How much money would you  spend to see the gentlemen of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity (SAE) shave their heads bald? During the past week, Gustavus students and faculty had the chance to do just that.

As part of Paddy Murphy Week, SAE has tabled for “Bic-A-Brother,” in which students and faculty had the opportunity to donate loose change or cash in the name of a specific SAE brother. The five brothers with the most money by the end of the week will have their heads shaved in Eckman Mall on Monday, April 26 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

“We have been planning this week since last fall, starting with the basics of how we thought the week should go. We looked at how other SAE chapters participate in it across the country and drew ideas from them, allowing us to create our own unique philanthropy here at Gustavus,” Junior Political Science Major and SAE President Brian Krahulec said.

Bic-A-Brother is just one of the many events SAE is sponsoring as  part of their week-long philanthropy. The idea of Paddy Murphy Week follows a long standing tradition of the national SAE Fraternity which celebrates their history, values and brotherhood.

Paddy Murphy was a bootlegger in the early 1900s and was also known to make deals with Al Capone. In the midst of one of the deals, Elliot Ness raided the gathering and attempted to force Murphy to surrender. Instead of surrendering, Murphy reached for a gun and Ness shot him down. While Murphy lay dying on the floor from the gunshot wound, he gave Ness the secret handshake which is only known to the brothers of SAE. Ness, a member of SAE, realized he had killed a fellow brother and ordered that Murphy have an honorary burial. This legend gives way to the immense brotherhood that exists in SAE, which is then celebrated over the course of Paddy Murphy Week.

The SAE brothers are also sponsoring a Ms. Paddy Murphy Court, consisting of one member from each sorority on campus. These women were elected to the court by their chapters based on the values that SAE holds. The court consists of Senior English and Theatre Major Andrea Gullixson, Junior Communication Studies Major Bergit Nerheim, Junior Management and Mathematics Major Kelsey Manning, Sophomore Bree Ceranske, Junior Communication Studies and Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies Major Emily Eddy and Junior Religion and Sociology and Anthropology Major Shalanda Staten. On Tuesday, April 27 Ms. Paddy Murphy will be crowned from this court based on an election conducted by the brothers.

Following the crowing of Ms. Paddy Murphy, SAE will hold a Nerf Gun fight at 9:00 p.m. in Confer-Vickner as a recruitment event for any gentleman interested in joining SAE in the fall. Recruits are encouraged to come meet the brothers and ask any questions they may have about the fraternity.

On Wednesday, SAE is sponsoring a brotherhood arboretum cleanup which the entire campus is invited to participate in. Along with cleaning, volunteers will also remove invasive willows that surround the ponds and wetlands of the arboretum.
The rest of the week consists of a Paddy Murphy Wake on Thursday and a formal banquet on Friday.

“I am really looking forward to the banquet we are having at the WOW Zone in Mankato. We rented out the restaurant for a formal dinner, and then we will finish off the night with mini golf and laser tag in our formal attire,” Krahulec said.

Saturday wraps up the week-long event with Paddy Murphy Night at Patrick’s on Third, which will take place from 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., and live music will be provided by the Mo Murken Band. In addition, students can purchase Paddy Melt Baskets for $10 from SAE outside of the Market Place. These can then be picked up on Saturday night, where half of the cost of the basket benefits Cystic Fibrosis.

“Overall, Paddy Murphy Week is going to be a great way to bond as a brotherhood and get involved in the community, which is something we have not heavily focused on since we got chartered last fall,” Krahulec said.