Why Sigma Alpha Epsilon?

The mission of Sigma Alpha Epsilon is to promote the highest standards of friendship, scholarship and service for its members based upon the ideals set forth by the Founders and as specifically enunciated in "The True Gentleman."

"The true gentleman is the man whose conduct proceeds from good will and an accute sense of propriety, and whose self control is equal to all emergencies; who does not make the poor man concious of his poverty, the obscure man of his obscurity, or any man of his inferiority or deformity; who is himself humbled if necessity compels him to humble another; who does not flatter wealth, cringe before power, or boast of his own posessions or achievements; who speaks with frankness but always with sincerity and sympathy; whose deed follows his word; who thinks of the rights and feelings of others, rather than his own; and who appears well in any company, a man with whom honor is sacred and virtue safe."
- John Walter Wayland

Nationally

Sigma Alpha Epsilon is a fraternity which is rightfully classed as one of the oldest and strongest in the world. We have a background of tradition and excellence, alumni of fame and distinction, and members who feel genuine pride and brotherhood in membership. Founded at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa in 1856, ΣΑΕ has grown to be the largest social fraternity in the world with a total membership of over 260,000 and over 200 active chapters throughout the country. Today ΣΑΕ, through its national headquarters, offers each brother assistance in many areas. Through scholarships, loans, and alumni networking, the fraternity helps brothers in financial need to complete their educational plans and connect with alumni in their fields of study. ΣΑΕ is especially proud of the William C. Levere Memorial Temple, our national headquarters located in Evanston, Illinois. This beautiful shrine contains mementos recalling close to one hundred fifty years of achievements by the Brothers of ΣΑΕ. It is open to all visitors and is annually visited by many ΣΑΕ pledge classes. In addition, it houses the ΣΑΕ Leadership School, which trains brothers in the complicated process of running a social fraternity.

Locally

The Pennsylvania Phi Chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Carnegie Mellon University was founded in 1919. It has enjoyed a very rich and productive history. For any institution to survive over 80 years it must exert a very real influence on the lives of its members. With an active alumni base of over 700, including CEO’s and company presidents, our chapter continues to be a powerful force on campus and beyond. We feel that ΣΑΕ gives meaning to each of our college experiences because it allows for and encourages all of the important traits of a True Gentleman and a well rounded collegian. More than any other organization at CMU, ΣΑΕ represents the entire range and freedom of activity that can contribute to the student’s development both socially and scholastically. Words cannot capture the depth of fraternity life, as many of the benefits are not physical or material, but rather accrue from the brotherhood that bonds our house. There are, however, some areas of interest that we can present to you.

Scholarship

Sigma Alpha Epsilon takes great pride and interest in the scholastic achievements of its members. We realize that the primary goal of any student at Carnegie Mellon University must be the successful completion of his education and we gear our programs for both Brothers and Pledges to achieve this end. Before a man can initiate into ΣΑΕ, he must prove himself scholastically. During pledge education and after initiation, the active brotherhood and alumni aid and encourage the younger members to ensure the best academic performance from the house as a whole. Study groups are formed among members, and tutoring by upper class Brothers is available for those requesting it. We are proud of the recognition that has come to ΣΑΕ throughout our years at CMU. We have consistently maintained our position near the top of the scholastic ratings. Our fraternal grade point average has been consistently above the all-men’s, all-fraternity, and all-student’s averages published by the Carnegie Mellon Registrar.

Sports

One of the most exciting areas of ΣΑΕ is athletics, where Brothers participate on both the varsity and Intramural levels. ΣΑΕ has been well represented on the CMU basketball, track, soccer, rugby, and tennis teams. There is a complete and consistent involvement of the Brothers in the Intramural program, where we take great pride in our achievements. In the last ten years, ΣΑΕ has been competitive in all divisions and victorious in many, winning the Intramural Champions trophy 5 of those 10 years and finishing in the top 3 in the other years. But more important than the victories is the spirit displayed by the entire Brotherhood. At ΣΑΕ, the success of any team is determined by how much fun its players have. Any Brother who wants to participate on any level is encouraged and supported by the rest of the Brothers. Those who do not play offer their help and support on the sidelines. While we are always competitive, we never overlook the true goal of the sport: to foster strong personal friendships and to encourage the growth of teamwork.

Social Life

An important element in any man’s college career is his social life and ΣΑΕ prides itself of its excellent and varied social events. Activities range from traditional D.J.’d mixers to extensively decorated and costumed theme/band parties. Each Brother and Pledge is entitled to take full advantage of the social outlets offered by ΣΑΕ. The interaction between guests and members of our house greatly aids in the complete development of the collegiate man. In the past several years, we have enlarged the scope of our social activities to offer the chance for more informal gatherings such as bowling, ski trips, professional sporting events, paint ball, and white water rafting. It is our belief that everyone needs to occasionally remove himself from his studies and the house to take some time to relax. When we do return to our work, we are refreshed and avoid being “burnt out”, a common condition at CMU. Furthermore, we participate in 2 to 3 charities each semester including: Habitat for Humanity, Make-A-Wish, Walk-for-the-blind, and FoodBank. Giving back to the community is an important part of a fraternity as well as our social bonding.