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Sigma Alpha Epsilon
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Sigma Alpha Epsilon (also known as S??) is a secret letter, social college fraternity. Founded on March 9, 1856 , it has initiated more men since its founding than any other fraternity with more than 280,000 initiated members. At present, SAE has more than 8,200 undergraduates at more than 225 chapters in 47 states. It established a national headquarters (Levere Memorial Temple on the campus of Northwestern University in Chicago, 1929), a national Leadership School, a national Men's Health Issues Committee, and a career-development program tailored for the community ("The Leading Edge" in 1990).
Currently, the Fraternity offers a comprehensive member-education program called The True Gentleman Initiative.
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Sigma Alpha Epsilon (also known as S??) is a secret letter, social college fraternity. Founded on March 9, 1856 , it has initiated more men since its founding than any other fraternity with more than 280,000 initiated members. At present, SAE has more than 8,200 undergraduates at more than 225 chapters in 47 states. It established a national headquarters (Levere Memorial Temple on the campus of Northwestern University in Chicago, 1929), a national Leadership School, a national Men's Health Issues Committee, and a career-development program tailored for the community ("The Leading Edge" in 1990).
Currently, the Fraternity offers a comprehensive member-education program called The True Gentleman Initiative. The Fraternity communicates through The Record, a quarterly publication that has been published continuously since 1880 . New members receive a copy of The Phoenix, the manual of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, for educational development.
HistorySigma Alpha Epsilon was founded on March 9, 1856, at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Its founders were Noble Leslie DeVotie, Nathan Elams Cockrell, John Barratt Rudulph, John Webb Kerr, Samuel Marion Dennis, Wade Hiram Hampton Foster, Abner Edwin Patton, and Thomas Chappell Cook. Their leader was DeVotie, who wrote the ritual, created the grip, and chose the name. Rudulph designed the badge. Of all existing social fraternities today, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is the only one founded in the antebellum South.
Founded in a time of intense sectional feeling, Sigma Alpha Epsilon confined its growth to the southern states. By the end of 1857, the fraternity numbered seven chapters. Its first national convention met in the summer of 1858 at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, with four of its eight chapters in attendance. By the time of the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, fifteen chapters had been established.
The fraternity had fewer than 400 members when the Civil War began. Of those, 369 went to war for the Confederacy, and seven fought with the Union forces. Seventy-four members of the fraternity, including Noble DeVotie, lost their lives in the war. DeVotie, who served as a Chaplain in the Confederate Army, is noted as the first Alabama soldier to lose his life in the "War of Rebellion." After the Civil War, only one chapter survived - at tiny Columbian College in Washington, D.C..
When a few of the young veterans returned to the Georgia Military Institute and found their college burned to the ground, they decided to enter the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. The founding of a chapter there at the end of 1865, along with the re-establishment of the chapter at the University of Virginia, led to the fraternity's revival. Soon, other chapters came back to life and, in 1867, the first post-war convention was held at Nashville, Tennessee, where a half-dozen revived chapters planned the fraternity's future growth.
In the 1870s and early 1880s, more than a score of new chapters were formed. Older chapters died as fast as new ones were established. By 1886, the fraternity had chartered 49 chapters, but few were active. The first northern chapter had been established at Pennsylvania College (now Gettysburg College), in 1883, and a second was placed at Mount Union College in Ohio two years later.
Soon after, 16-year-old Harry Bunting entered Southwestern Presbyterian University in Clarksville, Tennessee, now known as Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. He was initiated into the Tennessee Zeta Chapter, which had previously initiated two of his brothers. In just eight years, Harry Bunting and his younger brother, George, emboldened Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapters to increase their membership. They wrote encouraging articles in the fraternity's quarterly journal, The Record, promoting better chapter standards. Above all, they gave new life to old chapters in the South (including the mother chapter at Alabama) and founded new ones in the North and West. The Buntings were responsible for an explosion of growth, founding nearly 50 chapters of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Other chapters were also founded during this time, mostly by local undergraduates, at Dickinson College, Ohio State University, Harvard University, and Bucknell University, among others - including the Michigan Iota-Beta chapter at the University of Michigan, which has since become the third most important chapter due to its high insurance liabilities and its historic link between the carpetbagging northern chapters and devastated post-Civil War southern ones. When Harry Bunting founded the Northwestern University chapter in 1894 , he initiated as a charter member William Collin "Billy" Levere. Bunting passed the torch of leadership to Levere, and for the next three decades, Levere's high spirits brought the fraternity to maturity.
When Levere died on February 22, 1927, the fraternity's Supreme Council decided to name the new national headquarters building The Levere Memorial Temple. Construction of the Temple, an immense German Gothic structure located near Lake Michigan and across from the Northwestern University campus, was started in 1929, and the building was dedicated in the winter of 1930.
When the Supreme Council met regularly in the early 1930s at the Temple, educator John O. Moseley, the fraternity's national president, lamented, "We have in the Temple a magnificent school-house. Why can we not have a school?" Accordingly, the economic depression notwithstanding, the fraternity's first Leadership School was held under the direction of Moseley in the summer of 1935. In the last years of Moseley's life, he served the fraternity as its executive secretary, capping an academic career that included two college presidencies.
The True GentlemanThe True Gentleman is the creed of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, which was first adopted by the fraternity sometime in the 1930s. However, it wasn't until the 2001 Fraternity Convention in Orlando, Florida that it was officially adopted as the organization's creed. The definition was discovered by Judge Walter B. Jones, who first came upon it in an Alabama Baptist quarterly of which he was the editor. He sent a copy of it to John O. Moseley, the leader of the annual Leadership Schools, who was quite taken with it. Moseley began using it at the schools. For many years, the author of it was thought to be anonymous until the 1970s when the editor of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon pledge manual, The Phoenix, Joseph Walt, discovered that the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis also used it in a manual. The author was denoted there as one John Walter Wayland. "The True Gentleman" had actually first appeared in The Baltimore Sun as part of a competition for the best definition of a true gentleman with Wayland's submission being crowned the winner.
With his family's approval, John Walter Wayland was posthumously initiated into SAE during the Fraternity's 66th annual Leadership School in Chicago. The Virginia Omicron chapter at the University of Virginia was selected as Wayland's chapter since he had completed his master's degree at that institution in 1901.
The Levere Memorial TempleThe fraternity's international headquarters, known as the Fraternity Service Center, is maintained at the Levere Memorial Temple in Evanston, Illinois. Honoring all the members of the fraternity who have served their countries in the armed forces since 1856, it was dedicated on December 28, 1930. The museum on the first floor is devoted to a collection of interesting historical photographs, pictures, and collections from private sources. The walls of the building are hung with oil portraits of distinguished members. The basement contains the Panhellenic Room, on the ceiling of which are the coats-of-arms of 40 college fraternities and 17 sororities, while the niches on the north side contain large murals showing the founding of Phi Beta Kappa in 1776 and that of Sigma Alpha Epsilon in 1856, together with other murals depicting episodes in the history of the fraternity. Perhaps the most outstanding mural in the Panhellenic Room is the reproduction of Raphael's The School of Athens, painted by Johannes Waller in the 1930s.
The building continues to be used for ceremonies and receptions by the various fraternities, sororities, and honor societies at Northwestern University. The impressive chapel of the Temple, with its soaring vaulted ceiling and stained glass windows by Tiffany is used regularly for religious services, and has been the scene of many weddings of Evanstonians and members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. In fact, the entire building is open to the public for patriotic, religious, and educational purposes, while the library is also free to scholars seeking material pertaining to the history of any or all college fraternities and college organizations.
GovernmentIn its early days, the government of the fraternity was vested in one chapter, designated the Grand Chapter. The first such chapter was North Carolina Xi at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which was responsible only to the general convention, the last was Tennessee Omega at the University of the South, in Sewanee, Tennessee.
Today, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is governed by National Conventions which are held biannually. Here, brothers from all over the country come together to vote on additions and changes to the Fraternity Laws and to elect the Board of Directors. Between Conventions, SAE is governed by a Board of Directors, known as the Supreme Council. This is composed of the Eminent Supreme Archon, Eminent Supreme Deputy Archon, Eminent Supreme Warden, Eminent Supreme Herald, and Eminent Supreme Chronicler. The Executive Director of SAE (A full-time staff position), the Chief Operating Officer, holds the title of Eminent Supreme Recorder.
In addition, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is governed through Province Conventions. A province is a section, or district, of the country which is composed of nearby chapters. These provinces meet regularly to discuss issues concerning its individual chapters. These provinces are led by a Province Archon.
The RecordThe fraternity communicates through The Record magazine. It is published quarterly and has been continuously since 1880 . This publication has become popular in social groups throughout the country. One issue of The Record, the fall annual report, is provided free of charge to all active members and alumni at a circulation of 180,000. The other three issues are provided for active members and current donors to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation at a circulation of approximately 30,000.
Chapter ListFamous SAEsLiterature
Television & Film- George Bodenheimer - President of ESPN Inc. and ESPN on ABC
- Beau Bridges - Actor
- Lloyd Bridges - Actor
- James Denton - Actor
- Sam Elliott - actor
- Terry Gilliam - film director, member of Monty Python
- Bob Goen - former co-host of Entertainment Tonight
- Joshua Holmes - International Model, Celebrity Blogger
- Richard Kind - actor
- Matt Long - actor, Western Kentucky University
- Michael Rosenbaum - actor, Lex Luthor: Smallville, Western Kentucky University
- Fred Savage - actor, Stanford University
- Grant Shaud - actor on "Murphy Brown", University of Richmond
- David Spade - actor/comedian, Arizona State University
- Kevin Tighe - actor
- Robert Young (actor) - actor
- Paul James (actor) - actor Greek (TV series)
- Bobby Jon Drinkard - actor , , and We Are Marshall, Troy University
- Gregory Thomas Garcia - Creator and Producer My Name is Earl, Yes, Dear
Music
Media
Business- William T. Dillard - Founder, Dillard's Department Stores, University of Arkansas
- Scott T. Ford- CEO, Alltel Wireless, University of Arkansas
- J.B. Fuqua - Former businessman and philanthropist. The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University is named for him.
- Steve Lacy - President & CEO, Meredith Corporation
- Henry M. Paulson - Former CEO of Goldman Sachs Group, Secretary of Treasury, Dartmouth College
- William Perez - CEO, Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
- T. Boone Pickens, Jr. - Chairman, Mesa Petroleum, Oklahoma State University
- Richard Scruggs - Lawyer, University of Mississippi
- Chris Sullivan, founder Outback Steakhouse, University of Kentucky
- Ed Wilson - President of Chicago based Tribune Broadcasting, University of Arkansas
- Howard Wood - Co-founder, Charter Communications and former President & CEO, Cencom Cable Television, Washington University
- William T. Young - Businessman, Founder and former CEO of Jif (peanut butter), University of Kentucky
Education
GovernmentPresident
U.S. Senate
- Max Baucus - U.S. Senator from Montana, University of California-Los Angeles
- J.C.W. Beckham - first popularly elected U.S. Senator from Kentucky; youngest Governor of Kentucky; namesake of Beckham County, Oklahoma, Kentucky Kappa
- Jim DeMint - U.S. Senator from South Carolina, (R)University of Tennessee
- Pete Domenici - U.S. Senator from New Mexico, University of New Mexico
- Johnny Isakson - U.S. Senator from Georgia, University of Georgia
- Connie Mack III - former Florida U.S. Senator (R), University of Florida
- Larry Pressler - former South Dakota U.S. Senator (R), University of South Dakota
- David Pryor - former Arkansas Governor and U.S. Senator (D), University of Arkansas
- Mark Pryor - U.S. Senator from Arkansas (D), University of Arkansas
- George Smathers- U.S. Senator and Congressman, D-FL, philanthropist, University of Florida
U.S. House of Representatives
- William Reynolds Archer, Jr. - U.S. Representative, Chairman -House Ways and Means Committee, University of Texas
- Allen Boyd - US Representative from Florida (D), Florida State University
- Jay Dickey - former US Representative from Arkansas University of Arkansas
- David Drier - US Representative from California, (R)University of La Verne
- Thomas W. Ewing - former US Representative from Illinois (R), Millikin University
- Paul Gillmor - US Representative from Ohio, Ohio Wesleyan University
- Ralph Regula - US Congressman from Ohio (R), Mount Union College
- John Shadegg - US Congressman from Arizona (R), University of Arizona
- Charles Walter "Charlie" Stenholm - US Congressman from Texas (D), Texas Tech University
Governors
- Haley Barbour - Governor of Mississippi, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, University of Mississippi
- Joe Foss - former SD Governor, Medal of Honor recipient, leading USMC ace pilot, 1st Commissioner of the AFL, former NRA President, University of South Dakota
- William Guy - former ND Governor, North Dakota State University
- John J. Hickey - Wyoming governor (1959-61); U.S. Senator from Wyoming (1961-62), Indiana University
- Gary Johnson - Former Governor of New Mexico (R) University of New Mexico
- Paul B. Johnson, Jr. - Former Governor of Mississippi (D), University of Mississippi
- John Lynch - Governor of New Hampshire, University of New Hampshire
- Sidney S. McMath - Former Governor of Arkansas (D), Marine General & Renowned Trial Lawyer, University of Arkansas
- Robert D. Ray - Governor of Iowa (R), Drake University
Mayors
Other Notable Government Officials
- Don Evans - former US Commerce Secretary, University of Texas
- Ray Jones - Kentucky State Senator (D), University of Kentucky
- L.Q.C. Lamar - statesman, Justice of US Supreme Court, Emory College, later founded chapter at the University of Mississippi
- Wilson Livingood - Sergeant at Arms of the United States House of Representatives, Michigan State University
- Richard Myers - former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Kansas State University
- Eliot Ness - Prohibition agent, University of Chicago
- Hank Paulson - U.S. Treasury Secretary and former Chief Executive Officer, Goldman Sachs, Dartmouth College
- Richard Riley - former US Secretary of Education, Former Governor of South Carolina (D), Furman University
- Pat Robertson - Christian leader, 1988 Presidential Candidate, Washington and Lee University
- Robert Russell - Georgia Superior Court Judge, University of Georgia
- Kenneth Schissler - former Maryland State Delegate (R), Salisbury State University
- Louis R. Tobacco- New York State Assemblyman representing Staten Island's 62nd District, University at Albany
- Charles C. Campbell (General) - US Army general and FORSCOM commander, Louisiana State University
Science
SportsBaseball
- Harry Agganis - Boston University football All American, Boston Red Sox 1B, "The Golden Greek", Boston University
- Scott Boras - Pro baseball agent, University of the Pacific
- Ken Caminiti - Former professional baseball player, San Jose State University
- Ryan Garko - Cleveland Indians first baseman, Stanford University
- Mike Gosling - Toronto Blue Jays minor league pitcher, Stanford University
- Mark Lamping - Former president of the St. Louis Cardinals and CEO of the New Meadowlands Stadium Company, Rockhurst University
- Kevin McClatchy - Current CEO and former majority owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates
- Graig Nettles - Former Major League Baseball player, San Diego State University
- Greg Reynolds - Colorado Rockies pitcher, Stanford University
- Walt Terrell - Former professional baseball player, Morehead State University
Basketball
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