1956 Congressional Record

“Workshop in Democracy”

A Revolutionary Start

Gamma Sigma was founded in 1946 by a group of veterans from World War II. They came into a time when fraternal organizations were exclusively for white christian males. Fraternal organizations bought into the concept of mediocre student performance and elaborate hazing rituals that would otherwise degrade the fellow man.

The founders of Gamma Sigma wanted an environment where they could share war stories and support each other after the traumatizing war. They found other fraternal organizations as foolish and established “The Lay Back and Whack it Club.” There were no requirements to join, which allowed the fraternal organization to break many barriers in collegiate life.

Before the 50s even began, Gamma Sigma had a membership of Filipinos, African Americans, and Chinese. The Civil Rights era had yet to begin, and Gamma Sigma elected a black president. For the founders and early members they did not see this as a big deal. But soon after Union Street became a very hostile zone for this revolutionary fraternity.

By 1956 Elenaor Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, among other prominent politicians highlighted the significance of Gamma Sigma on the floor of congress. Although the Civil Rights Bill was far from passed, they imagined if the world could only be like this small fraternity in New Jersey.

Since Gamma Sigma did not have any requirements for entry, women soon joined the fraternity a year before Rutgers admitted its first woman. This revolutionary event, put Gamma Sigma across national news as the first coed fraternity in the nation. Many balked and soon legal challenged arose. But Gamma brothers and sisters fought back and paved the way for the concept of a coed fraternity to be alright.

Gamma Sigma still stand over sixty years strong in the little blue house on union street. Although challenges erupted in the past, Gamma has grown in numbers and in strength. Gamma still provides an environment where students at Rutgers have the chance to live and work with people very different from themselves.

The little blue house will always remain one step ahead of society and one step ahead of lifetime education.

History