Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of California, Berkeley

Page 2 The California Alpha Culture The California Alpha Culture Carlo Rodes '04 Reflects on His SigEp Experience A strong brotherhood is built on a foundation of shared accountability and mutual respect. Carlo Rodes '04 was interested in Greek life at the University of California- Berkeley, and he found the perfect fit when the opportunity arose to restart California Alpha Chapter. A Balanced Brotherhood The Balanced Man Program was a major selling point for Carlo, as it provided a sense of camaraderie that set SigEp apart from other fraternities. California Alpha's new brotherhood was built from a core of young men who rejected fraternity stereotypes and formed a small community from various backgrounds. "Having a group that looked out for each other in a school of 30,000-plus students made a huge difference," Carlo said. He was glad to do his part as social chairman, benefiting the SigEp experience by organizing great events for the brotherhood. "It was a good learning experience to get out of my comfort zone and interact with local businesses." Career Work Beyond college, Carlo spent time bartending and catering before applying to law school at Notre Dame. After his graduate studies, Carlo worked in big law for nearly a decade and worked in-house at Bank of America. He is currently a product attorney for Meta, handling consumer payments products. Carlo is happily married and fortunate to work remotely, having more time to see his two daughters. Carlo was inspired by his fraternity brothers to pursue graduate school, and he is glad to keep regular contact with some alumni as close friends and others through social media. His ongoing fraternal bonds are a testament to the California Alpha's ethos of a shared, enriching college experience. SigEp's Next Steps With California Alpha Chapter's impending restart on the horizon, Carlo wants new members to maintain the same thoughtful mentality toward recruitment efforts. His refounding class was built by career-focused brothers who knew how to balance fun times with hard work toward their futures. "I think one thing that made us successful at the time was being thoughtful on who we tried to recruit," Carlo added. "We weren't an easy sell for many people because we weren't offering what many want in a traditional fraternity experience, like living in a house. Folks interested in joining were more interested in a community that was social and fun while taking education seriously." Carlo hopes the Balanced Man Program can continue to promote a responsible SigEp brotherhood on campus. SigEp Experience Provides Valuable Support for College Men at the University of California-Berkeley C ollege men spend 90 percent of their time outside the classroom. This means the majority of their college experience has nothing to do with what they are learning behind a desk and everything to do with what they are learning in the world around them. MENTAL HEALTH ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE RELATIONSHIPS PROFESSIONAL PREPAREDNESS These are all common issues men are faced with when they step foot on campus. These are issues that no one is meant to face alone. From lifelong friendships to professional preparedness and from developing us as leaders to fostering a mindset for service, SigEp is providing a member experience focused on changing the lives of the young men that choose to spend their 90 percent with SigEp. Do you know a young man attending the University of California-Berkeley who would be a great addition to SigEp? Scan the QR code to submit a recruitment referral or go to ucberkeley.sigep.org/support-our-chapter/refer. "California Alpha SigEp was the opportunity to have the kind of fraternity experience I was originally interested in having in college."

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