The Time to Stand Is Now

This summer, Sigma Alpha Epsilon announced We Stand Together, an interactive, educational endeavor that reaffirms the Fraternity has zero tolerance for hazing. We Stand Together contains several components, including multimedia and online resources. The Fraternity has created an exclusive section of the True Gentleman Initiative — our educational website at www.thetgi.net — for We Stand Together, which includes documents, presentations, tips, links and customizable tools on how to recognize and prevent hazing.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon strongly opposes hazing and is committed to creating a safe, meaningful environment and programming for all of its members. We Stand Together has also been introduced to undergraduate members, advisers and volunteers. The Fraternity will continue to send the message to colleges, universities, Greek-letter organizations and parents in an effort to promote anti-hazing education and programming year-round.

Some of the major components of We Stand Together include PowerPoint presentations, informational documents and action plans. The documents also include resources for alumni, parents and anyone who wants to gather more information. In addition to online quizzes and educational tools, We Stand Together also employs the use of Response Ability, a reality-style educational video package that brings viewers to understand how group dynamics can prevent people from taking action to stop dangerous or unhealthy behavior. For more information on We Stand Together or to provide your feedback, contact Director of Educational Programs Zach Rus at zrus@sae.net or at (847) 424-3032.

Here’s the Hotline. Write It Down

Sigma Alpha Epsilon, as part of We Stand Together, has a new anti-hazing hotline by which anyone on any campus or situation can report hazing anonymously. The new hotline number is 1-888-NOT-HAZE. Sigma Alpha Epsilon takes every message seriously, and this hotline number has been and will continue to be publicized for our membership, especially new members.

A Distinguished Roll Call

In 2009, Sigma Alpha Epsilon recognized five of its best with its highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award. The award recognizes loyalty, zeal and service to the organization above and beyond that of our everyday experiences. The noteworthy gentlemen who received the DSA this year include: Robert H. Banks Jr. (Southern Mississippi ’72), Kenneth E. Jernigan (West Florida ’71), John D. Kelley (Central Florida ’77), William Geary Mason (Louisiana State ’84) and J. Michael Scarborough (Salisbury ’76). As part of the award, each brother receives the DSA medallion, a lapel pin, a framed citation of accomplishments and a video tribute to his life. All of the video presentations can be found online at Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s YouTube page, located at www.youtube.com/SAEeditor.

Get on the Horn for Housing

For the past few years, Sigma Alpha Epsilon has promoted actively alongside other Greek-letter organizations its support of the Collegiate Housing & Infrastructure Act, or CHIA. The legislation we are rallying behind would allow alumni to make tax-deductible donations that can be used to improve all aspects of chapter housing — because current laws do not allow your donations to do so. To help us get our message out to lawmakers who do not support the legislation, the Capital Fraternal Caucus has created a Facebook application that allows users to petition their Congressman. If you have a Facebook profile, we strongly encourage you to join the Capital Fraternal Caucus page, located at www.cfcfacebook.com.

A New Address for Donations, a New Card for Donors

The Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation has a new location to which to address your gifts and donations. All donations should be sent to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation, P.O. Box 112, Evanston, IL 60204-0112. The old lockbox was closed as on July 1, 2009, so please throw away any return envelopes with the Eagle Way address. In addition, you can make your online donation anytime at www.sae.net/donate.

As an additional note, the Foundation’s new Loyal Donor membership-card program is currently underway. Every donor to the SAE Annual Loyalty Fund will receive a full-color card including his name, badge number and initiation date, as well as an embossed gold-leaf coat-of-arms and the words of “The True Gentleman” on the reverse side. Sigma Alpha Epsilon appreciates the loyalty and generosity of its members and friends.

To make a gift online and receive your card, visit www.sae.net/donate.

A Master Listing for the Masses

After embarking on the year-long directory project, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is pleased to announce the 2009 alumni directory is now complete. Members who ordered either the hard-bound version or the data disc should have received their copies in the mail. The directory lists as many of our 190,000 living alumni and their contact and professional information. For questions related to the directory or its distribution, contact Associate Executive Director of Communications Brandon Weghorst at bweghorst@sae.net or at (847) 424-3038.

Look Who’s Joined Us

The Fraternity recently colonized new groups in its continuing effort to bring college men into our fraternal experience. Our newest colonies include: Connecticut Nu- Eta at the University of New Haven, Maryland Beta at the University of Maryland-College Park, Massachusetts Iota- Tau at MIT, Massachusetts Sigma at Suffolk University, North Carolina Beta at the University of North Carolina- Charlotte, Texas Phi at Stephen F. Austin State University and Texas Sigma at Texas State University.

Awarding 2010 Member Scholarships

Applications for the 2010 Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation scholarships are now available and are due by February 1, 2010. Applicants are encouraged to make their transcript requests early this year to avoid processing delays. Last year, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation awarded more than $65,000 in scholarships to members who excelled in their respective fields of study or interest. For application forms and details, visit www.thetgi.net.

The One and Only Flag

This year, don’t miss the chance to get the only official Sigma Alpha Epsilon flag, available in both 3′ x 5′ and 4′ x 6′ sizes. It’s the perfect item for Fraternity events, tailgates and wall decoration in the chapter house. The flag is made from durable nylon, making it waterproof and less likely to wear. Don’t be fooled by imitations; this is the one-and-only SAE flag, as used by generations of brothers. To order the flag and to see all of Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s official merchandise, visit www.greekmarketplace.net/sae.