South Dakota Sigma S i g m a A l p h a E p s i l o n February 2014 C h a p t e r & N a t i o n a l U p d a t e s NEWS FROM HQ Sigma Alpha Epsilon Announces Historic Change for Membership Experience [Press Release via Brandon Weghorst on March 7th, 2014] Evanston, IL Sigma Alpha Epsilon, under the leadership and direction of the Supreme Council, has made a historic decision that will realign the Fraternity to produce the original member s experience that our Founding Fathers envisioned. This change will adopt a continuous development of our members throughout their lives. Effective March 9, 2014, new-member (pledge) programming will be eliminated completely from our operations, and the classification of new member (pledge) will no longer exist. All chapters and colonies will be required to implement this important change. Our Supreme Council decided to enact this change between conventions in order to protect Sigma Alpha Epsilon s future and to eliminate a class structure between our new members and our active members. As an important historical reference, the concept of pledging did not exist in Noble Leslie DeVotie s original Ritual and Constitution. What we understand today as the new-member (pledge) program was not adopted by the Fraternity until the years following World War II. The new True Gentleman Experience will enhance the educational and leadership experience of our new members and build upon their development during each year of their collegiate tenure. The Supreme Council unanimously supports the program in order to ensure a more positive, meaningful membership for our collegiate members and alumni. From the moment a man joins Sigma Alpha Epsilon, he should take personal ownership of his Fraternity and play an active role in our future. The education of our members will shift form a new-member (pledge) term to a holistic educational period in which members lean about the Fraternity s values, mission, creed and history and develop personally over the course of their collegiate tenure. In addition, the goal is to provide the skills necessary for our members to excel in the professional world once they graduate. The New-member Educator or Pledge Educator will be replaced with a Member Educator, who will be responsible for the oversight of educational initiatives for his fellow members. Under the program, chapters and colonies may continue to recruit prospective members as they do currently. When they extend a bid, the college man who accepts the invitation will become a collegiate member. Within 96 hours of accepting his bid, the group must report him to the Fraternity Service Center, and he will be required to accept our Scope of Association Agreement and complete the Carson Starkey Membership Certification Program. Furthermore, every member will be expected to meet our membership requirements and expectations and, should he fail to do so, our Fraternity Laws provide the means to suspend or remove his membership. Sigma Alpha Epsilon s leadership understands that the implementation of the True Gentleman Experience will provide challenges as it is incorporated throughout our Realm. However, this change will strengthen our Fraternity... (story continues on page #2). B o a r d M e m b e r s James Payer II Joshua Houska Randy Voss Kyle Schoenfelder Ben Cahoy Justin Ebsen Andrew Weckman Regan Smith Tyler Gilliland Robb Nielsen Marcus Mahlen EA Upcoming Events March April 29th: Founders Day 5th: Dakotathon 5th: Province Tau Convention
(continued from page #1)..create highly positive opportunities to redefine membership, attract prospective members who otherwise might not join and lead the way among Greek-letter organizations as we recommit ourselves to our Founding Fathers original concepts and return to their intent for membership in the Fraternity. We highly encourage all of our members and volunteers to understand more fully the True Gentleman Experience by visiting www.sae.net/truegentlemanexperience. That special web page contains questions and answers in more detail to facilitate understanding the need for this change. Coyote Idol Brothers Kellen Hempel and Ethan Netz will represent SDSI in USD s Coyote Idol. Featured right are Kellen & Ethan. KELLEN Our Eminent Supreme Archon, Brad Cohen, has prepared a special video message that will be broadcast on Founders Day for the entire Realm. He addresses the True Gentleman Experience and the dawning of a new day and a new direction for Sigma Alpha Epsilon. We ask for the committed, full support of our members, both collegiate and alumni, as we embark on this historic change. Sigma Alpha Epsilon is a family, and we must strengthen our brotherly bond and vows in our original precepts in order to carry forth the Fraternity for the future. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Brad Cohen, Eminent Supreme Archon (Facebook, March 9th, 14) To all those that think the SC is wrong, consider this. Thursday afternoon, we received notification from JP Morgan who handles millions of our dollars informing us they would no longer do business with SAE as a result of all they have seen and read in the past few months. If a business who makes a lot of money off SAE dumps us, who would be next? Universities, Lloyd s of London? I am convinced we are doing the right thing. I d rather have no pledge programs than no fraternity. Thank you to the thousands who are supporting the Supreme Council and the new True Gentleman Experience. Change is not easy but like we have done in the past, we will get through this better and stronger than before. PA Windows Superbowl Competition Dan DeBoer entered a contest to feature the best Superbowl Party. The SAE Party ended up winning the $400 prize as the biggest Superbowl party that entered. TG s Of The Week Below Left to Right: Ryan Boyd, Matthew Glanzer, and William Lewis. ETHAN Kappa Alpha Theta Social On March 1st, 2014, the men of SDSI hosted a decades social with the women of Kappa Alpha Theta. Each room was a decade and dressed accordingly. Spring Sigma Report The Chapter is looking into completing a 2014 Spring Sigma Report to be released soon.
STROLLERS 2014 Results: 1st: Alpha Phi, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Kappa Alpha (Theme Disney) 2nd: Kappa Alpha Theta, Phi Delta Theta, Tau Kappa Epsilon (Theme How I Met Your Mother) 3rd: Pi Beta Phi, Delta Tau Delta, Phi Delta Theta (Theme Vegas & The Hangover) 4th: Alpha Xi Delta, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Lambda Chi Alpha (Theme Rock of Ages) Best Band Rock of Ages Best Backdrop Disney Best Costumes Disney GDI Cast No Show, yet again.
SkyZone Brotherhood Event On February 8th, 2014, roughly 30 members traveled to SkyZone in Sioux Falls, SD, for a brotherhood event. During this event, they set goals for their respected positions and was able to meet Ted Muenster. Pictures featured top left going clockwise: Joey Snyder, Tom Bickett, Ryan Boyd, Kasey Hoff, Marcus Mahlen & Taber Baldwin
Scholarship On February 27th, University of South Dakota Sorority and Fraternity Greek Life recognized students who scholastically achieved 3.5 4.0 grade point averages. Those who earned 3.50 3.99 GPAs were able to walk across the court during half-time, while those who achieved a 4.0 had their name announced for the crowd. SAE had 11 4.0 s and 16 in between the 3.5 3.99 GPA range. IFC Recruitment IFC hosted Spring Recruitment on Thursday, February 13th & Friday, February 14th from 11am 2pm in the MUC. Strollers Featured below is President Chris Jahr, left (Senior) and tap Brandon Schweitzer (Sophomore), right. Paddy Murphy Week March 3rd March 6th Monday: Head Shaving Contest Tuesday: BBQ Feed Wednesday: Bowling Thursday: Talent Show / Paddy s Girl