Gamma Psi of Sigma Chi Sweethearts
Karen Sneideraitis Caserio '83
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I had the honor of being crowned the Sweetheart of Sigma Chi in 1983. Flashback to the night I was serenaded at my sorority house at 518 M.A.C. - a roomful of handsome Sigma Chi gentlemen, a dozen white roses, and the lyrics of the most popular college fraternity song in history sung especially to ME:
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Sigma Kappa, Alpha Tau Chapter, Sisters (l-r)
Karen Sneideraitis Caserio,
Susan Varbedian Lucken (Karen's "Big Sis”),
Rose Russell Sallen
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This famous song was written back in 1911 by two undergraduates at Albion College, Michigan. When asked about the song's interpretation, Byron D. Stokes said "The 'sweetheart' is the symbol for the spiritual ingredient in brotherhood. It was the Sigma Chi fraternity itself that inspired the song.” Stokes went on to explain, "I wrote the words not long after my initiation, and the magic of our Ritual with its poetic overtones and undertones.... was the source of my inspiration.”
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Although the song does not portray any one real woman (sorry Sweethearts!), Sigma Chi has enjoyed the support of many women through the years. A Chapter Sweetheart is chosen every year amongst local chapters and there is even an International Sweetheart. Quite simply, being a Sweetheart means that the guys like your company - and like you for you! It's said that if the Sweetheart was a guy, she'd be one of the brothers. I formed close relationships with many of the Sigma Chi brothers purely on a "friendship" basis. A valuable lesson learned was how to foster camaraderie without necessarily a romantic interest.
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I have fond memories of stopping by the Sigma Chi house on my way to class and always feeling welcome. If it was lunchtime, Rosie would be in the lower level kitchen cooking a mid-day meal. The guys sure adored Rosie! And who can forget crawling through a window to tan on the flat roof - with a fabulous view of Grand River Avenue! Or driving to Florida for spring break in a large van steered by our own Jonny Lytle - we had a flat tire after the first mile on our journey!
One of my best memories was attending the Sweetheart Ball in Grand Rapids on a snowy January night with my good friend, Tom Barnes. We were traveling in his tiny car on a slick highway doing “doughnuts."
I am grateful to have "grown up" beside my own brother, Christopher Sneideraitis, as well as other Sigma Chi brothers such as Paul Budek, Tom Chandler, Dan Germuend, Matt Mars, Tom McInerney, Bill Niergarth (R.I.P.), John Ripper, John Rometty, Nick Shebib, Mike Stout and many others. These guys, along with Jonny Lytle and Tom Barnes, all had my back and I will always appreciate them!
In closing, best of luck to Sigma Chi being reinstated at MSU. Please consider saying "YES" when asked to serve with other alumni to get the Gamma Psi chapter back on track. You are all the ingredients to a successful organization and it takes many hands. Your continued brotherly support will determine the direction of this chapter's goals and accomplishments in the near future.
Spartans Will!
Karen Sneideraitis Caserio, ‘84
Sigma Kappa Sorority - Alpha Tau Chapter
One of my best memories was attending the Sweetheart Ball in Grand Rapids on a snowy January night with my good friend, Tom Barnes. We were traveling in his tiny car on a slick highway doing “doughnuts."
I am grateful to have "grown up" beside my own brother, Christopher Sneideraitis, as well as other Sigma Chi brothers such as Paul Budek, Tom Chandler, Dan Germuend, Matt Mars, Tom McInerney, Bill Niergarth (R.I.P.), John Ripper, John Rometty, Nick Shebib, Mike Stout and many others. These guys, along with Jonny Lytle and Tom Barnes, all had my back and I will always appreciate them!
In closing, best of luck to Sigma Chi being reinstated at MSU. Please consider saying "YES" when asked to serve with other alumni to get the Gamma Psi chapter back on track. You are all the ingredients to a successful organization and it takes many hands. Your continued brotherly support will determine the direction of this chapter's goals and accomplishments in the near future.
Spartans Will!
Karen Sneideraitis Caserio, ‘84
Sigma Kappa Sorority - Alpha Tau Chapter
