don’t
rush
Recognize!
We
We
The
curious
catalysts
visionaries
outliers
And the keystone
We are a collection of rare, restless minds and ambitious thinkers who believe college should be exhilarating. Who take their pursuits seriously, but never themselves. We bring relentless drive and a pursuit of excellence, pushing each other to be sharper and bolder while sharing the kind of effortless camaraderie you only find once in a lifetime. WE GATHER MEN WHO HOLD THEMSELVES TO A HIGHER STANDARD, but know that THE REAL MAGIC IS DOING IT TOGETHER. We don’t just share a space, we light it up. We live together, challenge each other, and build the kind of deep, unapologetic brotherhood where life is exciting, ideas run wild, and three years are genuinely unforgettable.
We don’t recruit. We recognize… the men who bring the spark, who elevate the room, and who bring the house to life.
Three years at ONE FOREST PARK LANE.
A foundation that SHAPES THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
We don’t recruit. We recognize… the men who lead the charge, elevate the room, and bring the house alive.
Three years at ONE FOREST PARK LANE.
A BROTHERHOOD THAT LASTS A LIFETIME!
A brotherhood that lasts a lifetime!
A brotherhood that lasts a lifetime!
Guiding
Principles
A group of individuals only becomes a brotherhood when they commit to authentic connection over casual acquaintance. This lifelong bond is earned through absolute acceptance, mutual trust, and the grit to hold each other accountable by speaking hard truths and standing loyal through conflict. True brotherhood means showing up daily to move past surface-level social ties to forge relationships that outlast our time at Cornell.
Leadership
LEAD WITHOUT A TITLE. FOLLOW WITHOUT EGO. ELEVATE THE MEN AROUND YOU.
Fellowship
THE BONDS OF BROTHERHOOD THAT UNITE SIGMA PHI SOCIETY MEN ACROSS GENERATIONS
A group of individuals only becomes a force for good when each man accepts responsibility for the direction of his own life and the lives he touches. Leadership is not defined by titles, authority, or position, but by the discipline to know yourself, the courage to step forward, and the humility to fall in behind a brother when his moment comes. True leadership means being ready to lead and ready to follow, holding yourself to a standard worth following, elevating those around you, and developing the discernment, resilience, and character to lead within our house, in our community, and throughout our lives.
Exceptional men don't wait to be asked to exceed expectations. They challenge themselves and each other to think more deeply and question more boldly. True scholarship means treating intellectual excellence as a standard rather than an achievement, pursuing ideas with restless curiosity, and continually expanding our knowledge, sharpening our thinking, and becoming more capable, thoughtful, and well-rounded men.
Scholarship
A brotherhood only earns its standing when its members look beyond personal ambition, taking active ownership of the world around them to drive meaningful impact. Real service rejects passive obligations, mandated hours, and surface-level charity in favor of the discipline to leave every environment better than we found it. True service means deploying our time, energy, and resources toward our campus and broader community, leveraging our collective strength to elevate others and contribute to something far larger than ourselves.
Service
A group of individuals only becomes a brotherhood when truth lives inside it first, before it’s ever asked to live outside it. Ethos is not a value we post, but the courage to make the hard call and the integrity to do what we said we’d do, even when it’s inconvenient and no one is watching. True ethos means taking responsibility for your actions and the actions of your brothers, standing for what’s right over what’s popular, and becoming a man whose character outlasts his time at One Forest Park Lane.
Ethos
Since most of us are parents ourselves, we care deeply about the safety and development of our brothers, and want you to have the information you need too.
Click for parent-specific information.
The
Culture
Emphasis on developing future CEOs, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders through hands-on experience and mentorship.
-
The Sigma Phi Society chapter consistently maintain above-average GPAs and provide extensive academic support programs for members.
-
Study groups and tutoring resources
Course selection guidance from upperclassmen
Test banks and academic materials library
Graduate school application support
-
Housing (if applicable): $X,XXX-$XX,XXX (chapter house room and board)
Chapter Dues: $50
National Dues: $75 (paid to national headquarters)
New Member Fees: $XXX(initiation, badge, education materials)
Social Events: $XXX-$XXX(formals, mixers, networking events)
Merchandise: $XXX-$XXX (letters, formal wear, fraternity gear)
-
Chapter officer positions with real responsibilities
Student government and campus leadership roles
Philanthropy and community service leadership
Alumni board and advisory positions
-
Exclusive networking events with alumni executives
Internship and job placement assistance
Industry-specific mentorship programs
Professional skills workshops and seminars
-
Formal events at premier LA venues
Beach trips and outdoor adventures
Access to entertainment industry events
Mixers with top sororities
The
Process
Fraternity recruitment also known as “Rush” is managed by the Interfraternity Council & Panhellenic Council Spring Recruitment.
Students who wish to participate in Interfraternity Council & Panhellenic Council Spring Recruitment must arrive to campus the week prior to start of Spring 2027 semester - January dates TBD.
Register for rush here (not open). It’s a structured process that occurs over a 7 to 10 day period. Rush is designed for you to meet different fraternities and fraternity members and for them to meet you. All fraternities follow a similar schedule of events.
We don’t rush.
We recognize!
-
Recruitment is the ongoing process by which fraternities introduce themselves to prospective members this happens 365 days a year.
Rush recruitment season is a two-week period at the beginning of each semester), during which you are invited to visit chapters and learn what each group has to offer.
-
Recruitment, better known as rush, is a period of time at the beginning of every semester when Greek-life organizations (fraternities, sororities, and co-ed fraternities) try to recruit members. There are no obligations or commitments involved with rush, and it is completely cost-free to you.
For us, rush is not a sales pitch. It's how we get to know you and how you get to know us. Come to a few events. Meet the brothers. Ask us anything.
We don't rush. We recognize. That takes time on both sides, and this is where it starts.
Show up. Be yourself!
-
A Potential New Member (PNM) is any Cornell student who has officially registered for recruitment through the university. This designation does not guarantee a bid it simply indicates that you are participating in the formal process.
-
Fraternities do not require letters of recommendation. However, if you have friends or family connections to any chapters, it is encouraged to utilize those relationships. Keep in mind that a letter of recommendation does not guarantee a bid.
-
Will I Be Interviewed Before Receiving a Bid?
-
A bid is a formal invitation from the Sigma Phi Society to become a new member. Think of it as a golden ticket, your official welcome into the brotherhood. You’ll typically receive a bid at the end of Primary Recruitment Week, after multiple rounds of events and mutual selection between PNMs (Potential New Members) and the chapter.
-
During recruitment, you’ll meet brothers from Sigma Phi Society through several rounds:
Open House / Welcome Round
Philanthropy Round
Brotherhood Round
Preference Night
Each round gives you another opportunity to get to know the brothers and the Society, while our members get to know you. You’ll have the opportunity to decide whether Sigma Phi is the right fit for you, and we’ll get to know the men who may be the right fit for Sigma Phi Society.
At the end of the recruitment process, Sigma Phi Society will extend bids to a select group of men we recognize as potential brothers.
Key tip: Be genuine. Sigma Phi Society is looking for men who are a great fit for our values and brotherhood, not simply someone who checks the right boxes.
-
Bid Day is the culmination of fraternity recruitment. It is when Sigma Phi Society extends formal bids to the men it has recognized as potential brothers and welcomes them into the next stage of their journey with the Society.
Expect:
A celebration with brothers, food, music, and plenty of photos
Time to celebrate with the men receiving bids and the brothers of Sigma Phi
Your first opportunity to begin building relationships with the men who will become your pledge class and, ultimately, your brothers
Bid Day is more than the end of recruitment. It is the beginning of your journey toward becoming a Sigma Phi brother.
Pro tip: Come ready to celebrate, meet more brothers, and enjoy the moment. You only get one Bid Day.
-
Once you accept your bid:
You officially become a new member of Sigma Phi Society
You’ll begin attending events, meetings, and new member education sessions
You’ll begin building relationships with your new member class and the brothers of Sigma Phi
You’ll eventually go through initiation, becoming a full member of the Society and a Sigma Phi brother for life
This is where your experience with Sigma Phi really begins. You’ll build friendships, take on new responsibilities, participate in service and social events, and begin developing the relationships and leadership skills that will stay with you long after college.
-
Bid Day is a celebration, so come dressed in something comfortable and appropriate for spending time with the brothers and celebrating with your new member class.
A comfortable T-shirt, polo, or casual button-down
Shorts, pants, or casual jeans depending on the weather
Comfortable shoes that you can wear throughout the day
Keep accessories simple and easy to pair with whatever you receive or wear during the celebration
Pro tip: Come comfortable and ready to celebrate. Bid Day is about the experience, the people, and the beginning of your journey with Sigma Phi Society, not what you’re wearing.
-
Sigma Phi Society has a new member education program.
Once you accept a bid, you'll spend the next several weeks getting to know Sigma Phi from the inside. Our history, our values, the traditions that have held this house together for nearly two centuries, and the brothers you'll be living with. It's engaging, it's genuinely fun, and it ends with initiation. The whole process runs no longer than eight weeks.
It’s not just a bid. It’s the beginning.
A bid is more than an invitation to join a fraternity. It is the beginning of your journey as a Sigma Phi brother. It is the beginning of new friendships, new challenges, new experiences, and a brotherhood that can last a lifetime.
Come to recruitment with an open mind. Get to know the brothers. Let us get to know you. Take the time to decide whether Sigma Phi is where you belong, and give us the opportunity to recognize whether you belong here too.
Common
Questions
Answers to the questions we’re asked hear most often.
-
At Sigma Phi Society, there is no place for hazing. Hazing is contrary to our values, our commitment to brotherhood, and the kind of men we seek to recognize. It is prohibited in every form, whether physical, mental, emotional, or otherwise, and no member or new member is ever expected or required to participate in hazing as a condition of membership.
Our commitment is simple: we do not haze, we do not tolerate hazing, and we do not look the other way.
Every member and new member has a responsibility to uphold this standard. If you are asked to participate in an activity that you believe constitutes hazing:
Refuse to participate.
Do not allow yourself or another member to be subjected to hazing.
Report the activity immediately to a chapter officer or another trusted member who is not involved.
If necessary, report the incident through the appropriate Cornell University or organizational channels.
No one will be penalized for refusing to participate in or reporting hazing.
-
Rushing a fraternity is all about fit. You decide which fraternities are a good fit for you, and fraternities decide which rushees are a good fit for them. At Sigma Phi Society, we do our best to recognize our brothers-to-be. We believe the best way to discover that fit is by getting to know one another.
Our selection committee is made up of chairmen and members who get to know each rushee throughout the process. We encourage you to visit the chapter house, meet as many members as possible, and especially get to know members of the selection committee. The more time we spend together, the better we can determine whether Sigma Phi is the right fit for you and recognize the men who are the right fit for Sigma Phi.
If we think you are a good fit for Sigma Phi, we will let you know by inviting you back to events. Finalists will be invited to XXXX, and bids will be extended to a select group of men on the last day of rush.
-
The cost of joining our fraternity and being a member is $XXX,XXX each semester. Chapter dues fund each activity and amenity we have the luxury of offering. Every member, regardless of position or age, pays this obligatory expense. With this payment, you are entitled to all Society-related events, as well as the meal service we provide while school is in session.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served Monday through Thursday. One meal, brunch, is served on Friday.
For candidates this charge also includes all candidate and membership fees charged by our International Headquarters. -
Item description
-
Item description
-
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served Monday through Thursday. One meal, brunch, is served on Friday.
-
Item description
-
National dues: $75
Chapter dues: $50
-
Item description
-
Item description
-
Item description
-
Item description
Recruitment
2027
If you have any questions in the interim, please reach out to our VP of Recruitment
Greg Monte
gregorydmonte@gmail.com
