Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of California, Berkeley

The Golden Heart CALIFORNIA ALPHA CHAPTER t SIGMA PHI EPSILON t SPRING 2020 J oining Sigma Phi Epsilon was one of the best decisions I've ever made. It changed the entire trajectory of my life in ways I could never have imagined when I first joined. Probably like all of you, I didn't join SigEp because it was the largest national fraternity. I didn't join because it was, even then, a leading voice for essential reform in the American college fraternity system. I joined because I thought the SigEps were a bunch of very cool, very impressive guys, and I was honored to become a part of their brotherhood. I've had the privilege of serving as a fraternity volunteer for almost 30 years. In that span of time, the environment in which college fraternities operate has changed dramatically. As we all know, cultural norms and standards have also changed dramatically, for better and worse. SigEp has long been a leader in recognizing and anticipating these changes, and in proactively working to reform the fraternity system for the better. We were the first national fraternity to drop racial and religious membership restrictions. We have expressly prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation. We have abandoned pledging and pledge programs in favor of one- tier membership, and in the latest example of courageous leadership, SigEp is moving toward totally substance-free housing. That doesn't mean we've become a temperance society, or that alcohol cannot be served at social functions. It simply means we must hold such functions in other venues where third-party vendors assume serving liabilities. In order to survive and thrive in the 2020s and beyond, our leaders recognize that fraternities can no longer be organizations that do little more than provide cheap, sub-standard housing and facilitate underage drinking. We must provide a membership experience that more closely aligns with the educational mission of our host institutions and better equips our undergraduate brothers for personal and professional happiness and success when they graduate. While educators and most parents applaud these objectives, it's not always an easy "sell" to an 18-year-old freshman, especially on a campus like UC Berkeley, where many fraternities still embrace "frat boy" and "frat house" behavior, and where a "study hard, play harder" mentality can easily take hold. Most of you probably know that our California Alpha Chapter disbanded last spring. It wasn't shut down by the university or the national fraternity. The members themselves simply decided they no longer wanted to be active members of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Those of us in the alumni and volunteer support of the chapter were very disappointed by this action, but we remain convinced that SigEp values and leadership are more needed than ever on college campuses. We remain dedicated to returning SigEp to UC Berkeley. HFF, Steve Young, Kansas Gamma '80 AVC President • sly.one@outlook.com President Steve Young, Kansas Gamma '80 Directors Lynn Holland Matt Bunch '05 Treasurer/Director Chuck Stegman, Colorado Alpha '81 Secretary/Director Ken Ferrando VP of Relations/Director Luke Madera '09 National Volunteer District Governor James Amen Want to Be Featured in the Next Newsletter? Send in your updates to VP of Relations/Director Luke Madera '09 at luke.madera@gmail.com. Keep Up to Date with All Things California Alpha The Golden Heart Is Available Via Print and Online California Alpha is offering alumni a voluntary opt-in to receive alumni communications by print, email, or both. Please let us know which method of alumni communication you'd prefer by emailing our alumni relations coordinator at ssmoot@penningtonco.com. Thank you for helping us stay connected beyond college! SigEp Sets the Tone for Today's Fraternity Experience California Alpha Committed to Returning to UC Berkeley ALUMNI VOLUNTEER CORPORATION

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