Welcome!
Sigma Alpha Mu, widely referred to as "Sammy", is a historically Jewish fraternity founded in 1909 at the College of the City of New York. Currently there are about 50 active chapters nationwide. The Psi Chapter began in December 1919, it is currently one of the fastest growing fraternities at the University of Pittsburgh. We are a rapidly growing fraternity having gone from 6 brothers just half a decade ago, to 24 today. Sammy won "Most Improved Chapter" from the Pitt IFC for this past year and we hope to maintain this momentum going forward. At our National Convention Psi Chapter won 'Largest Percentage Increase in Members for 2010-2011'. Our advisor Nate Locklin also took home the 'Advisor of the Year' award. Greg Piccolomini was runner up for 'Recorder of the Year' and Josh Bart was runner up for 'Vice Prior of the Year'. Sammy is the fastest growing fraternity at Pitt and we're only just getting started.
National History
In the fall of 1909, the sophomore class at the College of the City of New York had found itself embarrassed by "lowly freshmen". At a school where "warfare" between freshman and sophomore class was a tradition, the sophomores found it necessary to regain their fallen honor. Class Marshal Lester Cohencalled a meeting of sophomore leaders on November 26, 1909 to decide on a plan for redemption. Eight appeared- Cohen, Hyman Jacobson , Adolph I. Fabis, Samuel Ginsburg, Abram N. Kerner, Jacob Kaplan, Ira N. LInd, and David D. Levinson, who are now known as the Founders of Sigma Alpha Mu.
It is interesting to note that while there were many friends among the eight, none of them knew all the others. During the discussion which took place, much loftier ideals were expressed than the mere formulation of plans for asserting sophomore honor. The men discovered that they held many ideals in common, and the inspiration for the formation of a new fraternity came to them. During this meeting, it was suggested that the Greek Letters "Kappa Phi Omega" be used to symbolize the words "Cosmic Fraternal Order" as the new name for the fraternity. This proposal was accepted and the meeting was adjourned.
A second meeting was held a week later. It was found necessary to revise the name of the fraternity because several members had inadvertently made public the chosen name. Ginsburg then suggested a motto which was unanimously adopted and which has since remained the Fraternity motto. From that time the Fraternity was known as Sigma Alpha Mu.
The new Fraternity settled down to the accomplishment of the ideals which had promoted its creation. It was its aim to prove to the outside world that criticism and objectives leveled against fraternities in general-specious though many of those arguments may have been-were not applicable to Sigma Alpha Mu. The founders decided to plan and grow along lines different from those of existing fraternities.
It is interesting to note that while there were many friends among the eight, none of them knew all the others. During the discussion which took place, much loftier ideals were expressed than the mere formulation of plans for asserting sophomore honor. The men discovered that they held many ideals in common, and the inspiration for the formation of a new fraternity came to them. During this meeting, it was suggested that the Greek Letters "Kappa Phi Omega" be used to symbolize the words "Cosmic Fraternal Order" as the new name for the fraternity. This proposal was accepted and the meeting was adjourned.
A second meeting was held a week later. It was found necessary to revise the name of the fraternity because several members had inadvertently made public the chosen name. Ginsburg then suggested a motto which was unanimously adopted and which has since remained the Fraternity motto. From that time the Fraternity was known as Sigma Alpha Mu.
The new Fraternity settled down to the accomplishment of the ideals which had promoted its creation. It was its aim to prove to the outside world that criticism and objectives leveled against fraternities in general-specious though many of those arguments may have been-were not applicable to Sigma Alpha Mu. The founders decided to plan and grow along lines different from those of existing fraternities.
