Alpha Sigma Phi - University of Washington

10 T he Most Important Premise There are four very important words in life: hon- esty, truth, respect, and love. Without these in your life you have nothing. It doesn't matter who you are, how famous you are, how much power you have, or how wealthy you are. If your life is not defined by honesty, truth, respect and love…you have nothing. Period! The importance of truth and honesty have never been more present in our thinking than today. In today's politics the questioning of these two core attributes of integrity have become paramount and has gotten everyone's attention. Why? It's a matter of trust. Trust is fragile. It's easy to break, easy to lose and very hard to get back. That is why true integrity is so important. "Real integrity," says Oprah Winfrey, "is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not." In the minds of the founders of Alpha Sigma Phi, there is no better way to better the man then to instill in him a sense of integrity! We, as a brotherhood of Alpha Sigma Phi, which has existed one and three-quarter centuries, have been bred to have a gen- teel voice that should echo the wisdom and teachings hidden in our fraternal rituals. These rituals were designed to prepare us to make a difference in the lives of everyone we encounter. We are expected to always speak with understanding, undeni- able truth, tolerance, and sensitivity. We are called to a higher calling of unquestionable integrity…to be different, to stand out, and to be a voice of truth and reason. That is what CLVEN is about. Our cause may be hidden, but, because we are men of integrity, what we say and do is well known because it is trustworthy. That's the meaning of brotherhood. A Litmus Test of Our Character So how do we take the knowledge and wisdom we have had bequest to us by thousands of brothers preceding us, and use it to make a positive impact upon the lives of those around us to- day? It starts with integrity—your words and your actions. It is not only about saying the right things, it's about doing the right things. Actions speak louder than words. You can apologize a thousand times, but if your actions don't change, then your words are meaningless. In the words of Walt Disney, "stop talking and start doing." So how do you know if you are on the right track? Let's revisit what we learned at Mu Chapter as an undergraduate and go on a little personal inventory journey. Tenet #1 Integrity Truth, honesty and trust in brotherhood We have to remember that joining a fraternity is not about friendship, although it is a wonderful side benefit. Joining a fraternity is about commitment. It is a lifelong commitment agreed upon by the brotherhood to live by specific tenets that drive the way you make choices and live your life. One of the tenets of Alpha Sigma Phi is integrity…and, as commented previously, the definition of integrity is truth, honesty and trust. This tenet needs to be embedded deeply within everything you do, whether you are running a major company or corporation, holding a political seat, working with your kid's scout troop, volunteering at the local soup kitchen, or talking with your neighbor over the fence. Remember, what you say and what you do matters! A single misstep or found out lie can destroy a lifetime of reputation. At Mu, we pledged for life to honor God, family, and country…AND people! As gentlemen with hearts beneath our vests we are expected to practice wisdom… to be humble, self-effacing, and to consider the needs of others above our own. Whether you are talking to an audience of 1 or 1,000, what you say matters, and what you do either validates you or discredits you. Question to ask yourself: Am I a man of integrity. Do I trust my own honesty and truth? A Question of Integrity! Are you the man you say you are? By Jim Hammond, Mu '66

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