The Phoenix the Manual of Sigma Alpha Epsilon the Phoenix the Manual of Sigma Alpha Epsilon

The Phoenix THe Manual of Sigma Alpha Epsilon The Phoenix The Manual of Sigma Alpha Epsilon First Edition, 1938 Second Edition, 1942 Fifth Edition, 1959 Sixth Edition, 1972 Seventh Edition, 1979 Eighth Edition, 1995 Ninth Edition, 2003 Tenth Edition, 2005 Eleventh Edition, 2008 Twelfth Edition, 2012 PUBLISHED BY THE FRATERNITY SERVICE CENTER Copyright © 2012 by Sigma Alpha Epsilon Twelfth Edition MANAGING EDITOR Brandon E. Weghorst COPY EDITORS Matt Alaio G. Robert Hamrdla Jackson B. Lewis PRINTED BY Four Colour Print Group; Louisville, KY DESIGN BY NeigerDesignInc; Evanston, Illinois PHOTOS BY Bill Lisenby; Blettel Photographic; Brandon E. Weghorst; Filson Historical Society, Louisville, KY; Handley Regional Library, Winchester, Virginia; Library of Congress; Nicholas A. Ziegler; Simpson College; Tony Armour Photography; and the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation Archives Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity Service Center 1856 Sheridan Road Evanston, Illinois 60201-3837 (847) 475-1856 (847) 475-2250 fax www.sae.net I accept this manual as a guide in the acquisition of knowledge about Sigma Alpha Epsilon and shall keep it so that in later years it shall remain a source of information and inspiration to stimulate continued loyalty to the Fraternity and its ideals. Name _______________________________________________________________ I entered _____________________________________ on _____________________ I pledged the ____________________________________________________ chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon on _________________________________________________ and was formally pledged on _______________________________________________ My Pledge Educator was __________________________________________________ My Big Brother was _____________________________________________________ I was initiated on _______________________________________________________ and was assigned badge number ____________________________________________ The officers initiating me were: Eminent Archon ________________________________________________________ Eminent Recorder _______________________________________________________ Eminent Chronicler ______________________________________________________ Eminent Herald ________________________________________________________ Eminent Warden _______________________________________________________ Eminent Preceptor ______________________________________________________ Photo courtesy of Simpson College A GUIDE FOR NEW MEMBERS 4 This book is dedicated to Dr. Joseph W. Walt Dr. Joseph W. Walt (Tennessee-Knoxville 1947), the Fraternity’s longtime historian, joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon during his undergraduate tenure at UCLA and later transferred and graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. After he received his Ph.D. in history at Northwestern University in 1960, Walt served for many years as chairman of the Department of History at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. He remained there for the balance of his career and devoted the subsequent decades to the education of our members by connecting them with the past. Past Eminent Supreme Recorder Lauren Foreman (Emory 1901) used to deliver the “Story of Sigma Alpha Epsilon” every year at Leadership School, which was known as a rather lengthy history lesson. But Foreman later handed the responsibility of the story over to Walt. He, in turn, trimmed its content and focused on five key brothers who shaped our history. Walt’s speech became a staple at Leadership School — with undergraduate delegates enchanted and inspired by it continuously through the years. Walt served as the editor of this manual, The Phoenix, from its fifth edition in 1959 through its eleventh edition in 2008. Although many chapters have been updated with modern language and revised to frame it within the context of today’s society, many of this book’s chapters remain as they appeared in the last century. This manual continues to serve as a key element in the cultivation and education of our new members, or pledge members, as they embark upon the journey we call Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Additionally, Walt served as a past editor and frequent contributor to The Record, our magazine, and authored The Era of Levere, a history of Sigma Alpha Epsilon that covers the years 1910-1930. He served on the faculty of various Leadership Schools, both national and regional; lead volunteers on a number of committees; and advised the Iowa Sigma chapter as a peer and mentor. The Fraternity bestowed him with The Highest Effort (T.H.E.) Award in Educa- tion, the Merit Key Award and the Distinguished Service Award, three of the highest honors the organization can present an alumnus. He also sat on the Supreme Council as Honorary Eminent Supreme Archon from 1991-1993. We dedicate this, the twelfth edition of The Phoenix, to Walt. He loved history, and our manual reiterates his passion for the education of new members. Had it not been for his dedication to this publication throughout his fraternal tenure, this book would not be possible. DEDICATION 5 Foreword by Joseph W. Walt Welcome to the first step in what will be a truly remarkable journey in your life. You are embarking on an experience that I think you’ll find is one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. As a pledge, or new member, you join the ranks of more than 305,000 men who’ve come before you. And regardless of your age or their age, you share something unique with them. Hundreds of thousands of members have held this book just like you and used it as both a source of inspiration and as a source of guidance for this journey. Undergraduate Greek-letter fraternities are venerable institutions, some of them nearly as old as the colleges and universities that host them. On many of our campuses these societies are the most durable student organizations, and they are clearly the surviving ones that are still essentially student-managed and directed. Among the fraternities that continue to flourish, Sigma Alpha Epsilon may be counted as one of the leaders. What is it that has shaped our destiny as an organization? What are the quali- ties and principles that have come to relate positively and creatively to those who have been fortunate enough to share membership in it? The principles of the Fraternity, its commitment to the ideal of brotherhood, are set forth in the Initiation Ritual originally created by Founder Noble Leslie DeVotie. In that ritual he brought together major concepts of Greek philosophy and of Judeo- Christian tradition. While these ideals have been restated in new ways for each succeeding generation of our members, the basic principles that drive Sigma Alpha Epsilon are the same today as they were more than 155 years ago. While our ideals underlie our existence as a fraternity, we are aware that in any society there is a need for constant commitment to translate these principles into action in the daily lives of our chapters and their members during and after their college tenures. Through its determination to instill in its members the concept of “The True Gentleman,” in its publications, in its alumni assis- tance and support for undergraduate chapters and in its educational efforts in regional and national Leadership Schools, the Fraternity seeks to reach the hearts and minds of all its members. Thus, we are grateful to those young men at the University of Alabama who gathered together in March of 1856 to give new meaning to their affection and respect for each other. Little could they have dreamed of the immense, and indeed positive, influence their fraternity would have on generations of men who have sought after that bonding experience. Let us thank them for what they did for all of us. FOREWORD 7 OUR MISSION The mission of Sigma Alpha Epsilon is to promote the highest standards of friendship, scholarship and service for our members based upon the ideals set forth by our Founders and as specifically enunci- ated in “The True Gentleman.” THE PRINCIPLES OF SIGMA ALPHA EPSILON: 1. To develop in our members the skills which will facilitate their making deep and meaningful friendships throughout their lives. 2. To provide our undergraduate members with a physical and or- ganizational environment conducive to their pursuit of academic excellence. 3. To help our members better understand and experience diversity and change to enhance their respect for individuality and personal integrity. 4. To foster personal development of our members including leadership, scholarship, citizenship and social and moral responsibility. 5. To develop in our members a sense of duty for individual and group involvement in social interactions, service and community outreach. 6. To provide our members with guidance, support and standards based upon the ideals embodied in our Ritual. 7. To develop, maintain and enforce standards and expectations for the conduct of our members within and outside of the Fraternity. 8. To provide our members with life-long fraternal experiences that are productive, rewarding and enjoyable. Table of Contents Dedication ..........................................................................................................................5 Foreword ............................................................................................................................7 SECTION 1: A GUIDE FOR NEW MEMBERS 1. Why Fraternity? .................................................................................................... 13 2. Pledgeship ............................................................................................................

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