After a five-year absence, Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity will re-colonize at the University on March 23.
Transfer students Scott Sicard, Blake Tucker and Stephen Garcia were initiated into SAE at other universities and are leading the return to campus.
The University suspended SAE in 1997 after the death of pledge Benjamin Wynne on Bid Day night. Wynne died from acute alcohol poisoning with a blood alcohol level of .588.
Business sophomore Blake Tucker said he has been functioning as the unofficial president after writing a letter about re-colonization to the SAE nationals last summer. He was then put in charge of undergraduate recruitment.
According to the University’s Interfraternity Council Expansion Policy, for the interest group to become a fraternity, it first must be officially recognized as a colony for at least one semester by the IFC. After being granted a charter by the National fraternity, the colony becomes an active member of IFC.
Victor Felts, director of Greek Affairs and associate Dean of Students, said he and the Interfraternity Council have been planning the fraternity’s return for the past two years. SAE has been eligible for re-colonization since 2001.
Biological sciences sophomore Scott Sicard got involved in the process in fall 2003 and said he is now taking two leadership classes to better equip himself for his duties.
Sicard said it is a difficult process, but they have formed a good relationship with Greek Affairs and everyone seems to be excited to have SAE back on campus.
“We are relating with the University very well,” Sicard said. “We have a lot of history at LSU.”
Along with an alumni support board, the local interest group currently is interviewing prospective members.
Felts said the chapter had around 100 students interested overall.
SAE hopes to hand out bids to about 40 potential members next week, followed by a public ceremony in the union, Tucker said.
Sicard said they are looking for quality, not quantity.
“The re-colonizing chapter needs to be amazing,” Sicard said. “All it takes is one guy to get a fraternity kicked off of campus.”
Sicard also said most of the prospective new members are either freshmen who were advised to focus on academics their first year, or Sigma Nu pledges who did not get initiated before being suspended last month.
“Others see it as something new they can contribute to and have a say-so in,” Sicard said. “A lot of people like that advantage.”
The Louisiana Alpha chapter of SAE at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette was suspended in February on hazing violations.
Felts said he did not think that the ULL chapter will have much effect on the re-colonization here.
“The incident at ULL will only strengthen their commitment to no hazing at LSU,” Felts said.
The colony will participate in recruitment next fall and currently is looking into renting an unoccupied house on campus.
“We’re talking to the DKE’s about possibly renting their house while raising money from nationals and alumni,” Sicard said.
SAE is still unsure if they will build a new house or move into an empty residence currently on campus.
Fraternity to return to campus
March 4, 2004