SING RULES, PROCEDURES, and FORMS The Rules have been compiled by consensus of the Sing Coordinating Council, and the fraternity and sorority representatives.  Recent changes include openness to alumni participation  and 1986 as threshold year for defining "pop" songs.   The Application is in Word form at Facebook, so you can edit the application for submission. Note the April 26, 2011 deadline. above- Alpha Omicron Pi photo by Dan Dry, U of C Development and Alumni Relations

Rules for the 2011 Interfraternity Sing 2011 Rules for IF Sing

HISTORY The tradition of an open-air song festival has been longstanding at Chicago and will soon be a century old. Few colleges and universities have events of comparable age. The first University Sing at Chicago took place in June 1911. It replaced a less successful endeavor known as the Senior Sing, which did not survive because of the lack of permanence in its participants. In contrast, the University Sing thrived because of its natural attraction to fraternity alumni who would return year after year in the spirit of friendly competition and dedication to the University. The Sing incorporated the tradition of fraternal groups marching down the street toward their final destination--the fountain in Hutchinson Court--while singing their individual fraternity songs. It was also customary to hold Sing in the evening, rain or shine, with hanging lanterns illuminating the court. Other Sing traditions included the presentation of Order of the C blankets and emblems to student athletes, and, of course, the award of trophies for quality singing and quantity of members among the fraternities. In 1916, some 20 fraternities participated, each numbering over 100 in membership. By 1922, the popular event had come to be known by its current name, the Interfraternity Sing, and included nearly 30 fraternities. More than 18,000 fraternity actives and alumni participated that year. At the IF Sing of 1930, representation remained in the thousands. Today's IF Sing has evolved to reflect both these traditions and the changing student body. The most notable development over the years is the inclusion of women. Although several local women's clubs, akin to sororities, existed at Chicago for over 60 years, it was not until 1986 that Alpha Omicron Pi became the first national sorority to participate at IF Sing, joined by Kappa Alpha Theta in 1987. While this marked the participation of sororities, they were not eligible to compete for the various awards until the early 1990's. IF Sing has endured at Chicago, notwithstanding intervening wars, societal shifts, and institutional changes in the University that have affected fraternity representation on campus. Campus Greeklife continues to expand in the new century. In renewed celebration of this honored tradition, we should recall Donald R. Richberg's reflections after the 1911 Sing: "Its successful continuance is assured from the realization by undergraduates and alumni that here is not a made-to order tradition which will need artificial stimulation, but a genuine institution, which has a reason for being, and a right to a long life because of its service to the University." -Jessie A. Wang-Grimm (AOII) AB '90   2010-11  marks a quarter-century of National Panhellenic Conference sororities at the U of C.

SING COORDINATING COUNCIL    The Sing Coordinating Council took over the planning and management of the Intrafraternity Sing in 2000 from the Interfraternity Council. The Sing had been moved around campus in the 1980s and 1990s, including afternoon events in a tent on the quads and on the steps of the Crerrar Library. A group of singing alums wished to restore the tradition of the evening event we know in Hutchinson Court, and continuing the benefit of including the new sororities on campus to compete.     In 2006, our chairman Greg Miaecki was presented with the University of Chicago Young Alumni Service Citation in recognition of his outstanding in service.    Both students and graduates have been welcome on the Sing Coordinating Council. Greg Miarecki (Delta Kappa Epsilon) (Chair) Jessie Wang-Grimm (Alpha Omicron Pi) (Co-Chair -- Publicity) Emilee Lales (Delta Gamma) (Co-Chair -- Trophies) Kate Volzer (Delta Gamma)  (Co-Chair -- Rules and Judges) Michael Peters (Delta Kappa Epsilon) (Co-Chair -- Program) Rick Rayfield (Phi Gamma Delta) (Co-Chair -- Website) Lori David (Kappa Alpha Theta) (Co-Chair- Social Media)  Adam Brunk (Delta Upsilon) Evan Cudworth (Psi Upsilon) Roger Deschner (Alpha Delta Phi) Bernie Del Giorno (Phi Gamma Delta) Mehvish Mirza (Alpha Omicron Pi)  Lee Solomon (Alpha Epsilon Pi)      Above left, Psi Upsilon singing to Judges under umbrellas, photo by Dan Dry; and above right, U of C President Don Randel and Sing Chairman Greg Miarecki at the 2003 IF Sing photo by Chris Albanis