referring to is, but i beg to differ with your ridiculous opinion.
2. if you look at the post time of the other “James D.” article, it says September 30th @ 12:36 pm. “whoever whoever,” since you seem to know me, you should know i was hosting an event on the student center patio at that exact time, so i could not have possibly wrote that.
3. I’m graduated in December, so live your life and i will live mine. Thanks
thought some people would like to see sigma chi members speaking about what they call the sigma chi experience on the local organization’s website: http://sigmachifraternity.org/
cheers!