TO BELIEVE IN THE LIFE OF LOVE; to win in the fresh morning of our youth the loyal love of faithful friends, who will go with us unmoved into the darkening shadows of life's closing day; and so to seek and to find, to have and to hold the friendships that will abide. To think of God as the common Father of all men, and all men as a common brotherhood, thus recognizing the continuity of the Divine and the solidarity of the human life. To build somewhere in the wide world the sheltering walls of a home, however humble and obscure, where Love shall glorify the wife, Duty enshrine the mother, and Affection ennoble the child. To keep green the sainted memory of our loved and lost, their faults forgotten, their virtues enshrined in our hearts forever. To try bravely to do unto our fellow men as would they do unto us, reckoning not their lineage nor their wealth, but esteeming their manhood above their badge of rank. To let our lives be led by the spirits of Gentleness, Justice and Mercy. And so to be true to the Knighthood of Love.
TO WALK IN THE WAY OF HONOR; to exalt the fundamental virtues of the race; and, prizing every noble impulse, to realize so deeply the baseness of deceit, that no obligation will be more binding than our plighted word. To be steadfast in the performance of every trust, and, spurning the gaudy gifts of greed and power, to be content to live by our knightly vow that our honor is dearer to us than our lives; and so to esteem the man's character first, his culture second, and his pedigree not at all, unless he be worthy of it. Emulating the chivalrous deeds of courtesy, and sealing not our hearts against the touch of tenderness, to win the love and care of some incorruptible woman. And so to be loyal to the Knighthood of Honor.
TO SERVE IN THE LIGHT OF TRUTH; to open wide, Life's windows to the revelations of heaven and earth. Avoiding the Phariseeism that belittles the soul and scorning the bigotry that blights the mind, to respect every altar of faith built in God's name, by every sincere worshiper to whom, if we cannot give our sympathy, we shall not deny the kindness of our manly silence; and, whatever our creed, to reverence the Christ as the Divine Compassion for struggling humanity -- a compassion that, giving the world its gospel of human service, saves men to the end that they may serve their fellowmen.
To seek in nature, the meaning of the Infinite Truth; to understand that the laws of growth are the laws of God; to believe that the melody of birds, the laughter of children, the unmeasured sacrifice of motherhood, and the ceaseless yearning of all men for a wider outlook and a nobler existence are prophetic of the perfect joy and love of another world; and, so believing, to find rest, as in the shadow of a great rock, against all the storms that beset us; catching from the silence of the starlit nights, the peace of the autumn days, the solemnity of the boundless seas, that spirit of Hope and Faith which soothes the hurt of grief, heals the wound of wrong, and calms the fever of doubt.
To welcome the achievements of art and science, religion and learning, labor and law, under whose radiant banners battle the hosts of progress; honoring every honest student as the benefactor of his race, and every consecrated school as a bulwark of the Republic; and so to be loyal to the American university, as the home of American liberty, democracy, religion, and culture.
To guard with jealous care not only ancient rights of human freedom, in whose name we shall destroy all wrong and oppression, but also the newer rights of social service, the ultimate purpose of whose ministrations shall be to give to every life, the opportunity to enjoy the earth in the fullness of its beauty and grace, its comfort and good cheer; holding fast to the conviction that whatever sweetens our natures, uplifts our ideals, strengthens our characters and disenthralls our spirits, will bring us in the end into the full stature of a noble manhood; and, so inspired, to cling to the visions of our youth, and, despite the sordid struggles of the selfish world, to practice every day, as lads in college, and men in the world, the Faith of our Fraternity, thinking of it not only as the inspiring Ideal of a militant Brotherhood, but also as creative force for the spiritual development of men, whose lives it shall dedicate to Love, glorify with Honor, and conquer for Truth. And so to be faithful to the Knighthood of Truth.

............Sigma Nu at UCLA is not a fraternity. It is not a House. It is not a pledge class. It is not an individual. It is a life changing experience that helps to shape young men into well-balanced leaders. It is an opportunity for people to grow and achieve academically, socially, and in any other number of ways. It is a place where many people have met their lifelong friends and business networks. Sigma Nu has become an entity that continues to exert a positive influence on its brothers’ lives long after they graduate. However, this environment was not manufactured overnight, but is the result of Epsilon Pi’s long and rich history.
............When this chapter was first formed at UCLA in the 1920s it was not yet associated with any national organization and used the name Alpha Delta Tau (ADT). After nearly ten years of existence, the fraternity became officially affiliated with Sigma Nu on November 7, 1930. Dubbed the Epsilon Pi chapter of the national fraternity (based upon the order they joined), Sigma Nu was led by their first Eminent Commander, Everett T. Plumer. One of the first, major goals of the chapter was to secure housing on a newly developing fraternity row. In the late 1930s, architect Kurt Radon-Meyer designed a Norman-style building for the fraternity. The house was completed in 1940 and Sigma Nu was finally able to move into the building they still call home over seventy years later. The house’s central location, on the corner of Strathmore and Gayley, has proved very advantageous with its close proximity to campus, the dormitories, downtown, sorority row, and the other fraternities. Since the house was originally built, many improvements have been made to it. Both “new wing hall, constructed in 1955, and the “hole hall,” built in 1964, were added to provide additional rooms to meet the demands of the growing chapter. Other amenities, such as the sundeck and basketball court, were built by members of the chapter to make their home more comfortable.
............Over time, Epsilon Pi has garnered a reputation for developing athletic, campus, and business leaders as well as being a community leader as a chapter. While Sigma Nu always has a large percentage of its membership involved in UCLA’s various collegiate sports, they are particularly proud of their many members who have excelled in these sports brining honor both to the school and the fraternity. This would include distinguished brothers such as Gary Cunningham and Rick Neuheisel. Brother Cunningham was one of the stars of UCLA’s basketball team during the early 1960s and was UCLA’s leading scorer in the 1962 NCAA tournament. He would later become John Wooden’s top assistant during UCLA’s sting of championship runs and eventually became the school’s head coach from 1977-1979 where he compiled a 50-8 record and two “AP #2” rankings before voluntarily leaving the position. Nearly twenty years after Cunningham stopped playing, Brother Neuheisel became both a school and chapter legend by leading the UCLA football team to 45-9 Rose Bowl victory over Illinois and being named the game’s MVP in 1984. The chapter is proud to have Brother Neuheisel as the current head coach of UCLA football.
............Sigma Nu has also had a proud tradition of developing campus and business leaders. The chapter has always had members active in the school’s student government (USAC), the fraternity government (IFC), the school newspaper (Daily Bruin), and other prestigious school positions. This has aided the house in cultivating a successful alumni network. During each generation, Sigma Nu has been proud not only of the number of successful alumni they have had, but also the variety of fields that members have succeeded in. Examples of this diversity can be found through the achievements of Brothers Atkinson, Easton, Meidel, and Nevin. Barney Atkinson was one of Epsilon Pi’s earlier members. However, after graduation he distinguished himself by becoming UCLA’s Dean of Students, where he was a strong advocate for the Greek Community. Brother Atkinson’s effort and support played a large role the Community’s survival during the 1960s and 1970s. Greg Easton is the current owner of “Easton Sports,” a major company well-known for their quality athletic equipment, particularly baseball supplies. Greg Meidel achieved his success in the entertainment business. He served as the President of FOX Television during the period when FOX became known became regarded as a legitimate network. He eventually left FOX for an executive position at Universal. Jerry Nevin has made Sigma Nu proud with his accomplishments in sports management. He is currently the Director of Football Operations at Washington. While Epsilon Pi boasts many more successes, these Brothers are great examples of the diversity of fields in which members have become prominent.
The Epsilon Pi chapter has also served as a community leader among the Greek Chapters, being at the front of many important movements. During the Civil Rights movement, the Epsilon Pi chapter led the struggle to change Sigma Nus national charter and end institutional discrimination within their system. The house, which has always been very diverse, was vehement in their fight against prejudice. Sigma Nu was also among the first chapters (if not the first) to eliminate the practices “hazing” and “Hell Week,” since these practices were both unnecessary and against the fraternity’s tenets of “love, truth, and honor.”
............Epsilon Pis are also proud of their long history serving as a model chapter both with the national fraternity and in the local community. Looking at any year, one can see that the chapter has traditionally had a higher GPA than the all-men’s or all-fraternity (usually the higher of the two) GPA, several IM sports titles, a strong and dedicated membership, and a good relationship with the university. However, these efforts were most recognized when the national fraternity recognized Epsilon Pi as a “Rock Chapter,” the fraternity’s highest honor, from 1985-1987. The chapter is currently up for the award again and should Epsilon continue its tradition of excellence, Eminent Commander Mike Exner should bring another award home from Grand Chapter this summer.
............Sigma Nu also has a well-known Philanthropic and Social history. Improving the local community has always been a priority at Epsilon Pi. Besides participating in events sponsored by other organizations, the chapter regularly contributes to the community in three ways. First, Sigma Nu’s annual Christmas Party is organized to benefit Toys-For-Tots, bringing in hundreds of toys a year for underprivileged children. Another annual project is the house’s Spring Outreach Program. This consists of hands-on service within the greater Los Angeles area. For three weekends in spring quarter, a different group of Brothers will go to different, marginalized areas of the community and offer their assistance. This might include events such as improving the aesthetics of a low-income school, giving bagged lunches to the homeless, spending an afternoon with the elderly, or some other similarly themed project. Finally, Epsilon Pi’s active alumni organization makes a yearly donation to the UCLA Scholarship Fund. Sigma Nu is also proud of its funding and involvement in the building of the Memorial Activities Center (Pauley Pavilion) in 1964.
............Sigma Nu’s social tradition is equally impressive. Aside from the legendary parties, date parties, raids/exchanges, and dinners that Epsilon Pi is a part of every year, there are two major events that they are known for. These are the chapter’s White Rose Formal and San Felipe Weekender. The White Rose Formal is often referred to as the classiest event on the row. During the middle of Winter Quarter the chapter spends a weekend in some fashionable location with the event culminating in a giant, ballroom formal on the second night. Parents are encouraged to attend the event, making it a memorable occasion with both a Brother’s family and friends. The used to be held at local clubs and hotels, such as the Bel Air Country Club, but in the late 1980s, the chapter started the tradition of leaving Los Angeles for the weekend. Since then the White Rose Formal has been celebrated in places like San Francisco, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, and Coronado Island. The San Felipe Weekender occurs every spring quarter between midterms and finals. It serves as one last opportunity to travel and relax before buckling down for those aforementioned finals. The trip involves bussing about one-hundred twenty Epsilon Pis and their closest friends to a resort on the beach in San Felipe. This trip’s history is the opposite of the White Rose Formal. Each year the chapter would try to out-do the year before by finding a better and more exciting setting for the trip before the house finally settled on San Felipe as the permanent location.
............The final and most intangible quality that has been a major factor in the chapter’s history is their brotherhood. The house has always had a “unique diversity” that includes not only people of varying races and ethnicities, but also a rare mix of athletes, scholars, leaders, liberals, conservatives, surfers, technology-oriented people, and “independent” thinkers. The chapter has always gained strength through this diversity as it provides Epsilon Pi’s Brothers with an opportunity to be exposed to and learn from people who they might not have met if they had not joined the fraternity. Brotherhood is the central theme and primary goal in all of the chapter’s acts. Sigma Nu may be known for their social, athletic, and academic achievements, but in the future, as one’s memories of intramural glory and late night socializing start to fade, the friendships made at Epsilon Pi remain as strong as ever. This can be seen in the large social networks that remain long after Sigma Nu’s Brothers graduate. Aside from the day-to-day activities that bring friends together, Sigma Nu alumni still show their brotherhood at various events. At most UCLA football games, particularly away games, the largest non-student contingent is Sigma Nu alumni. Also, many of the alumni reunite at an annual golf tournament ran by some of those distinguished alums. As was written before, Sigma Nu is not a fraternity. It is not a House. It is not a pledge class. It is not an individual. It is a life changing experience that helps to shape young men into well-balanced leaders. It is an opportunity for people to grow and achieve academically, socially, and in any other number of ways. It is a place where many people have met their lifelong friends and business networks. Sigma Nu is a way of life.