Our Creed (The True Gentleman)
For almost three-quarters of a century, our Brothers have been guided by these simple but powerful words. They have inspired us in times of discouragement, guided us in times of confusion, humbled us at our moments of great achievement, and bonded us across all distance and time. In many ways the words penned by John Walter Wayland are Sigma Alpha Epsilon, to members and non-members alike. No other piece of writing captures so completely our intentions and standards; no other works sums up so concisely what we stand for, aspire to, and work toward in everything we do.

 

---

The True Gentleman is the man whose conduct proceeds from good will and an acute sense of propriety, and whose self-control is equal to all emergencies; who does not make the poor man conscious of his poverty, the obscure man of his obscurity, or any man of his inferiority or deformity; who is himself humbled if necessity compels him to humble another; who does not flatter wealth, cringe before power, or boast of his own possessions or achievements; who speaks with frankness but always with sincerity and sympathy; whose deed follows his word; who thinks of the rights and feelings of others, rather than his own; and who appears well in any company, a man with whom honor is sacred and virtue safe.

- John Walter Wayland (Virginia Omicron 1899)

 

---

Other Reasons

Brotherhood:
Brotherhood is the most fundamental aspect of fraternity life. It is the common strand that intertwines every SAE member, drawing us together by shared goals and experiences. Through this special kind of friendship, every SAE makes a commitment to something outside himself, a commitment to people, to friends. Whether you need someone to give you a ride to a class because you're late, or someone to listen to your problems at three o'clock in the morning, you can count on a brother being there to help. SAE is like a family, and like a family, SAE’s honestly care for every one of their brothers. In SAE, the friendships you sow and cultivate will flourish for life. With such strong brotherhood as a springboard, you can become a better leader, a better citizen, and a True Gentleman.

Leadership:
It is well known that fraternity members enjoy a much higher involvement in campus and community life than non-fraternity members. Holding an office in the local chapter is a great experience involving working with a group, and in innovative thinking and problem solving. There is a reason that Greeks hold 85% of the upper-level executive positions in the "Fortune 500 Companies", and that is because of their experiences they are better qualified in working with people and delegating authority. The Sigma Alpha Epsilon pledge program is designed to help nurture and develop leadership in all of our potential members. Annually SAE hosts a national leadership conference in Chicago which is open to members from all of our 200 chapters around the country.

Scholarship:
A study by the Department of Health and Welfare has concluded that "Fraternity membership has been clearly associated with persistence to graduation." Hundreds of SAE brothers are currently participating in the student loan program through the national fraternity. Our foundation also sponsors the Residential Educational Advisor Program, which employs graduate students to serve as educational advisors in our chapters. Members of a fraternity are exposed to many different types of people from all over the world, with different backgrounds and different interests. There is no best fraternity, only a best fraternity for each individual. You have the opportunity to be apart of something that spans two countries and is a calculated 2% of all American Citizens - Go Greek.

Fun:
Although we are similar to a business, we are a social fraternity. Whether we're dealing with business, doing philanthropy work, partying, or just kicking back, it's always a fun time. There are always brothers to hang out when you might feel like there's nothing to do. Mixers, parties, and other activities enhance the college experience and make this commuter school feel more like a community. You can always find a brother walking through the halls, and there is always something to do. The relationships and friendships that you build as an SAE continue on for a lifetime.