Editing Sigma Pi (section)

===Patterson episode: how Sigma Pi got its name===
Robert George Patterson (no relation to the founder George M. Patterson) was inspired by [[William Jennings Bryan]]'s membership in the [[Sigma Pi literary society|Sigma Pi]] literary society at [[Illinois College]]. Unable to attend Illinois College, Patterson tried unsuccessfully to have the society expand to [[Ohio State University]] and contacted an unrelated fraternity at the [[University of Toronto]], also called [[Phi Kappa Pi|Sigma Pi]], about expansion. Failing at these, Patterson fabricated a history of Sigma Pi, claiming it was founded in 1752 at the [[College of William & Mary]] with members such as [[James Madison]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], and [[Robert E. Lee]]. He then contacted Tau Phi Delta, which accepted his fabricated history and consolidated under the Sigma Pi name.<ref name=IBelieve/>

[[File:William Jennings Bryan.JPG|thumb|upright|William Jennings Bryan]]

In 1909, Patterson's claims unraveled. The World Almanac listed Sigma Pi Fraternity, with its fabricated history and listing [[William Jennings Bryan]] as an alumnus. Bryan, a member of [[Delta Chi]] and the unrelated Sigma Pi literary society, informed the magazine of the error. Furthermore, [[William Raimond Baird]] rejected Sigma Pi Fraternity's request for inclusion in his directory. Baird wrote "all statements concerning the alleged origin of this society are inherently incredible." He suggested the story seemed to "be the product of a rather sophomoric imagination." Sigma Pi Fraternity, still unaware of Patterson's fabrications, appealed to Baird to reconsider. Baird refused and published an article criticizing Sigma Pi Fraternity. Patterson was expelled from Sigma Pi, and records bearing his name were deleted. The fraternity only later acknowledged this incident in its official history.<ref name=IBelieve/>

Following Patterson's expulsion, Sigma Pi had five chapters: [[Vincennes University]], [[University of Illinois]], [[Ohio State University]], [[Temple University]], and the [[University of Pennsylvania]]. The fraternity redesigned its badge, coat of arms, and ritual.<ref name=IBelieve/>