Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Florida

Page 4 SigEp Gator Heart D uring the last week of January, members of the Florida Alpha Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon enjoyed their long-awaited dinner for our 2020 Sweetheart, Madi McCallum. Madi was met in the courtyard by lines of brothers dressed in formal attire on either side, each presenting her with a rose until a bouquet was compiled. She was then surrounded by the brothers in the dining room as we all gathered for an excellent steak dinner in celebration of her. On this note of celebrating the women who are important in the brothers' lives, we are excited to announce the reinstatement of lavaliering and pinning ceremonies. This entails a brother giving his letters of brotherhood to their girlfriend with the intent of making her a part of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Several brothers have already got in on the order of these pieces with the intent of taking that next step in their relationships. Since returning to campus, our Chapter has expressed great interest in reinstating great traditions. This was initiated by reaching out to Steve Shewbrooks '66 who helped facilitate this first step. V ice President of Communications Ryan McKeever '23 asked me to describe the SigEp lavaliering traditions from the 1960s, and it was fun putting this together with the help of past Chapter leaders Bruce Irvine '64, Pete Rowe '64, Ross Small '63, and Joe Thigpen '66. This is a topic I feel well qualified to talk about since I pinned Joan LeChot in 1962 (after going together since 1959). She was our SigEp Sweetheart in 1963, and we married in 1965. This July, we will celebrate our 56th wedding anniversary. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAVALIERING AND PINNING? Lavaliering means to go "steady" or going with one person only. Pinning means to become engaged. Both pledges and brothers were permitted to give their girlfriend a lavalier. Only brothers were permitted to give their girlfriend a Sweetheart pin. WHAT DID THE CEREMONY LOOK LIKE? Giving a lavalier: no special ceremony. Giving a sweetheart pin: • The brother was dragged to the creek and thrown in after dinner. • The Chapter goes to individual sorority house/dorm to present a bouquet of red roses and serenade the couples who have recently become pinned. Always included a Sweetheart. Brothers dressed formally, in white jackets, for this event. • The pinned couples were the mainstay of the Chapter and had dinner every Thursday in the dining room. WHAT DID THE TRADITION MEAN FOR THE BROTHERHOOD? It fostered socialization and lifelong friendships. Thursday nights were "date night" for a sit-down dinner, which went as follows: • No one was seated until the housemother was escorted down from her apartment and seated. Then everyone else was seated with dates on the right. • Food was served family style, passed from left to right. • At the end of the meal each guest was introduced. • The song leader would lead everyone in SigEp and UF songs, and the Sweetheart song if she were present. The pinned girls became very well- known through socialization before and after dinners, and they were a regular part of social and fundraising activities at Florida Alpha. Although not a requirement, the SigEp Sweetheart was always one of the "pinned" girls. Sweetheart tasks included: • Serving as hostess at some events and helping pledges with table manners and social etiquette (individually or as a group). • Receiving a large trophy in a ceremony (outgoing presented to incoming), and the trophy typically lived at her sorority house. All these SigEp traditions established lifelong friendships, and I was able to contact four friends from the '60s for some help with this article. HFF, Steve Shewbrooks '66 Bringing Lavaliering Back to Life at Florida Alpha Steven Summers '20 and Florida Alpha's 2020 Sweetheart Madi McCollum (UF 2021). Florida Alpha Dating in the '60 Explained as Active Brothers Aim Revive Traditions Steve Shewbrooks '66 and Florida Alpha's 1963 Sweetheart, Joan LeChot Shewbrooks, were being serenaded by the Chapter.

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