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After a three-year hiatus, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity will return to the University of Wisconsin Greek system after gaining approval from the Interfraternity Council Monday.
SAE was shut down in spring 2006 and put on a five-semester suspension period after IFC voted to revoke the chapter’s fraternity status. The sanctions stemmed from a complaint filed shortly after a Halloween party that resulted in 266 citations, $94,000 in fines and fire code violations. However, the contents of the complaint and specifics of the reasons behind the suspension have never been released.
This fall, SAE President and UW sophomore Jon Osmundson led the process to revive the fraternity on campus after being alerted by his brother, a former SAE member, the suspension period had ended.
As a freshman, Osmundson began contacting members of SAE’s national board and the regional director to begin the colonization process.
Osmundson and 12 other UW students interested in seeing SAE return worked throughout the past summer with alumni and the housing board to ensure the fraternity would have a place on campus come fall.
“This was a big chance for me to get involved and learn skills, communicate with people and organize events,” Osmundson said.
The approval to colonize allows SAE to be considered a part of the Greek system, though they remain without an official charter title while they go through a potentially two-year test period. Osmundson said the colony must keep up a good GPA, host alumni events and participate in community service before they are able to be re-chartered.
Due to the past violations, the colony has been put on a 12-month social probation, prohibiting them from having alcohol at social events.
“We are all under 21, so it’s not that big of a deal because it is illegal for us to drink anyway,” Osmundson said.
To assure the mistakes of past SAE members will not be repeated, they have appointed risk managers and are receiving help from alumni, Osmundson said.
“We don’t think it will be an issue because we are not affiliated with those guys,” Osmundson said. “We haven’t built off any habits of theirs, we are just learning from their mistakes.”
SAE was very upfront about their past risk management issues, IFC Graduate Adviser Tina Gislason said.
She said they have strong support in place to ensure past mistakes will not be repeated.
“IFC members expressed their confidence in SAE’s alumni support and would not have voted to allow them back on campus if they did not think they were going to make a positive contribution to the Greek system and the UW campus as a whole,” Gislason said.
The colony currently consists of around 20 sophomores who became close friends during their freshman year, Vice President Ben Goldman said.
“Basically the type of guys in SAE are mostly guys who looked at frats last fall or spring, thought about joining, but for one reason or another we couldn’t find one we were in love with,” Goldman said.
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People just can’t seem to let two year old discontinued practices go.
You were not a SigEp
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I remember walking down the street later that day thinking “christ, it smells like shit out here!” only to realize in the papers that it actually was shit. My one concern is over how it took a week for someone to burn their house down? If it was me I would have used one of those buckets as fuel and started right then and there.
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SAE is the shit.
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Right. Sig Ep started as the Saturady Night Club at Jerry Morano’s at the corner of Broad and Madison, in Richmond.
Like the SAE house, in the years leading up to 2008, the UW Sig Ep chapter fell into drugs and disrepute, plus poor decision making. Sig Ep became known as a big drug house, and their members were not paying their bills.
In 2008-2009, they were on probation due to the “bucket incident” but then held an unauthorized party at the TKE house, Spring 2009.
Today they are stuck with new members who are some of the lowest on campus, who joined the 8 from last spring. The existing members have either left school or have no interest in returning to Sig Ep and paying social dues…for what??
In other words, the chains across the chest are now unshackled and the sands of time are running low for a chapter that will soon be shut down.
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There goes the neighborhood.
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The IFC delegation also voted to allow Beta Theta Chi to colonize on campus at the same meeting. But does the Badger Herald mention that in their article or simply focus on the negative publicity associated with Sigma Alpha Epsilon, even though every active member at the time of the halloween party has graduated and moved on. More “fair and balanced” coverage of the Greek community from the Badger Herald
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*Beta Chi Theta
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SAE doesn’t drink? hahaha. Then why do they have huge pre-game parties every saturday morning with beer cans everywhere and drunk girls screaming at the top of their lungs? Maybe the university should actually take the time to investigate a frat before they reinstate them.
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The SAE house is currently occupied by another fraternity. Maybe you should take the time to investigate before posting uninformed remarks…
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Congrats to SAE and all its new members for bringing back a strong institution that will represent the organization and campus of Madison in a much needed positive light. I’ve met some of the founding members, and think they are the perfect “true gentleman” to lead a charge that will better represent the Greek system on campus and bring back the positive traditions that Fraternities we’re initially founded upon.
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Congrats to SAE and all its new members for bringing back a strong institution that will represent the organization and campus of Madison in a much needed positive light. I’ve met some of the founding members, and think they are the perfect “true gentleman” to lead a charge that will better represent the Greek system on campus and bring back the positive traditions that Fraternities we’re initially founded upon.
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SAE and SIG EP are not the same, learn your stuff
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As a member of another “big house” on campus, I congratulate you guys on being reinstated and look forward to having more like minded houses on IFC and in the community.
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Anyone bashing these kids to take the time and effort to resurrect this institution CLEARLY has no clue what they’re talking about. These kids are all good kids and I have full faith in them. They WILL succeed and you’ll all learn to live with it.
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Osmundson is President?!
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there is a lot of hate and misconceptions being expressed here. as an actual former member of the house, i am pumped to help these kids get back to basics - forming relationships and ties that will last a life time and help them mature and meet people from around the country. the rest of this hate can die off with your egos that clearly never made it out of middle school. to all of you that are happy to see us back - cheers.
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I doubt that new management will change SAE’s proud 100+ year reputation as a bunch of apes.
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Yeah, because it’s not like it’s a different group of kids COMPLETELY removed from those who messed up in the past. Good lord.
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Whoever put that effort in to reinstate the SAE chapter is a good man. And you know he will make this chapter the best at UW. When I come to Madison in the future, I know one place that will be very accepting and full of good guys
-SAB
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You’re a terrible writer. Seriously, quit referring to them as a colony! I laughed every time I read it. What a poor and obvious use of the “synonyms” function on Word.
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Wow you are an idiot. They are considered a colony because they have not been granted an official charter, meaning that they cannot be technically called a fraternity. Read the story dumbass.
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You’re a terrible writer. Seriously, quit referring to them as a colony! I laughed every time I read it. What a poor and obvious use of the “synonyms” function on Word.
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Dumbass…”colony” is the technical term used exactly in that circumstance. Don’t be so quite to judge the writer when you yourself don’t know what you’re talking about. Great job, Taylor! A very well written and ACCURATE story.
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“so quick”
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all frats suck, its all trash
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Phi Alpha Boys - sounds like we’re Baaaaack!!!!!
This guy Osmundson (well played) sounds like the Kroger of our house…he’s really hoping to boost up the active’s GPA with some solid mid-terms!!
Will Drew-boy be back in the fold?
SAE Class of ‘92
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Where are they going to live? They need to make a play to get our house back!
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Sigma Alpha Epsilon isn’t SigEp
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We’ve been talking to the SAE housing board and it looks like we are going to get the old house back.
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i dont know how bad these new SAE kids would be, but living right across the street from the SAE house, I would love to see the Sammies gone, they are partying all weekday nights