Bro. Jones, Bro. Dixon, and Soror Thorsteinsson reveal their new brands.

Branding provides the members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity with a lifetime reminder of what their brotherhood means to them. By scorching their left shoulders with a brand of the sigma, a Greek letter, their values of brotherhood, scholarship and service are physically a part of them.
"Since I'm a lifetime member, I wanted something to show loyalty," said Willie Pritchett, who was branded a year ago.

For Brandon Cosby, the chapter president, the brand serves as a reminder. "When I'm 80, I want to still look at it," said Cosby, who is a senior in the Schools of Engineering. When Cosby was branded one night in December 1997, the evening was full of emotion because the fraternity had acquired new members. "When I did it, it was like a ceremony," he said.

Branding is listed in the Purdue hazing brochure, which is published by the Dean of Students Office, as a form of hazing.

"Anything physical you require a pledge to do is hazing," said Andrew Robison, the assistant dean of students. He also said branding is not socially acceptable on the national fraternity level. "They say the same thing about tattoos," said Robison.

In Phi Beta Sigma, individuals can only be branded after they are members. Derek Smith, a member of Phi Beta Sigma, was branded four months ago. Three years before, Smith got a tattoo of his childhood hero and track nickname, Spiderman.

"I consider my tattoo to be a part of my personality. I'm like Spiderman; I want to reach out and help people," said Smith, who is a junior in the School of Liberal Arts. "The brand is what I consider what I'm striving to be.

"Once I became a Sigma, my self-esteem became real high," he said. "It's a reminder to let me know I can accomplish the impossible." Smith and his brothers focus on their organization's principles of brotherhood, scholarship and service. In the spring of 1998, the fraternity had the highest cumulative grade point average.

"There's a lot of stuff in the media that some of the young black men don't accomplish a lot," said Smith. "We're able to socialize, make the grade and do service projects. There are black men out there who are doing something with their life."

At the age of 20, Smith is the CEO of D. Smith Enterprises. Smith's company assists young musical artists.

"I help find talent and I help them build a repertoire," said Smith, who wants to own an entertainment distribution. Smith applies the scholarship of being a Phi Beta Sigma to his business. When Smith was branded, there were five people present: himself, the brander, two observers and another brother who was branded.

A graduated member brought the brand Phi Beta Sigma uses to Purdue from Georgia. The brand is heated on the stove and applied for three seconds on the left shoulder. There is a chance the brand may not turn out.

Pritchett, a senior in the School of Technology, is disappointed that he is a good healer. His quick healing left little evidence of a brand. The men of Phi Beta Sigma said the actual branding was not painful. However the healing process was a real stinger.

"My tattoo hurt worse," said Cosby. "Most people think branding hurts more than it did."

Sarah Sayger, a clinical director at the Purdue Student Health Center, said those being branded are so psyched up that they may psychologically override the pain. Sayger said most branding results in a second-degree burn, but third-degree burns do occur from using the metal. These burns burn the nerve endings.

"If the healing goes well, they've done less damage to their skin then a sunburn," said Sayger. The branded members said they used various means to clean their brands from Neosporin to soap and water.

"The long-term effects of tanning are more severe then the long-term effects of branding," said Sayger. "The scarring tissue is much more severe and puts people at risk than, say, tattooing or piercing." Within the last five years, the health center has only treated two individuals for infected brands.

The local Phi Beta Sigma chapter has 12 members - eight undergraduate members and four graduates. Not all of the members are branded.

Adam Cornell, a senior in the School of Liberal Arts, has been a member for almost a year and he has declined being branded.

"I'm not against it. I just have decided not to," said Cornell, a former hurdler on the men's track team. He said there is a possibility that he will acquire a brand. "Everything the frat stands for means a lot to me."

The Phi Beta Sigma brothers have heard different origins of branding. Smith said branding was used as a form of ownership in slavery. "But branding goes back way before that," he said. In Africa, some tribes branded a male child as he stepped into adulthood.

Branding isn't limited to African-American organizations. Other houses refused comment. Also, not all organizations in the Black Greek Council participate in branding. The council has no official position on branding, according to Candice Hightower, the president of the Black Greek Council.

"I really can't speak for the whole council; there are six organizations," said Hightower. "Personally, it's another way for organizations to show their pride." She shows pride for her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, by wearing her letters or representing the sorority with her service. "I wouldn't get a tattoo or a brand," said Hightower, who is a senior in the School of Liberal Arts.

There are four sororities and two fraternities in the Black Greek Council. Hightower said she doesn't know of any sororities that participate in branding. "I've never seen females with a brand," she said. "I see more females with tattoos."

Delta Sigma Theta, an African-American sorority that is part of the Black Greek Council, does not practice branding. "Branding is outlawed and against protocol and tradition," said Patrice Petty, the chapter president. "It defaces the body and the name of the organization. It doesn't highlight the organization, its principles and beliefs through branding an individual." Petty, a senior in the Schools of Engineering, said the sorority's principles are sisterhood, scholarship and service.

Smith said he does receive some negative comments about his brand.

"A lot of people don't know what it means," Smith said. "A lot of people question why you're in a Greek organization and they don't understand what it means. Each has its advantages and disadvantages."

Dated February 10, 1999