Over the past year, the Louisiana Chi chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon has exemplified the ideal fraternity in its practices, standards, and values. Louisiana Chi members dedicate themselves to the ritual and strive to be perfect True Gentlemen in every aspect of their lives on campus and in the world. The chapter has proven itself year after year.
Maintaining our standards, the chapter surpassed their high academic excellence, raised thousands of dollars for philanthropy, tirelessly dedicated themselves to community service, and became the ideal male leaders on Nicholls’ campus.
Recruitment efforts got started in early summer. The orientation programs gave our members a foundation to build our recruiting list off of. We took these lists and held a tubing trip, sent them mail outs throughout the summer, emailed potential new members, mailed a letter to their parents, and sent them our recruitment DVD. This was all used to get them to consider Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Then we used more events, phone calls, and emails to sign them up for recruitment.
The SAE World Series was once again a huge event for our chapter. We brought over 100 members, dates, and family members to the tournaments alone. We had two teams in the event and fell one game short of winning, coming in as runner-up of the entire field. The New Orleans Area Alumni Association awarded our chapter as “Best Dressed” and “Most Spirited”, as well as coming in 2nd place.
Fall rush came in late August. Ninety five people signed up for rush, however, only seventy two showed up. Sixty were offered and accepted bids from one of the six fraternities on our campus. Twenty three of those sixty chose to join Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Only four people rejected our bid invitation, as we only offered twenty seven bids. Bid Day was a Hawaiian theme and was a huge success. We barbecued and had tents set up in on one of the member’s parent’s patio and backyard. Alumni came in to celebrate with us and meet the new members. Rush was once again a huge success, the chapter pretty much got who they wanted.
The men of the chapter also volunteered to help with sorority recruitment, dorm move in, Freshman Institute, and Welcome Back Day. The chapter then attended and donated to Maggie’s Heart, a foundation promoted by Sigma Sigma Sigma for a disabled young girl in the area. The chapter also supported Phi Mu’s alcohol awareness program by sending numerous attendees. The chapter sponsored and promoted a Men’s Health forum for all students and the Greek community. The chapter also sponsored a garden clean up project in the community and a “Sock Hop” social that was a huge success.
The chapter volunteered to help run Race for the Cure, volunteered on a local state election campaign, and participated in NPHC Trick or Treat for underprivileged children in early October. Homecoming was in mid October and saw the chapter have five of the eight men on the University’s Homecoming Court representing SAE. They were elected by the student body. The chapter constructed two floats in the parade and this was once again the fall pledge class project. Many actives volunteered to work together with the new members and build the floats.
The chapter threw a huge tailgate party before the football game with food and a band. Alumni, friends, family, and members enjoyed the music, food, and drinks and it was once again a huge success.
On top of all this, an SAE was the Homecoming Chairman in charge of planning all of the events for the entire University. The football team narrowly lost in the championship game of the football season, keeping us in close contention to win Athletics. Also, every sorority football team was coached by an SAE. The chapter’s Big Brother/Little Brother program came to a successful close with another great ceremony and unveiling of big brothers.
Sorority Sweetheart kicked off the month of November. This is an event that the three sororities sponsor to raise money for their joint Philanthropy. An SAE won first, second, and third place of the event for the third year in a row. Sigma Sigma Sigma also had their semi-formal and their chapter announced they voted on their chapter Sweetheart, also an SAE. Members from the chapter also once again bartended for the “Cross Roads Gala”, a local pregnancy help center fundraiser. We also volunteered to set up for Thibodauxville and The Main Street Cook-Off, two big events in the community. The chapter sponsored a “Purple Rain” eighties themed social in the middle of the month, which was another huge success. The Stay-Up-A-Thon ended the month, which is our annual fundraiser for the Children’s Miracle Network. Over 25 hours, ballroom dancing lessons, basketball, poker, and volleyball tournaments later, the chapter had raised over $6,000 for the CMN.
Also, “Who's Who” was awarded to 74 students on campus, 24 of them being members of the chapter. University President Dr. Stephen Hulbert commented on how many SAE's were being inducted at the event, calling it “truly amazing”. December brought the close to the semester, but members found time to volunteer with Delta Zeta Christmas caroling at the local nursing homes. The chapter once again had the highest grade point average by a landslide with a 3.02 Fall GPA. Chapter retreat was held at a retreat center in Istrouma, LA, where many business aspects were covered. The members also had a ton of brotherhood activities that brought them closer together. The chapter closed with our annual Christmas Party for all of the members. The Alumni Association also put on a Christmas Party that was a great success.
The chapter began volunteering to distribute the campus newspaper in late January. Also, spring rush events were started. A “Pajama Party” was sponsored by the chapter in early February, another great time and success. Phi Mu and Delta Zeta both elected an SAEfor the second straight year, as their Sweetheart. Chapter members volunteered for Scholar’s Day, Senior Day, and Junior Day, all new student events put on by Admissions. Three SAE’s spoke at Scholars Day to the University’s most accomplished incoming students. Province Convention closed out the month. The chapter was given the Ritual, Community Service, Chapter Management, Chapter Achievement, and J.L. Jim Pope Zeal Award by Province Theta. An alumnus of the chapter was elected Province Archon,
Province Deputy Archon, and Alumni Secretary on the Province Council. Also, and undergraduate member was elected as the council representative from Louisiana.
The Chili Bowl kicked off March. With ten teams, ticket sales, donations, and sponsorships, the philanthropy for Relay-4-Life was a huge success. The chapter also had a can shake and volunteered for an entire weekend at a local skeet shooting tournament. Through all these events, the chapter raised well over $5,000 for Relay-4-Life. The volleyball team also won the intramural championship. The chapter also volunteered to help facilitate the campus Career Day.
Many brothers went on trips together during Spring Break the last week in March. The Hall of Fame inductions for campus were in the end of March after Spring Break. Three of the ten graduating students selected by a campus committee were SAE’s. The Hall of Fame inductees are the top 1% of students graduating based on academics, involvement, service, and leadership. The chapter’s Eminent Archon was elected Greek Council President.
Relay-4-Life kicked off April, and the chapter cooked fried pickles and ran a dunking booth. With over 200 teams participating, the chapter was awarded most money raised at the event and most money raised by a student organization. A chapter member was selected and attended the Phoenix Institute at the LMT. The chapter continued to participate, as they had been throughout the year, in bi-monthly bingo at the local nursing home and holding “Ritual 101” sessions. Our two new members in the spring had a successful big bro Paddy Murphy brought about the most exciting time of the year on campus.
Paddy Murphy kicked off with a mock funeral ceremony, eulogies, and singing by the members. The chapter watched The Untouchables together the following night. The Violet Court was announced at the crawfish boil on Wednesday night. The Alumni Association sponsored a cocktail party on Thursday night. The formal was held on Friday night. Parents, friends, alumni, University administration, and the members enjoyed a great meal, silent auction, awards ceremony, and the band afterwards. Saturday night closed the week with a Black and White party. Before the party, the chapter members all volunteered for their True Gentleman Day of Service project, serving crawfish at the University’s Alumni Crawfish Boil. This is attended by University alumni, staff, and administration, and it is impressive that we all wear our letters as the only fraternity volunteering.
Greek Week closed the month, right after we won the intramural basketball championship, winning the fraternity Athletics championship. The chapter won the biggest event during the week, Songfest, for the fourth year in a row. IFC awarded the chapter the Greek Cup for the fourth year in a row, as the chapter won every area: Leadership, Academics, Athletics, and Community Service. An SAE was also elected Greek God. Four SAE’s were inducted into the Order of Omega, the only fraternity represented.
Retreat was another success and kicked off May. Graduation followed, with one member graduating cum laude and another magna cum laude, one of whom was an honors program graduate. One chapter member was named the outstanding Biology graduate. Three members were awarded foundation scholarships, two members were awarded Leadership School scholarships, and three members were awarded scholarships to UIFI. The chapter once again had the highest GPA with a 3.107. Sixteen members made over a 3.5, four over a 3.25, and eleven over a 3.0. Initiation was once again memorized and a huge success. Members attended the Human Resource Etiquette Dinner and the Alumni Association held its annual meeting andcrawfish boil.
The year was busy, but well planned and a huge success. We feel good about the direction of our chapter and the level we have reached. It has been achieved with a promise of no hazing, selling our character and values, being gentlemen at all times, and endearing ourselves to a ritual that we all strive to live by.