Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Missouri

• 3 • SigmaPhiEpsilon TheSigEpTigerHeart Missouri Alpha brothers from the member classes of the 1960s and 1970s gathered at Cunetto's House of Pasta on the Hill in St. Louis in December. Missouri Alpha Receives Academic Achievement Banner Chapter Focuses on Recruiting and Developing Balanced Men with Alumni Support A year ago, I began my summer 2016 article of the SigEp Tiger Heart by citing that Sigma Phi Epsilon could credit much of its long history of success to the fact that we have always held ourselves to the standard that "this fraternity will be different," and I concluded with the promise that Missouri Alpha too would begin living up to that standard. As it has always been, being a different kind of fraternity is a moving target. Constantly, the goal expands to demand uniqueness in fields such as member development, academics, risk management, and recruitment. With a newfound commitment to this goal, the 2016-17 academic year has been spent with a constant focus on these innovations. RECRUITING BALANCED MEN Quickly after the happenings of last spring, chapter leadership recognized that recruitment was going to be among our toughest and most important tasks. Our priority was to ensure that the young men we were inviting into our chapter fostered the ideals of the balanced man and were the highest caliber of student that Mizzou had to offer. Aiming for this, we made sure the summer's formal recruitment weekend looked like none before it. As opposed to the typical "we throw the best parties on campus" pitch, candidates were given a presentation on what we know the history of the chapter to be, what we hope for the future of the chapter to be, and how we plan on getting there by way of the Balanced Man Program—all before being rigorously interviewed by the recruitment team, the executive board, and alumni volunteers to ensure that SigEp was the right choice for them. We aimed for men who wanted a Greek experience outside of the fraternity norm and, for the first time ever, we accepted a large number of sophomores that had already spent a year getting involved elsewhere on campus. Candidates that seemed like a fit were extended bids conditional on proof of meeting our academic standard through providing a transcript. ACADEMIC SUCCESS Diving into the 2016-17 academic year with excitement about what our refreshed and expanded membership would bring us, we looked for ways that we could find tangible success as a chapter. At the top of that list were academics. Historically, Missouri Alpha has ranked around 28th in grades out of 35 fraternities on campus, while hovering just shy of a 2.9 chapter GPA. For the fall 2016 semester, however, our chapter scored a GPA exceeding a 3.1, placing us above the all-University average, 8th among all 35 fraternities, and earning us our first-ever Academic Achievement banner. Being recognized for academic success served as an incredible source of encouragement for our members, and helped assure everyone that SigEp is well on its way to being the premier fraternity at the University of Missouri. TRANSITIONING OUR MEMBER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Missouri Alpha is also exponentially progressing in transitioning our development program toward the Balanced Man Program (BMP). Implementation of the BMP has instilled our fraternity's values into our chapter's development program. The culture of equal responsibilities has brought on an everlasting season of shared involvement throughout the chapter in both the fun and tedious parts of events such as Homecoming and Greek Week, which reduces the burden on everyone who would like to get involved. In addition, the transition to equal rights for all members has opened the doors to developing new members into chapter leaders by immediately encouraging them to join committees or run for executive positions. THANKFUL FOR ALUMNI SUPPORT Finally, with the existence of the Alumni Volunteer Corporation, the new addition of the Alumni Advisory Council, and the welcoming of our new chapter counselor, Michael Yenzer '15, undergraduate members of the Missouri Alpha Chapter have had the opportunity to work alongside dedicated alumni more than ever before—from standards to finance to risk management. Without the constant support we have received from these guys, especially in the last year, our chapter wouldn't have been able to experience anywhere near the level of success and prosperity that we have this year. It hasn't been an easy year and the light at the end of the Missouri Alpha tunnel wasn't always so luminous. However, we will be returning in the fall with only members who are committed to being a catalyst for the chapter moving forward. And for that, I am excited. I can now say with certainty that, since I joined in the fall of 2014, this standard of being different has never been as clear and in reach for Missouri Alpha—and, while we may have had years with less conflict and visible adversity, the right direction for the chapter has never been so unanimously sought. Fraternally, Payton Sanders '18 Chapter President Brothers Payton Sanders '18, Nick Fischetti '18, Zach Ksiazek '17, and John Hartman '61 at the banner presentation ceremony for academic achievement. The executive board, along with potential leaders, at the Carlson Leadership Academy in Lombard, Illinois, which convened February 24-26.

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