Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Alabama

SPRING 2015 ED DOO R R ALABAMA BETA s THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SIGMA PHI EPSILON THE ALABAMA BETA CELEBRATES NEW CHARTER I n 1927, a group of young men decided to bring virtue, diligence, and brotherly love to the University of Alabama. Since then, the Alabama Beta Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon successfully has become the rechartered Chapter that it is today. In the past few years, Alabama Beta has received 13 awards, including Most Outstanding UA IFC Chapter Award and the Dr. Robert E. Witt Cup, at the University's Greek Excellence awards ceremony. The Dr. Robert E. Witt Cup represents the best Greek organization on the University of Alabama campus. On January 24, 2015, the Alabama Beta Chapter reestablished its charter due to the hard work, dedication, and overall commitment of the members since coming back to Alabama in 2010. The weekend consisted of enjoying the newly received house and a banquet beside the Black Warrior River. Some of the key attendees for the event were the Alabama Beta AVC members, Davis Orr '14, former president of the Chapter, and Andrew Land, Clemson '04, district governor, and conferring the charter Brother Billy Maddalon, North Carolina State '90, of the National Board of Directors. Others in attendance were Mike Rainier, Austin Peay '14, SEC south regional director, Drew Parrish, Georgia '13, volunteer services manager, Patrick Murphy, Northeastern '10, SigEp National housing managing director, and Dr. Tim Hebson, UA dean of students. Davis Orr delivered a special message to the Chapter, telling the undergraduate members to keep striving for greatness; the road to success is still not over for the Chapter. The Alabama Beta Chapter demonstrates proficiency in the Balanced Man Program by using the Sigma, Phi, and Epsilon challenges to create a stronger brotherhood, a stronger brother, and to show higher educational values. Members of these challenges participate in activities such as paintball, meetings in leadership, career paths, sports tournaments among brothers and even taking a weekend retreat to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Each undergraduate member is also expected to maintain a 3.0 GPA, holding a higher standard for success. Other key alumni who helped the Chapter regain its charter were the Alabama Beta AVC members, including Mark Salmon '87, Sam Sparks '71, Steve Mace '71 and Bob Holman '69. Each undergraduate executive member also has a volunteer mentor who guides him along the way. Jimmy Hubbard, Tennessee Zeta '91, Chapter counselor, made a huge impact on Alabama Beta receiving its charter, making sure each member performed his job correctly. In the past decade, the University of Alabama student body has expanded to 36,000 and has become increasingly diverse with over half of the students from all over the nation and around the world. This has impacted UA dramatically in our ever-changing campus climate, both physically and culturally. Greek life has also expanded tremendously with approximately 9,000 men and women involved. Alabama Beta manpower is high and competes with the larger fraternities on the UA campus. The Chapter also boasts the highest academic performance among all fraternities with a 3.45 overall GPA. Alabama Beta has 124 undergraduate members, which include several outstanding members involved in campus leadership, student government, and ambassador positions such as SGA Senate, Culverhouse Business School ambassadors, student recruitment leader and Capstone Men. The chartering event was a huge success. Thank you, alumni and friends, for being a significant part of the history of Alabama Beta. Fraternally, Cam Craig '17

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