Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Missouri

SigEp A PUBLICATION FOR ALUMNI OF MISSOURI ALPHA t SIGMA PHI EPSILON SUMMER 2021 Tiger Heart A fter three-plus years, Missouri Alpha is moving back into our beloved home at 405 Kentucky this fall. As our undergraduate brothers eagerly await the move, we've been busy remodeling the house this summer after renting it to DKE. The active members will have a top-notch living experience that includes delicious meals provided by a catering company. This is also a great draw for potential new members, as the catering service is very competitive with dorm food quality and value. There are so many people to thank for their efforts in helping with Missouri Alpha's return. SigEp Membership Experience Director Shawn Cable was on campus for two semesters to get us started. In two years, we've built a great core of 40 collegiate members, including 20+ men who will move into the house. Throughout the process, alumni mentors have been key in working with our undergraduate officers in what has been nearly a 1-to-1 ratio. This fall, we'll be sharing another National representative with a couple other chapters. Mentor involvement will remain critical. Fraternity life has evolved immensely since Missouri Alpha was last on campus, and SigEp has highlighted many of the positive changes. Missouri Alpha joins all SigEp chapter houses in being substance-free. This includes no alcohol. Members are allowed to have offsite events with alcohol, but it is not permitted at the chapter house. Along with being alcohol-free at 405 Kentucky, Missouri Alpha will be a hazing-free chapter. Pledgeship, as most of our readership remembers, is no more. New members join as full members and earn their way to full initiation. The elimination of hazing and alcohol is taking place at many fraternities, and Missouri Alpha is proud to be a leader in setting these standards at MU and elsewhere. Some campuses have alleviated Greeks altogether for not moving ahead with the times. We are proactively recruiting men who fit this model, and it's working. Another essential part of Missouri Alpha's road to return has been establishing healthy relationships with MU faculty and staff and SigEp National. The university's vice chancellor of inclusion, diversity, and equity and the vice provost of student affairs each spoke to the chapter. SigEp National awarded Chapter President Greg Pierson '23 the Frank J. Ruck Leadership Award for his commitment to reestablishing the chapter over the past two years. Greg was VP recruitment before taking over as president. MU Dean of Students Jeff Zeilenga received the University Partner of the Year Award from SigEp National for his work with Missouri Alpha. His virtual award presentation last Missouri Alpha Prepares to Move Back in at 405 Kentucky Following SigEp's Model of Success Pays Dividends Congratulations to Chapter President Greg Pierson '23 for receiving the Frank J. Ruck Leadership Award from SigEp National. MEET THE MISSOURI ALPHA ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT Mark Schordock '84 lives in Sugar Land, Texas. He has a daughter, Lauren, and son, Grant. Email: mark.schordock@gcserv.com TREASURER Dave LaRusso '76 continues his decades-long run on the AVC, handling the financial challenges of renting out the house and now reoccupying it. He resides in St. Louis. Email: dlarusso@mpgtandem.com VP OPERATIONS Greg Raeman '91 lives in Lake St. Louis, Mo. He and his wife, Kristin, have a daughter, Abby, and two sons, Wade '23 and Kobe '25. Email: graeman@aol.com SECRETARY Adam Baer '85 resides in Town and Country, Mo. He and his wife, Laura, have three children: Caroline, Henry, and Holly. Email: adamhbaer@gmail.com MEMBERS AT LARGE John Hartman '61 suffered a severe stroke in late February, affecting the frontal and rear lobes of his brain. John is still struggling to speak and to understand what people are saying to him. The stroke also impaired his reading and writing. Luckily, John was in excellent physical shape pre-stroke and can still ambulate very well. His hand-eye coordination is very good. Unfortunately, his overall cognitive challenges won't allow him to live without assistance for now. John has been a fixture in Missouri Alpha and SigEp nationally for six decades. He has served as alumni board president, district governor, national director, and as our fraternity's 39th grand president. His commitment to those countless responsibilities earned him plenty of accolades, including the Distinguished Alumnus Award and Order of the Golden Heart. John may be best known for his co-founding of the Ruck Leadership Institute, which has helped develop thousands of today's and tomorrow's SigEp leaders. John loves visitors at his west St. Louis County residence. Email Adam for details. (Continued on page 2) (Continued on page 3)

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