Sigma Phi Epsilon - Purdue University

Inside: Alumni Update t 2 Thank You, Brothers t 2 Sixth Annual Good Times Tailgate t 3 From the heart a publication for alumni of indiana alpha t sigma phi epsilon t fall 2016 www.purdue-sigeps.com Indiana Alpha Formally Placed on Suspension AVC Working Hard to Bring SigEp Back by 2020 O n behalf of the Alumni Volunteer Corporation board, I would like to thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we work through the necessary steps to finalize the lease of our physical property (which should be completed by the time you receive this) and shift toward a successful return to campus when our suspension period ends. To date, the board has tried to do its best to communicate news and status of recent occurrences to alumni via social media, word of mouth, direct e-mails, and live conversation. I understand that there are still alumni who are unaware of what has happened; and therefore, I hope that the summarization in my letter here will help to further bridge that gap. In March, after 111 years of continuous operation, our chapter was formally placed on suspension for the next four years. We are eligible to return in the fall of 2020. This decision from Purdue comes after much discussion and collaboration with the university and national fraternity; however, the reality is that times have changed and tolerance for misbehavior is much lower than in years past. the circumstances that led to the suspension were: • An unregistered party was hosted on December 10, 2015, with 100- plus (active and inactive members, minors, and guests) while on social probation. • Hazing, which included trading favors for active/inactive member information, yelling, and requesting that new members perform skits at the unregistered function. • An elaborate cover-up of the activities on December 10, 2015, inclusive of formally submitting a false narrative to the university, in addition to failing to take advantage of numerous opportunities to share the facts with Indiana Alpha alumni. The Purdue Community Standards Board recommendation from the March 3 hearing was "full and permanent revocation of recognition with no right of return as a campus organization." Through coordination and partnership with the university and national fraternity, that punishment was lessened to a period of up to a four-year suspension. Though our chapter has accomplished and celebrated recent successes in some areas of chapter operations and recruitment, as well as significant improvement in chapter facility conditions, we can no longer underestimate the strong inclination for our younger members to follow the lead of those who have come before them, nor the lengths to which our current membership went to cover up the unregistered function, alcohol, and hazing infractions. Sometimes, in order to truly move forward, you have to reflect and accept ownership of the mistakes of the past. Although many of the undergraduates living in the house were not there two years ago, as an organization, we are still responsible for our previous mistakes and must abide by the punishments handed out. As I have mentioned in previous communications, the university and society as a whole show much less tolerance for the type of behavior that years ago as the norm was at least much more acceptable. With the latest violations of alcohol and hazing policies and probation terms from two years ago, it is tough for anyone to see beyond our continued lack of adherence to Interfraternity Council and university policies. Though it is unlikely that all will agree with the length of the punishment, I hope that we all can accept that the university, our national fraternity, and the Alumni Volunteer Corporation board were left with few alternatives to confidently remediate. In the short term, the focus of the Alumni Volunteer Corporation will be to serve and partner with Kappa Delta sorority, who will be leasing our property for the next three-plus years, hold accountable all members involved in the events leading up to our suspension, work to fix the alumni communication gaps that have become evident, and continue our partnership with our national fraternity to understand what we need to do to ready ourselves for a return to campus. In the coming weeks, months, and years, the board will be making requests for your support in the form of volunteerism and/or finances. This will help staff and fund events, fill alumni positions necessary to rebuild alumni relations, and effectively mentor and guide future undergraduate brothers. If you feel so called when the request comes, I ask that you stand up to be counted and pay forward from what your experiences at 690 Waldron have given to you. Fraternally, brian rodell '99 AVC President avc-president@purdue-sigeps.com mike pacilio '82 credits indiana alpha for personal, professional development Alumnus Thankful for Sigma Phi Epsilon L eaving the small town of North Judson, Indiana, for a large university proved to be slightly daunting for mike pacilio '82. His family farm prepared him well for the hard work that was ahead of him at Purdue, but it was intimidating when he realized his high school graduating class was about a fourth of the size of his calculus class. Indiana Alpha changed everything about his college experience. "SigEp was a family to me—100-plus brothers to play with, study with, and share the experiences that Purdue (Continued on page 2)

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