Sigma Phi Epsilon - Florida International University

FLORIDA NUS A PUBLICATION OF SIGMA PHI EPSILON AT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY Fall 2015 THE AVC Addresses Challenges, Sets Goals Eddie Hondal '88, '00 Takes Helm as New President INSIDE: EXECUTIVE BOARD 2 NEW BROTHERS 3 ALUMNUS SPOTLIGHT 3 SAVE THE DATE 4 I t is a great honor to have been selected as the new Sigma Phi Epsilon Florida Nu AVC President. I have, for many years, committed myself to improve the value of all our FIU diplomas by representing always Panther Nation (Sunblazers, too, for us older alumni!) in the most positive light. Earning the nickname "Papa Panther" doesn't happen by accident! This passion for the betterment of SigEp Florida Nu and FIU includes pushing and promoting our fraternity to be a compilation of quality men that live by the SigEp creed. I take this role with much excitement and energy in hopes that Florida Nu SigEp, along with our FIU, develops into one of the top SigEp Chapters and institutions of higher learning in the country. Some may think these are aggressive goals for these young institutions; however, when one sees the success accomplished in such a short time, one begins to understand why we have accumulated great accolades throughout the years for both our fraternity Chapter and our alma mater. The pursuit and achievement of excellence of these two organizations are not going to happen without the support of those individuals who helped us get there. We need our SigEp brothers and alumni to help achieve these lofty goals. This support will be needed when SigEp Chapter is growing and when the Chapter has setbacks. The development of our Florida Nu Chapter, like any growing organization, is going to include going through growing pains. These last few months have seen our SigEp Florida Nu Chapter go through a very painful membership review process, which has resulted in a restructured Chapter. Our fraternity's membership has been drastically lowered, with a brand new executive board. Your AVC worked very hard with the Chapter and did much to avoid further damage to our fraternity. This was an extremely difficult process for us, and I extend a heartfelt thank-you to Steve Chaneles, Alex Zarut '03, Dustin Elliot '09, Natalie de Rojas, Pete Cabrera Jr. '08, Rey Perez '03, Keane Mayer, and the other members of the AVC, AAC, and headquarters that assisted through this process. A special thank-you goes to Tom Jelke '90, whose depth of knowledge, history, and devotion to Florida Nu and the aggregate Greek system is a blessing for all of us. Thanks, Tom, for letting me pick your brain and informing me of processes important to a thriving Chapter! If any alumni have any questions of the membership review process, please feel free to contact me or Tom. This was not easy but we feel the direction and trajectory of the Chapter is once again focused on the SigEp ideals. In closing, energy, movement, change, and positive development are the core of my goals as your AVC President. My action goals for the Chapter include: • SigEp alumni membership development • SigEp Florida Nu alumni/student mentorship and professional development • SigEp alumni professional development • SigEp alumni FIU scholarship and community philanthropy • Work toward FIU Greek suite establishment Finally, thank you for this opportunity to represent our Chapter and I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming events scheduled. Fraternally, Eduardo "Eddie" Hondal '88, '00 AVC President hondalef@comcast.net Daniel Alonso '16 and Gavin Winston '17 pose in front of the SFE letters at the block party. Florida Nu Undergoes Membership Review for Stronger Chapter D ear Brothers, this past April, Florida Nu was ordered to cease Chapter operations due to "behaviors that misaligned with the values and expectations of the national Fraternity and those of Florida International University." These behaviors were exhibited multiple times over the course of two years. The university and SigEp Headquarters staff became aware of this (Continued on page 2)

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