RESOLUTION ON THE TRUE GENTLEMAN EXPERIENCE & OKLAHOMA KAPPA

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1 RESOLUTION ON THE TRUE GENTLEMAN EXPERIENCE & OKLAHOMA KAPPA AUTHOR: Ryan T. Martin SPONSORS: Convention Resolution Committee WHEREAS, the Fraternity has seen fit to evolve the pledging and new-member process in a direction heretofore unexplored; and WHEREAS, as of March 9, 2014, the Fraternity embarked on a journey to eliminate pledging that was a major change to our way of life; and WHEREAS, on March 9, 2015, the Fraternity was faced with responding to the incident at Oklahoma Kappa; WHEREAS, the past year and a half has shown that Sigma Alpha Epsilon, despite the struggle and variance that has resulted from such a drastic change, has grown stronger from the journey that resulted from our efforts; and WHEREAS, the Supreme Council has shown unerring leadership and guidance in bringing the True Gentleman Experience (TGE) to fruition and leading us through the response to the Oklahoma Kappa incident over the past year; and WHEREAS, while it is understandable that the new direction may provoke feelings of nostalgia or concern for those that have experienced something different in their time as an active member, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is confident that our new direction encompasses all that is true and good in the way of the undergraduate in the world that they currently experience; now, therefore BE IT RESOLVED that Sigma Alpha Epsilon fully endorses the True Gentleman Experience and the impact that it has on our way of life; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Sigma Alpha Epsilon applauds the leadership of the Supreme Council in that they have embarked on this course between Conventions in such a way that begets effective and appropriate leadership; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution, as a position statement, shall be forthwith included in the published version of the Fraternity Laws resulting from changes effected at the 159 th Anniversary Convention.

2 RESOLUTION ON MEMBERSHIP VALUES WHEREAS, the Fraternity celebrated its 159 th anniversary on March 9, 2015, and WHEREAS, the Fraternity s Founders Day was, for many brothers, a somber occasion, as it was surrounded by news the members at the now-closed Oklahoma Kappa chapter had participated in a racist and deplorable chant, and WHEREAS, news of the chant, once publicized, thrust the Fraternity into the national spotlight on issues surrounding internal racism and our organization s diversity, and WHEREAS, the Supreme Council and the Fraternity Service Center worked tirelessly to respond to this incident, adopting numerous changes to the Fraternity s operations and staff, and WHEREAS, the Fraternity is a member of the Greek-letter community and has many constituents, direct and indirect, internal and external, including our collegiate members, our alumni members and leaders, our Supreme Council, our Fraternity Service Center staff, our host institutions and their officials and staff, the student bodies of our host institutions, other fraternities and sororities, local governments, the media and the general public, and WHEREAS, it is vital for the Fraternity to be an active member in this community and for the Fraternity to forge lasting bonds and relationships with each of our constituents, and WHEREAS, the Fraternity, in light of this incident and its aftermath, has persevered despite these challenges, yet has been the subject of many criticisms, and WHEREAS, chief among these criticisms is that the Fraternity is intentionally restrictive in its membership and is, at its core, an exclusive organization; now, therefore BE IT RESOLVED that this Fraternity is and ought to be an exclusive organization: an organization that is exclusively for those men who live The True Gentleman each and every day of their lives; an organization that is exclusively comprised of members who are their brothers keeper; an organization that is exclusively for brothers who build brotherhood among all in their shapters and the Fraternity s ranks and not to the detriment of our newer generation; an organization that is exclusively for collegiate students who put their faith, family and academic work above their fraternal lives; an organization that is exclusively for alumni members who will continue to provide whatever form and amount of support they can, as they may leave the Fraternity better than they found it; and an organization that is exclusively for those leaders who desire to have a positive impact on a global scale; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that no man s membership experience in this Fraternity, from his first day as a potential new member to his last day before he joins the Chapter

3 Eternal, shall in any way be affected by his race, his color, his religion, his sexual orientation, his national origin, his age or his physical ability; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Convention applauds and appreciates the hard work the Supreme Council and the Fraternity Service Center have done to reaffirm the core of our membership values, and that the Convention looks forward to, and indeed expects, the zealous defense of these ideals in all of the Fraternity s operations by our volunteer leadership and professional staff; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Fraternity acknowledges that this work mandates that our organization be inclusive in thought, in practice and in appearance throughout all aspects of our organizational identities, including its policies and procedures, its membership and its leadership; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Fraternity will continue to be a bold leader in the Greek-letter community when it comes to confronting and surmounting threats to these values, ensuring that this Fraternity, its values and its members reflect the collegiate experience taking place at our host institutions.

4 RESOLUTION ON THE FRATERNITY RITUAL AND ITS PROPER USE WHEREAS, it is proper and fitting to understand the historical significance and ideals of the Ritual of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity original prescribed by our founders; WHEREAS, the Ritual acts as unification unique only to initiated members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon; WHEREAS, it is appropriate to recognize members of the fraternity with physical symbols of the secret grip, salute, and badge; WHEREAS, the ceremonial practices of the initiation ceremony for the installation of officers, opening ceremony, closing ceremony, memorial service, and burial service should be performed with the most solemn and sacred rites; now, therefore BE IT RESOLVED that each chapter collegiate shall follow the prescribed course of performance for all Ritual ceremonies. BE IT RESOLVED that each member performing a part in any ceremony practices and memorizes his part so as to make a lasting impression. BE IT RESOLVED that songs are to be rehearsed prior to and performed during the appropriate parts of the initiation ceremony. BE IT RESOLVED that each initiated member in good standing is to be present during any and all initiation ceremonies. BE IT RESOLVED that an inventory that an inventory be taken each semester to evaluate the conditions of the robes, Ritual paraphernalia, flag and Ritual books. Should any of these be found in poor condition or lost, that efforts be made to replace any items through chapter or alumni fundraising projects. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these statements of position of the uses of the Ritual be implemented as endorsed by the 129 th Anniversary Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 16-18, 1985.

5 RESOLUTION ON SUSPENSION AND REINSTATEMENT PROCEDURES WHEREAS, the procedures on suspension of membership and the subsequent reinstatement of members are not fully enunciated in Fraternity Laws; and WHEREAS, the Realm seeks guidance on appropriate procedures governing same; now, therefore hereby directs the Supreme Council and Fraternity Service Center staff to provide a comprehensive set of guidelines as to the procedures and policies around the suspension and reinstatement of members.

6 RESOLUTION ON MEN S-HEALTH ISSUES WHEREAS, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is faced with a number of issues regarding the health and wellness of its members; and WHEREAS, issues and afflictions such as alcohol abuse, drug/narcotic use and abuse, and sexually transmitted diseases are a real and lasting problem within our ranks; and WHEREAS, the mental, physical and spiritual health of our brothers is of the utmost importance; now, therefore supports a newly reinvigorated focus on men s-health issues; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Convention directs the Supreme Council to provide programming, resources and guidance to the Realm as it relates to improving the health and wellness of our members.

7 RESOLUTION ON RECOGNITION OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL WHEREAS, the Biennium has come to a close; and WHEREAS, the Supreme Council, as represented by Eminent Supreme Archon Brad Cohen, Eminent Supreme Deputy Archon Steven Churchill, Eminent Supreme Warden Thomas Dement, Eminent Supreme Herald Gregory Brandt, and Eminent Supreme Chronicler Michael Corelli, has provided exceptional leadership to the Realm over the past Biennium; and WHEREAS, recognition of the extremely difficult choices the Council has made as well as the strong leadership the Council has provided, is wholly appropriate; now, therefore congratulates the Supreme Council of the Biennium for their yeoman-like service.

8 RESOLUTION ON RECOGNITION OF PAST ESA LOUIS H. SMITH WHEREAS, Louis H. Lou Smith s ending convention as ESA was here in Newport Beach in 1979, here at the same hotel; and WHEREAS, Sigma Alpha Epsilon treasures and cherishes the contribution that Past ESAs make to the Realm; and WHEREAS, Brother Smith s tireless devotion and service to the Realm is noted and fully acknowledged; now, therefore recognizes Brother Smith for his many years of service.

9 RESOLUTION ON RECOGNITION OF THE FRATERNITY SERVICE CENTER STAFF WHEREAS, the Biennium has come to a close; and WHEREAS, the Fraternity Service Center staff, led by Blaine K. Ayers as Eminent Supreme Recorder/Executive Director, have kept the operations of the Fraternity humming smoothly and appropriately active/reactive to all that has occurred; and WHEREAS, few organizations, whether fraternal or otherwise, have the caliber and capability to handle such distress and challenge, and we are blessed to have those who work and serve the Fraternity full time; and WHEREAS, recognition of the extremely difficult time that Staff have endured in the past biennium is wholly appropriate; now, therefore congratulates the Fraternity Service Center staff from the Biennium for their service.