those miller lite commercials have always made me chuckle. i’m particularly amused by the manlaw ones where the men of the square table discuss manly dos and donts like capping beers, is it ok to hide a beer in the house fridge or do we tap tops or bottoms when toasting? they’ve got ’em all online if you need a refresher.
it’s in this same spirit – part fun, part c’mon have some damn sense – that i introduce the concept of Blue Laws. Blue Laws will fill in the gaps where accepted traditions fall short. it won’t go so far as being absolute, but they’ll level set on the dos and donts. this first one should be of no surprise given the recent thread on bluphi.com
Blue Law: All paraphanelia must be royal blue and pure white only.
Background: as my dean always told us while on line “think motherfuckers think!” colors were chosen for a reason. if you don’t remember, then find the ceremony this was revealed to you and partake in an upcoming one.
Exceptions: when put on neutral colors like khaki, gray or even black. kinte cloth. to diss another org or claim “we look good in any color” is NOT an exception.
BLUE LAW?
Blue Law: Show love to our sorors and never openly diss them, the chapter,etc. Handle all family biz behind closed doors. When in the public, we are on the same page – one family!
Know your history!!!!! I know “Intake” is now law but my goodness, I have met several brothers who do not know their history. I mean some of the most basic information and it is disturbing. We should never allow a potential member become a member without KNOWING THE FRATERNITYS HISTORY. Now this is one of those reasons brothers have a problem with the intake process.
I agree but lets take it a step further. Do not put a plate on yiur car or wear Sigma Para without knowing your history. How embarrassing it is to met a “brother” and ask them something like “So you know Charles I Brown” and they respond Charles who. Or even better they see you in para and say I used to be apart of that organization.
Did someone really say “Charles who?” Oh dear Lord.
Phil…I like this thread…but I thought “Laws look good in any color?”
I’m just kidding, mind you.
Yes, Intake is here…but the History shouldn’t disappear.
Before 2005…I asked Dan Tann if he won…if he would consider forming a committee that would “update”…but not rewrite the Sigma Light. He said yes. I offerred my services, and I suggested to him with the Brothers that I know that are well-versed in the History, that we could produce a Sigma Light that Brothers would cherish. Imagine a Sigma Light with pictures that identify ALL of the charter members and first 14 intiates…and of course one that has all of the correct information……
I know, another dream….
Mallet
Mallet, what is more suprising is the fact that “someone” said “I used to be apart of that”. This “brother” is probably an intake case that did not go through the right chapter and may have had very little oversight with a weak grad chapter. Knowing your history is vital. I recall as an undergaduate chapter (Xavier University) asking our then Regional Director about putting our history on DVD or even CD. We have to make sure brothers know the history. This has to be the 1st blue law!
I know many brothers who “pledged” that don’t know their history. Intake does not limit what history can be taught. I give my crescents the critical knowledge, but I also give them the light. You don’t have to wait for Dan Tann or anybody else to put together the light. Scan the light that you have, revise it and give it to your crescents. Problem solved.
I think what’s more problematic is that brothers come out of these processes without having learned the basics of how to run a chapter. How to run a meeting. how to request funding. How to get information. What are the officers responsibilities.
While I agree, if you were to study the difference, you would find a larger percentage of brothers who became members thru intake less knowledgable of the fraternity history. Not to mention, a large number of “intake brothers” know and exhibit lower levels of true brotherhood which is something you can not teach. I am not advocating a retreat to the old system but as one who pledged in 1988, I recall another level of pride to be a member and never did I ever see a brother not know the basics until intake was intoduced in the early 90s. Today, its even worse as chapters implement a system that lends itself to future members putting the basics into shortterm memory and after the “test” literally forget the basics and treat Sigma no more than another class on their schedule. There has to be a better way!
Bro. Ted, you couldnt be more right! Intake has always been a problem with new brothers simply not understanding brotherhood or the fraternitys history.
Who is running against Paul? Now here a blue law. Brothers need to be informed at least nine months prior to an election of who the candidates are for president.
Blue Law: Sigma is Sigma and Zeta is Zeta. You can actually operate and function with thinking that you need the approval of Zeta.
Blue Law: Sigma is Sigma and Zeta is Zeta. You can actually operate and function without thinking that you need the approval of Zeta.
Blue Law: Sigma is a fraternity, no one is bigger than the frat and the frat is not bigger than any one brother.
Blue Law: no brother should wear para that is 2 sizes too small or dirty…
If he is seen in public with para that is too small or dirty, he should be put in the cut until the beer is warm…
Blue Law: Under no circumstances do we have any other org’s color on our para.
Those photo of the Zetas in pink, red and gold is a disgrace, and I am sick and tired of seeing Sigmas with writing on the back of their shirts/jacksts that have brown, purple, red and gold letters.
Blue and White means Sigma and Zeta. PERIOD. Let the other orgs form a mess of colors.
No twirling of canes, no walking round with Kappa like canes, or talk of Sigma chapters that twirl. Bottom line, Kappas twirl the canes, and Sigma have been known to step with “full size canes” so it should be Blue Law that it don’t matter who had the canes first, as a fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma has never been identified by carrying or twirling the small canes.
Kappas twirl and drop canes, Sigmas step hard and break them canes. PERIOD.
If anything, maybe when attending “formal events”, the use of a full size cane would be acceptable, but walking around with a Kappa looking cane (candy cane) is not reppin our frat with that Blue and White pride. If anything those bros look CORNY.
There are so called “bros”, (CORNY I will add) up You Tube twirling canes with Sigma para, thinking that they look cool?! Did some one lie to them and tell them that they were seeking membership into Kappa Alpha Psi?! We are supposed to “Herald & Defend” the Light called Sigma, and I don’t see twirling canes or walking around with “candy canes” as a “Best Performance of Duty” of these bros in the name of Sigma.
BLUe LAW: No, by no exception is any brother to be in Army Fatigues, especially not blue camo pants. Thats thier (Omega) thing MABs! Of course we step hard, of course we are the ones who ACTUALLY do the social actions, but like the other brother said, we just look CORNY hopping, and wearing blue camo pants.
They make us look second best. We know that has never been the case.
Hey,I plan on (taking the path you all have taken) during my fall semester and with all the history that I have been reading up on the whole controversy of twirling as a sigma has been bothering me for awhile. now the sigmas at my school don’t use their canes.From what I was told they let the kappas have it.but some of the people I have met at the meetings and have grown close too, including me, plan to bring canes back into the open.Most people at my school don’t even realize that canes are apart of the organization. I told one of my friends who is a legacy and has been twirling canes for awhile. That I was thinking that if everything came together in the future that I would keep the cane long and not tape it too look like a candy cane.And then I have also talked to his father who told me stories about him cane stepping in step shows.(but I believe he twirled too) . Now canes are no canes were still going to thrive to bring the best out of ourselves and out chapters, I just wanted to know others opinions on the whole cane twirling. If kappas were the first to twirl and sigmas were the first to step with canes and they both do each, is it reallly that bad to cut and twirl out canes ?( sorry for the wall of text )
o thrive to bring the best out of ourselves and our chapters,*
twirl our canes ?*
Use the cane without the twirl, leave that to the nupes. Incorporate the canes with the hand and foot hops (steps). You go to step shows now everyone looks the same it is time for Sigma to take the lead again and give the other Greeks something to copy. Mix some of the vintage with the new without so much dancing. It is time to take it back, remember we start the trends.
Look and listen my brothers. Most of you here are correct with the knowledge that Sigmas have had canes for a long, long time. Primarily used to step with and not necessarily to twirl with. However, when I “pledged” I took it upon myself to learn how to twirl the cane and incorporate step moves with it. Don’t get side-tracked or even twisted – canes are a part of sigma – Period!! Now, in regards to history – knowledge is power, and this power should be well known and safe guarded by it’s members. I know that old school frat exhibits more knowledge of history and display a greater since of brotherhood not only with their LBs, but with all Sigmas. But those times of “pledging” and swinging “pine on that ass” are over. And although it had a purpose and place in the days of old – too many people have gotten hurt or killed because of the senseless actions of some Bros. Intake is not going anywhere. As educated men, we must think creatively and tread lightly. We must find new ways to instill pride and kindle brotherhood with the intake bros. These things were usually learned and felt through shrines and crossing the burning sands. Intake Bros do tend to exhibit less brotherhood and concern themselves more with wearing colors and letters for show. For this reason, DPs or whatever they are called now have to be on their game. And we as Sigmas need to be more selective with the folks that desire entrance into this organization.
Well said brother, MIP is hear to stay and we must use it wisely. Incorporate the Sigma Light, Perfection Scoop. We have a rich history, we should speak of it with joy and pride. As for the use of canes, we used tem at Arkansas State and the University of Memphis in 1980 and beyond, although we did not twirl them. The use of canes only made us more versatile in our routines.
Gomab bros, Im a relatively young bruh and I just wanted to put my opinion on the matter in here. I believe that we as an org should definitely keep in mind that the canes are apart of OUR history. when I was going through my “process” canes were not even mentioned to me not one time. I find out after the fact. I believe that young bros like myself and future bros should have ALL the knowledge of sigma and that includes cane usage.
What is the earliest Photo of Sigmas with Canes. I saw a Brother call Sigmas corny if they twirled a cane. I guess Brother Mallet is conry then….lol!
I’ve stepped with canes and my team has never lost to a Nupe team.
We used them in the early 80’s.
I have pics on my face book page with us stepping with canes too!
I agree. When I “pledged”, it was very important
not only to learn the illustrious history of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. but to foster bonds with my LBs and to be able to understand the significance of the Fraternity and its mission.
Not just to wear the letters with pride, dignity, and respect, but also to implement the Fraternity’s programs: bigger and better business,
education, and social action. I never really stepped or strolled with the canes, however, I give my frat bros. mad props who are more than able to step with the canes. Not to mention, I still am versatile with naming the various chapters of this great fraternity! When I “pledged”, this usually landed me in some serious trouble with my Big Brothers, lol, because my LBs did not know about most of those other chapters, just about the earliest chapters that were mentioned in the history! G.O.M.A.B. I LOVE MY BLU-PHI!!! DEUCE CLUB REPPIN”!!!
1914, all day, all night! “I believe in all that Phi Beta Sigma represents and I will herald and defend it even against the world!” That’s what we are, brothers defending the Royal Blue and Pure White!