Sigma Stigmata

Collected by Amarantha S. Bissell (amarantha.s.bissell@vanderbilt.edu)

Summary: Inebriation leads to tricksters crucifying a frat boy.


Text: "When my father attended Vanderbilt, he was like a
Kappa Sig[ma]. So they like used to throw these huge parties, right?
Well, at this one, this Jewish guy in the frat passed out… and
supposedly in the sixties there was actually a charter that said that
Jewish guys couldn't be in Kappa Sigma, but they let him in anyway… so
yeah he gets really drunk and passes out and the brothers thought it
would be really cool if they crucified him, because it was the night
before Easter Sunday… so they go tie him to the cross in front of St.
Augustine's chapel. so in the morning, as everybody's coming into church
all dressed up and all, there's this naked drunk Jewish guy strapped to
the cross."

Notes:  I have heard many tales of fraternity incidents in my lifetime, but this
one was one of the strangest I've heard. Both my informant and I have
our doubts as to the accuracy of the story, as, in our experience,
fathers tend to embellish their stories of youth.

CONTEXT
A. Brief summary of tale: Inebriation leads to tricksters crucifying a
frat boy.
B. Tale type and motifs: Greek System; fraternity party incident.
C. Comments on tale: I have reservations about this tale due to it's
anti-Semitism. It seems like everyone talks about "the old days" like
they were cool, but i bet they're embellishing.
D. Approximate date informant first heard tale: "in about eighth grade"
E. Relationship of your informant with the individual from whom the
informant heard the tale: his daughter
F. Circumstances when tale was first heard: her mother was complaining
about how she didn't know anything about his college life so her father
told this story.
G. Information on informant:

Age: 19
Sex: Female
Place of birth: Vermont, USA
Ethnic group: Caucasian
Languages spoken: English, French
Religion: Methodist
Year in School: Sophomore
Extracurricular jobs: Learning Resource Center, WRVU
Date collected: September 11, 1998