Several students on campus participate in greek life, yet very few of us take the time to think about how these organizations came to be. After two years of hard work and perseverance, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity that was created in 2007 has gained national recognition. Nov. 21, 2009 will mark their official acceptance as a national chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. SAE is the only fraternity at Gustavus that can boast this national status.

The road to becoming a nationally recognized fraternity was filled with obstacles and challenges. “It’s been a lot of hard work, and it’s good to know that it has paid off,” Junior Communication Studies Major John Rasmussen said, who is a member of SAE.

This hard work began with becoming a chapter-in-training, also known as a colony. “We were colonized on Oct. 19, 2007,” Junior Political Science Major Brian Krahulec said, the vice-president of SAE. “From that point we were recognized by the campus as a chapter, but only as a colony of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.”

The transition from a colony to a national chapter required a strict adherence to policy and tradition. Not only did the members of SAE need to maintain the required GPA, they additionally needed to recruit enough members to be considered by the national organization. They were also required to meet with an investigation team and present their case for becoming a national fraternity. The report made by this investigation team included “a recommendation for chapter status,” Krahulec said, “for which we were recommended unanimously.”

The recommendation from the investigation team was then sent to the Supreme Council, along with documents from SAE demonstrating their intent. “The Supreme Council votes on whether or not to send out a mail ballot,” Krahulec said. The Supreme Council voted unanimously to send out this mail ballot, “which means that they support us becoming a chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon,” Krahulec said.

The benefits of becoming a nationally recognized fraternity are numerous. “A national fraternity can help with future careers,” Senior International Management Major Ignacio Belmonte, the president of SAE said. “Becoming national means that we are accountable to a higher standard which helps us be our best.”

“The national fraternities provide a support system and can give us advice,” Krahulec said.

This maturation into a national chapter is not only good for the SAE reputation, but is a crowning achievement for its members as well. “I’ve never been more excited,” Rasmussen said.

Other members echo this sentiment. “To be recognized on a national level is important to me. Each one of us is held to a higher standard which accompanies the longstanding tradition of the True Gentleman code of SAE. National recognition is beneficial because it provides us with a network of alumni and active members all across the nation,” Junior Health Fitness Major Dain Clausen said, a member of SAE.

Other organizations on campus are sharing in the SAE excitement as well. “It will be such a great experience for all of them. They’re going to love it,” Junior Health Fitness Major Morgan Nelsen, a member of the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority said. The Sigmas are also nationally recognized and have felt the same excitement as the SAE fraternity. “Being in a national sorority is such a cool honor because not only are you held to a higher standard, but you also have connections to people all over the country,” Nelsen said.

The journey to becoming a national chapter was guided by advisers John Bulcock and Program Director for the Community Service center Dave Newell. Through this journey the members of SAE have gained a strong sense of camaraderie and brotherhood that will stay with them long after their college careers have ended.

“One of the most important sayings that we have is ‘SAE for life,’” Belmonte said.