Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Missouri

SigEp A PUBLICATION FOR ALUMNI OF MISSOURI ALPHA t SIGMA PHI EPSILON SPRING 2023 Tiger Heart W e reported here in the fall that SigEp's National Board of Directors had voted unanimously to reinstate Missouri Alpha's charter. On March 4, over 100 members and guests gathered in Columbia to formally celebrate this historic milestone for our chapter. Those guests included Grand President Billy Maddalon, North Carolina State '90; District Governor Mike Duggan, Missouri State '74; members of our National Board of Directors; SigEp headquarters staff; former Chapter Counselor Dr. Edwin Kaiser, Youngtown State '60; representatives of a dozen other SigEp chapters; MU administrators; a couple dozen of our own chapter alumni; and our 80- plus new members. In 2016, we closed our chapter following years of high-risk undergraduate behaviors that were growing worse by the semester. SigEp headquarters, the university, and our Alumni and Volunteer Corporation agreed in 2019 that it was time to return. Headquarters sent Shawn Cable, Baylor '17 to Columbia to start the process, and after a year, Shawn had recruited and turned over the reins to our new founders, whose names appear on the newly minted charter. CELEBRATE! SigEp and Mizzou Honor Missouri Alpha's Return It's hard building a complex organization from scratch. We had no chapter house (405 Kentucky had been rented out to DKE fraternity) and had to meet on campus. We were also "selling" a very new concept: an alcohol- and drug-free facility with zero tolerance for hazing and a focus on personal development, academics, and brotherhood. Then came COVID. In-person meetings were no longer allowed, making recruitment even more challenging. Total membership had reached 40 men but dropped to 30 by the end of 2020. "Are you sure that you guys want to continue?" Shawn asked our young members. You now know their answer. Today, Missouri Alpha sets the new standard for fraternities at MU, and the journey has only begun. Associate Dean of Students Dr. Angela King-Taylor, who joined our March 4 celebration, said: "I appreciate the invitation and the opportunity to support these men. I look forward to celebrating many other milestones with them." We have a fabulous group of undergraduates, headquarters staff, and MU administrators that have pulled together to take us over the hump. However, based upon my recent interactions with dozens of other SigEp chapters, Missouri Alpha stands with the greatest chapters in another critical respect: our alumni engagement is unequaled and is another key ingredient in our success. Your time, talent, and treasures continue fueling our undertaking. We hail thee, brothers! Fraternally, Adam Baer '85 AVC President abaer@hme.com Our 85-man (and growing) chapter celebrates the next milestone in setting a new bar for fraternities at Mizzou. These men spent that morning at a retreat planning a great future for Missouri Alpha. MO Alpha alumni were well represented at the evening's celebration. From left: Kirk Duwe '92, Vern Smith '73, Nick Roehm '22, Tom Gudenkauf '89, Ed Clausen '84, Bill Williamson '72, Terry Baer '80, Adam Baer '85, Dennis Bond '93, Denny Bond '69, Mark Schordock '84, Steve Pfaff '85, Nick McNutt (independent AVC board member), Devin Rains '88, Mason Laster '84, Terry Mills '89, and Joe Brandel '91.

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