Sigma Alpha Epsilon - Indiana University

Indiana Gamma Chapter Brothers reUnited for homecoming 2013 T he collegiate chapter, Alumni Association, and House Corporation were proud to join together to host an incredible Homecoming celebration last November. All SAEs recognize that Homecoming is the perfect time to reconnect with old and new friends; rediscovering our beloved Indiana Gamma. It was wonderful to share this event with our friends and families who were welcomed with open arms into our new house on North Jordan. The event kicked off with a luncheon barbecue in the house dining hall. This was coupled with a hosted/catered bar serving beer and wine which was authorized by special permit from Indiana University. We expect that we will continue to have this privilege in the future, thanks to an outstanding relationship with Indiana University. The collegiate brothers were kind enough to relocate their cars to permit event parking for our alumni guests at the house. Additional off-site parking was also made available with a dedicated SAE shuttle service (every 20 minutes) by a bus company to support the flow of guests from off- site parking to the house and then to the game. Once the luncheon came to a close, the Alumni Association hosted a tailgate that encouraged the good times to continue! This was a great event that was enjoyed by all! One of the highlights of the luncheon was the presentation of the newly created Bob "Badger" Bryan True Gentleman Award. The award shall be made each spring, upon a vote of the active chapter, to the collegiate member who best exhibits the ideals of the True Gentleman in his daily words and deeds. This award is in the form of a engraved plaque, bearing the likeness and story of Bob Bryan '63. This plaque will display the names of its recipients over the many years to come. We are deeply appreciative to all of those who worked to make Homecoming such a great success. We are also grateful for all of the alumni, friends, and family that made this event so special to each of us who attended. We look forward to seeing you there next year, don't miss out on the fun! Phi Alpha, Brandon "Chase West" Bennett '10 INGA House Corporation Communication Chairman Indiana Gamma New Member Retreat Creates Lasting Bonds T he Indiana Gamma Chapter prides itself on providing enriching programs for its members. One such event is the new member retreat at the Bradford Woods Outdoor Center. The focus of this retreat is on building strong bonds among our new member classes through teambuilding exercises and deep personal reflection. This experience is the cornerstone of our new member education program. Throughout the new membership period, active members preach the importance of having a strong brotherhood, but it is not until the retreat that new members begin to understand how it will impact their lives. When asked about his experience Jordan Blessinger said, "The new member retreat was a key point during pledgeship and my life. It tied my bonds to both my pledge brothers and my fraternity. It inspired me to be the 'brother hero' that everyone makes me out to be. Through it and the events that transpired, a new respect for this fraternity and the members in it arose within me and made me the True Gentleman I am today." The integrity of values is preserved and the safety of our members is never in any jeopardy at any point throughout this retreat. The event is predicated upon building lifelong brotherly bonds, not on forcing our new members to undergo intense and degrading physical ordeals. In fact, Senior Assistant Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life at Indiana University Michael Goodman was in attendance for a portion of our new member retreat in the fall. In response to his experience with the members present, Michael said, "As a Greek advisor, I often see new member experiences done wrong. I see men hazed, disrespected, and in some cases emotionally and physically scarred. It is always refreshing to see chapters who take the new member experience serious for their new men, and do so in a way that creates authentic, safe, and real brotherhood. Sigma Alpha Epsilon is one of these chapters." The new member retreat is a once in a lifetime experience that creates the lasting bonds among brothers that Sigma Alpha Epsilon is all about. This is the quintessential new member experience that accomplishes so much more than we could ever hope to accomplish in a classroom setting. The dedication of our members to reinforcing the importance of genuine brotherhood through events like this are what will keep this chapter healthy and strong for many years to come. Phi Alpha, Patrick Fagan '13 Alumni Mentoring Program Connects Brothers of All Generations A lumni mentoring efforts are beginning to get underway at Indiana Gamma and your help and participation is welcome. Brad Weiss '94 and Jason Kennedy '95 head up the alumni mentor committee. We are currently in the process of designing the program and welcome advice and input from you. One of the major benefits Indiana Gamma alumni can offer (besides financial contributions) is the gift of their time and experience to members of the current chapter. In addition to providing historical background and knowledge on the rich tradition of Indiana Gamma, alumni are also able to help guide brothers through the various aspects of college life. The ability for a brother to have someone to discuss a job search, interviewing techniques, or applications to graduate schools is something we want to build at Indiana Gamma. Showing our undergraduate broth- ers that brotherhood at Indiana Gamma exists for life and building a stronger bond between the undergraduate chapter and the alumni chapter, especially with a new house that we can all be proud of, is our goal. The ability for the undergraduates to discuss and learn from our real-world experiences is one of the best things the alumni chapter can offer. The mentor program is an excellent way to get back in touch with Indiana Gamma and a chance to meet the outstanding young men who now reside at 1115 N. Jordan. We welcome your ideas and participation! E-mail: bradweissdds@gmail.com or jkennedy@smsm.com

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