Word: slade
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Because the Harvard chapter has considerable religious diversity, the “God clause” has been a controversial issue for the brothers here. “We pride ourselves on having members of different talents, temperaments and convictions,” says president Jared M. Slade ’03. Slade says his pledge class included Catholics, Buddhists, Mormons, atheists and members of various Protestant denominations...
...Slade recognizes the fraternity’s Christian past. When Sigma Chi was founded in 1855, the cross was immediately adopted as its symbol, with the accompanying motto, In Hoc Signo Vinces—in this sign you will conquer. Both the symbol and the phrase were taken from a legend about Constantine, the first Christian emperor of Rome, who supposedly saw a cross in the sky before going to battle...
Regardless of its religious past, Slade feels the fraternity’s modern justification for the clause is misguided. According to Slade, the fraternity now claims it is not trying to force all members to be Christian. Instead, it insists that by believing in a higher power, members will develop a strong set of values. Slade disagrees. “People can share values while having a wide range of religious beliefs and interests,” he says. Slade says he is skeptical of the fraternity’s claim that it was only attempting to foster integrity...
Despite the frustration of some members, Slade says the clause has not severely affected the Harvard chapter’s membership. He says that two students last year refused to sign the pledge form, but that they have been the only casualties in the chapter’s 10-year history...
...Personally, I have not had any relationship with the Pi Eta organization and harbor no negative feelings towards them. I have no inclination as to whether our paths will cross in the future,” Slade said...