Senior Kyle Jones remembers being pushed around and intimidated by senior fraternity members. It's a legacy the men of Sigma Phi Epsilon are trying to erase.
But 81 years of tradition at the fraternity's UW chapter -- familiarly known as Sig Eps -- was difficult to break. When Sigma Phi Epsilon decided to adopt a progressive new-member program two years ago, all but seven of the house's 66 members left or were asked to leave.
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"I was pushed around by the older members and intimidated by the older members and told that I had to earn my keep here," Jones recalled. "And I didn't get a whole lot out of it. It wasn't a positive experience."
Sig Eps call its new system the Balanced Man program, focusing more on academic and professional success than traditional brotherhood-building activities.
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But the change in focus hasn't gone over well with everyone.
"People would say no, 'We have to haze, we have to haze,'" said Rastetter, one of few members there during the changes.
The change led to the departure of 59 members and a huge budget hole that had to be filled with alumni funds.
"Our breakeven numbers are about 55 [members], said Rastetter. "We still have a little ways to go."
Nobody ever said it was easy to change, only that change is inevitable.
--"We are BMP. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated"--
