Fraternities continue to follow in SigEp’s footsteps

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Fraternities continue to follow in SigEp’s footsteps:

Sigma Alpha Epsilon is the most recent fraternity to follow SigEp’s lead and replace pledging with a better fraternity experience.

On Friday, March 7, 2014, Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) became the most recent fraternity to replace pledging with single-tier membership. The news came as part of more sweeping changes that introduced a new, member development program: The True Gentleman Experience.

SAE’s True Gentleman Experience is based on “five cornerstones” that are similar to SigEp’s own philosophical tenets, elements that have been central to the Fraternity’s Balanced Man Program (BMP) since its inception in 1992.

SAE’s new program, the True Gentleman Experience, is being supported by a 43-page training manual, which introduces the program’s five cornerstones. These cornerstones, and the program at-large, mirror SigEp’s Balanced Man Program, its philosophical tenets, and its own 46-page manual, the Balanced Man Program Guide.

Recent Bloomberg and Insider Higher Education articles recognized SigEp as an early adopter of single-tier membership and continuous development. When SigEp first launched the Balanced Man Program, it represented a drastic departure from more familiar pledge programs as it sought to combat stereotypes associated with Greek life and return SigEp’s focus to its founding values. But in the two decades since the BMP’s launch, many fraternities have attempted to replicate the program.

SAE is the fifth member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference to remove pledging (along with SigEp, Lambda Chi Alpha, Alpha Gamma Rho, and Zeta Beta Tau), but several more, including Beta Theta Pi and Delta Upsilon, have adopted member development programs that share SigEp’s strong anti-hazing stance and emphasis on continuous development. Today, universities are demanding that fraternities evolve and adopt similar programs.

While SigEp’s transition was voted on by undergraduates and has been demand-driven since its inception, news of SAE’s own reform came as a surprise to many members when it was announced on Friday. Response from SAE members on their Facebook page shows that the fraternity will need to work to create buy in with alumni-volunteers and undergraduate brothers who must execute the program for it to succeed.  

One Facebook comment from an SAE alumnus expressed concern about the way the changes were rolled out, “to effectively change national policy without a vote, by effectively enacting a change by what amounts to an executive order... isn't the right way handle things, in my opinion.”

Still, other SAE alumni voiced support for the change, “I am very proud of our council. They had to know this move would be unpopular. This decision took the courage we wanted to see in the leaders of SAE when we elected them.”

SAE’s announcement that it will become the most recent fraternity to move in this direction creates new opportunities for SigEp to lead the Greek community. Many of SigEp’s chapters have already responded to SAE’s announcement with excitement, offering assistance to SAE chapters on their campuses. SigEp’s two-decade head start provides SAE with case studies and resources that will be helpful as they seek to implement a new development model.

Brothers at Southeast Missouri State spoke with a local CBS affiliate about the future of fraternities, a future that looks a lot like what SigEp has been doing for more than twenty years. Vice President of Communications T.J. Weber told reporters, “We call our guys new members as a blatant thing of respect.” He offered encouragement for other chapters on campus who might be considering a similar change, sharing that SigEp’s Balanced Man Program, and its emphasis on equal rights and responsibilities, “gives you more of that feeling of brotherhood.”

Getting the most out of house traditions - USU Statesman

The full article has several instances of traditions, but of course we wanted to showcase SigEp.

Getting the most out of house traditions - USU Statesman - Utah State University


USU fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon has a weekly tradition of its own — SigEp Sunday. Jake Taylor, a junior majoring in psychology,  is a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. He said SigEp Sunday originated six years ago in an effort to cast a better light on the fraternity.

“SigEp Sunday started so people would get over the fear of going to a fraternity house,” Taylor said. “We wanted people to see that it’s just fine and that they can come have a fun time and meet other people.”
Every Sunday, the SigEp boys make a dessert for their guests. Ice cream sundaes are often the go-to choice, but cookies and brownies are known to be in the mix as well.

“The number of people in attendance ance varies from week to week, but we usually have a solid 30-plus people,” Taylor said.

Taylor said inspirational quotes and interesting stories are read. The Larry H. Miller biography has been quoted, as well as passages out of the Quran and Gandhi enlightenment.

“This Sunday tradition is something that will continue on,” he said. “We will keep having SigEp Sundays now and in years to come.”

Frat carries tree 42 miles for AIDS

Frat carries tree 42 miles for AIDS | WIVB.com

Frat carries tree 42 miles for AIDS

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• Posted by: Liz Reiman
• FREDONIA, N.Y. (WIVB) - Brothers of SUNY Fredonia's Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity took part in the 12th annual Tree Trot today.
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• The students formed a relay to bring one tree from their Chautauqua County campus, 42 miles to Lafayette Square in Downtown Buffalo.
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• The Tree Trot was held specifically on AIDS Day to bring attention to young people with the disease.
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• Organizer of the event, Dan Korzak says, " We collect money, throughout Fredonia. We try to get donations from businesses, and it all goes toward youth AIDS, and get the awareness out."
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• Tuscany Market in Fredonia donated the tree which will be donated to a needy family here in Buffalo.

Good News: Frat Rallies Behind Cancer Battle - Video - KCCI Des Moines

Inspiring video story of a SigEp at Drake University:

Good News: Frat Rallies Behind Cancer Battle - Video - KCCI Des Moines

'60's Sig Ep Rock Band Reunites at Morningside College

Rock band reunites for Homecoming events
Joanne Fox
Bruce Springsteen sang about people who pined for their "Glory Days."

Morningside College alum Dan Horswell of South Euclid, Ohio, also had his glory days as a member of The 7 Sons rock band back in the 1960s.

Some four decades later, Horswell -- retired from Rockwell Automation as project manager in Information Technology -- is playing as much music today as he was back then.

"My wife Barbara and I are both involved with The Singing Angels, which is a performing chorus comprised of youth," he said. "I am also playing and singing in two Cleveland area bands with the emphasis on '50s and '60s rock and roll and early '70s Motown.

"I don’t know how I ever had time to work in the corporate world!" Horswell joked.

The 7 Sons return to Morningside next weekend and will be featured as part of the college's Homecoming/Family Weekend.

Horswell, a 1964 graduate of Armstrong (Iowa) High School, choose Morningside College for two reasons.

"My father had attended the college for one year in the 1930s and Morningside was a highly respected institution for music, both for performance and to become a music educator," he recalled. "I entered college as a declared instrumental music education major with the tenor saxophone as my primary instrument."

The 7 Sons met as pledges into the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. The core group was Rick Mellor, Rick Knobe and Horswell.

"We learned about each others' music background and playing in local rock and roll bands during high school days," Horswell said. "Early in the fall of 1964 we decided to express ourselves musically. The group formed as a result of our love of music."

Over a period of several weeks, the three musicians met the other four members, Doug Dingel, Alan Oliver, Bill Woolery and Ed Wade. Larry Dixon came to Morningside in the fall of 1965 and replaced Woolery as the drummer.

The group originally called themselves The Rising Sons.

"But we were informed that was an infringement on the rights for that name," Horswell said. "Another band had claimed it already. Since there were seven of us it was a natural progression from Rising to Seven."

The group's first engagement was the Morningside College Commons, early in 1965, Horswell said.

"We became local celebrities and that included a TV appearance in Sioux Falls that was a local 'American Bandstand' show, judging local band contests, modeling clothes for one of the large downtown department stores, and appearing at homecomings and multiple venues in the area," he reminisced. "I especially remember Heelan High's homecomings, Sioux City's auditorium, and several of the live music night spots downtown where we performed."

The 7 Sons cut numerous records and toured through the Midwest with national acts like The Lovin' Spoonful, Herman's Hermits and the Fifth Dimension. They performed actively until the late '60s when members began graduating and moving on. In 2002 The 7 Sons was named to the Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame for their diverse variety of rock, R&B, pop and cover tunes, plus choreography.

"I can tell you that Alan Oliver was a phenomenal dancer who brought the group to life with his choreography," Horswell said.

Does that mean a future gig on ABC-TV's "Dancing with the Stars?"

"That’s a wonderful thought," Horswell admitted, "but I think that age has caught up with us and we wouldn't be 'flashy' enough for television today."

If you go
Food, music and football will be part of Morningside College's Homecoming/Family Weekend,

The weekend features a ribs and chicken barbecue at the Lewis Bowl Annex, 3828 Stadium Drive, beginning at 6:30 p.m., Oct. 2. Rock and roll groups The Velaires will open at 7 p.m. for The 7 Sons who will take the stage at 8 p.m.

The football game against Dana College begins at 2 p.m. Oct. 3 at Olsen Stadium. "Taste of Morningside," featuring a number of food vendors, follows at 4:30 p.m. across from Dimmitt Hall. The Magnificent Board of Directors will provide music. Children's activities will be set up. A fireworks display will cap the events at 7:30 p.m.

More information can be found at the "Alumni & Friends" section of morningside.edu or by calling 274-5107.

SigEpic Releases Fall Shirt Designs

Gary Darna sent a message to the members of SigEpic.
Subject: Fall 2009 Semester, Now Available!

Just in time for heading back to campus for the fall we have released 5 new items. We now have American Apparel zip-up hoodies, a collared shirt embroidered with the SigEp Founder's Badge, and 4 new tshirts! See it all at sigepic.rockitim.com

As many of you know, we had a booth at the 51st Grand Chapter Conclave in Orlando, Florida. We want to thank everyone who placed an order and came to introduce themselves during the event, it was great to meet brothers from across the country. For those chapters that won a Buchanan Cup, your work over the past two years is inspirational for us all. Keep it up!

If you were unable to attend Conclave, then you missed a chance to purchase our exclusive SPEcial Edition shirt created in very limited quantities for the event. Titled "Leave Your Mark", we only made 200 of this shirt and we have a few left. We have put the last of our inventory for sale on our online store. Once they're gone, they'll never be printed again!

We are also pleased to announce that as a result of the positive response to SigEpic since our debut in May, we have raised over $2,200 for SigEp and chapters' Educational Foundation accounts. We hope to double this number over the next two months, so if you're looking to get some fresh apparel for the new school year, please visit our online store and make a purchase today.

As always, we appreciate your support and business. Now let's get busy for recruitment!

VDBL,
Gary Darna & Mike Gardner
Kentucky Eta / SigEpic

Editorial Note: Great quality shirts from the brothers from KY Eta!

Brother Drew Feustel - Sig Ep in Space

Sig Ep in Space
Norm Nabhan, Managing Director at Citigroup

Indiana Alpha Brother Drew Feustel recently returned from 12 days in space on the Space Atlantis repairing and restoring the Hubble Telescope. Dr. Feustel received his undergraduate dgree at Purdue and was active in the chapter. He also received his Masters Degree from Purdue in Geophysics and his PhD in Geologiccal Sciences from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. Prior to joing NASA he was an Exploration Geophysicist for Exxon Mobil in Houston.