Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Florida

Page 2 SigEp Gator Heart Dave Kratzer Answers Frequently Asked Questions Re: Florida Alpha and ReColonization Gator Heart: The most frequently asked question is: when may Florida Alpha return to the University? Dave Kratzer: The University's judicial process suspended the Chapter effective January 1, 2013, and set the return date as any time after January 1, 2015; provided that it returns as a Balanced Man Chapter. The Sigma Phi Epsilon Headquarters staff and Florida Alpha AVC will work with the UF dean of students and the Sorority & Fraternity Affairs Office to ensure that the Chapter is ready to return as a responsible member of the Greek community. One of the major factors will be the commitment of Florida Alpha alumni and volunteers to provide the leadership, support, and resources needed for the Chapter to be successful. I can tell you that this work has already begun. The University leadership is well aware of Florida Alpha's rich history and we are prepared to welcome Florida Alpha back on campus as a Balanced Man Chapter. GH: What needs to happen now and during the time leading up to the return of Florida Alpha to campus? DK: We are fortunate that a group of dedicated alumni are hard at work planning for the future. I have been assured that those alumni working with the University and SigEp Headquarters are dedicated to bringing back Florida Alpha. A recolonization plan has been approved. Next, a colony will be established. With significant financial assistance from alumni and the National Headquarters, resources will be made available to begin the rebuilding, recolonization process. In addition, the Campaign for Florida Alpha will fund the renovation of the house at 5 Fraternity Row to provide a superior living and learning facility. It is my understanding that the timetable for that renovation will depend, in large part, on funding. GH: How long will the current house be rented? DK: The house is currently being rented to the ZBT fraternity. The lease ends at the end of this school year in May 2015. Your House Corporation indicates that income from the rental is on deposit in an account and the funds not used for maintenance and operations will be used for renovation planning and construction. Depending on the success of the capital campaign, renovation of the house could begin sometime in 2015. GH: Why Balanced Man? DK: The University strongly supports SigEp's Balanced Man program. SigEp created and implemented the innovative Balanced Man Program 20 years ago. It is a strong brotherhood program, without pledging or hazing. And, as a fellow SigEp, I am proud to report that SigEp's BMP is still recognized as a national best practice. You might also be interested to know that several fraternities on campus have already adopted principles and formats that are very similar to Balanced Man. Beginning this year, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, one of the strongest chapters on campus, has adopted the True Gentleman Experience. Student life personnel across the country look to SigEp as the nation's leader in member development. GH: No more hazing or hell week? DK: As we all know, hazing, hell weeks, and similar outdated rites of passage have injured young men and are now illegal activities. Hazing is a felony. Conviction for hazing, individually or as an organization, has consequences. For individuals: jail time and monetary fines are real consequences. For organizations: banishment and/or monetary fines are assured. Hazing does not improve anyone's life, but it could take a life. Groups which promote or allow hazing will simply not be tolerated at the University of Florida. GH: No more pledge classes? DK: That's correct. Following a traditional 'rush' process, each student invited to become a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon knows from the outset what is expected of him. He is required to meet certain, sometimes rigid standards, in writing. If he doesn't pass the required challenges (detailed on page 3 of this newsletter) he will not remain a member of the fraternity. This applies for the entire time that a man is a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon at UF, not just during the first several weeks. The SigEp ritual teaches that our core mission is to build friendships which last a lifetime. Let's start there. Brothers helping younger brothers gain in depth knowledge about the University, the Fraternity, and life experiences can be a powerful tool in building friendships. Remember our motto: HFF! T oday over 85% of all SigEp chapters are Balanced Man chapters. The following is a list of common questions concerning the Balanced Man Program. What is the main difference between the BMP and a pledge system? First of all, let's clear some things up. A pledge system does not always equal a hazing fraternity; however, it does promote hazing activities for a number of reasons. First, a chapter with pledging is a two-tier system with two groups, pledges and brothers. This is not true with a BMP chapter where there are multiple levels of development, and the only separation is the member's knowledge of the ritual and his progress on his individual journey of brotherhood. A person becomes a brother when he accepts the invitation of membership, not after a certain time period and a one-time initiation process. A new member in a BMP chapter has all the rights and privileges that any other member in the chapter has. Does such a strong emphasis on the individual journey of each member take away from the unity of the entire group? This is a common misunderstanding and an argument commonly heard among pledging fraternities. They believe that pledging develops pledge class unity. Although this may be true, the idea of pledge class unity can only take away from the brotherhood of the entire chapter. The BMP fosters unity among all brothers, not just among individual pledge classes. How does this journey of brotherhood differ from a pledge-type initiation? The BMP is based on a lifetime journey of brotherhood that continues even after graduation. There are five stages of brotherhood; the four challenges (Sigma, Phi, Epsilon, and Brother Mentor—detailed on page 3), and the last stage which can only be achieved after graduation as a full Balanced Man entering the world. Thus, the SigEp man continually has a goal to strive for, a new level of excellence to reach. In a pledge system, new members are put through a pledge program where they are taught all the knowledge necessary to be put through initiation. This leaves the member of a pledge system with nothing more to achieve and the development of the man sometimes comes to a halt. If there are no pledge activities, how does the chapter determine when a member is ready to go through the next rite of passage? Unlike the pledge system, there are no mandatory house cleanings, scavenger hunts, or hell weeks. The BMP has set goals for each rite of passage that must be achieved before continuing to the next challenge. These include milestones such as community service, GPA requirements, campus and chapter activities, progress in sound mind and sound body discipline, and even achieving the personal goals that each member sets with his mentor. Passage into the next challenge is determined solely by the achievement of these goals and not by the vote of the "active" chapter. Isn't the Balanced Man Program just a modified pledge system? A great question, but the answer: absolutely not! New members receive all the rights and privileges of any other member. Furthermore, new members do not have to wait to become involved in the operation of the fraternity. Every new man is quickly given some sort of responsibility and is free to move up the ranks of leadership. Pledge-type activities such as house cleaning, yard work, etc. fall on the entire chapter, not just the new members. Balanced Man Program Q&A

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