Even with social distancing in full effect all over campus, it is still possible to build connections.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon is one of largest fraternities in the nation. They have initiated over 350,000 members, making their connections run deep across the country. They were founded on March 9, 1856 at the University of Alabama. The local chapter of at Ferris was founded by Bruce Traverse on September 15, 1973.
SAE stands to promote the highest standards of friendship, scholarship, service and brotherhood for their members. The current chapter size at Ferris is 26 brothers. They strive to push each other to be better men in their everyday life and scholars in the classroom. Ferris Senior Facility Management Major and President of SAE Kyler White is a legacy for the Ferris chapter. White had two uncles that belonged to the chapter he now leads. White said that he joined during his second year at Ferris.
“After being nominated and elected into the role, I was ecstatic to be trusted and given the opportunity to lead and help shaped the chapter for the future,” White said. “It has truly been an honor to lead this chapter alongside my fellow executive board members and I feel as though the work we have all put in this past summer has shaped up the chapter to continue to be successful and thrive for the next 10 to 20 years.”
White said that SAE plans to follow all the local, state and national guidelines that are set in place to keep everyone safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though this may be challenging for the chapter, they have worked together to find the best way to survive.
Welding engineering sophomore Jerod Goodale is a second-year member of SAE. He said that one of the favorite parts about the brotherhood is that they are all laid back and chill guys. He said from the start, he felt super comfortable with the members and they welcomed him with open arms. Goodale’s greatest memory so far is a trip with a few of his brothers to Canada over New Years. He said that the fraternity has big plans for when everything gets under control with the virus.
“We are going to use this semester as a springboard for the future,” Goodale said. “We are going to make sure that we have all of our T’s crossed and I’s dotted. No distractions with intramural sports or major events like a true Homecoming.”
Goodale says that having a good community like SAE will allow a person to grow. They strive to be true gentleman and he knows that he will always have 30 brothers to back him up. The bonds that he made will last a lifetime and most of the guys will be standing in his wedding one day.
One of the biggest struggles the fraternity faced this past year was the direction they were going to take within their house. The brothers were looking to move off Stewart street, but once they started to move stuff out of the house, they realized that they needed to stay there. The chapter was able to fundraise money to renovate their house. In the end, it made them stronger as a brotherhood and reaffirmed alumni connections that they thought they had lost.
2020 has been referred to as the worst year of many college students’ lives to-date. With COVID-19, huge political issues, and now the death of many people’s personal favorite superhero, Black Panther, it is looking even dimmer. To many incoming students there isn’t much to look forward to this semester, but for the brothers of SAE, they are still finding ways to strengthen their brotherhood.
SAE wants to change the way people look at Greek life. They strive to make every man into a true gentleman.