Michael Rotellini
mrotell1@uwyo.edu
Sigma Phi Epsilon or more commonly referred to on campus, as SigEp is a fraternity on campus that signifies the principles of virtue, diligence and brotherly love.
The Wyoming Alpha chapter of SigEp was first established on campus in 1943 but then disbanded in 1963. SigEp chartered again in 1995 and just celebrated 20 years on campus this last August.
Jordan Blazovich, senior journalism major and social media chair for SigEp, said SigEp also are unique among other fraternities as the first non-pledging fraternity.
“Gentlemen who join are members right away,” Blazovich said. “Members develop life skills and knowledge about the fraternity in three progressive classes: Sigma class, Phi class and Brother Mentor class.”
Blazovich said the SigEp chapter is also a Balanced Man Program chapter , which is a program where members focus on individual growth in academic excellence, leadership, life skills, mentoring and community service.
National SigEp was founded on Nov. 1, 1901 at Richmond College, which is now the University of Richmond.
Cameron Sloan, vice president of SigEp, said SigEp follows a living motto of, “This Fraternity will be different” and has done steps to do just that with SigEp being the only first non-pledging fraternity but SigEp has also instituted an education foundation focusing on members academic progress.
“SigEp was the first fraternity to set up an Educational Foundation, leading to high academic success allowing SigEp to become the first fraternity with a cumulative GPA above a 3.0,” Sloan said. “Last year, SigEp achieved the highest GPA in our fraternity’s history with a 3.14.”
Sloan said last semester SigEp got the highest fraternity GPA with a 3.251 GPA and are constantly looking into ways to improve their involvement with the community and University.
Not only does the chapter look to improve its own members but it also looks to improve other organizations as well.
Every year SigEp hosts their annual Date Auction that is taking place on Dec. 5 this year. The Date Auction is an event where the gentlemen of the SigEp chapter perform catwalk routines after an evening of poker, blackjack and other table games.
“The men are then auctioned off as dates for anyone interested,” Sloan said. “This year they will also be including items donated by some businesses in Laramie as silent auction items, raffle items or date package items to be auctioned off during the main event.”
Sloan said all of the proceeds for the Date Auction event go to their national philanthropic organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters.
According to the Big Brothers Big Sisters website, Big Brothers Big Sister is the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 6 through 18, in communities across the country.
SigEp and Kappa Kappa Gamma are also doing a joint fundraising event this Saturday before the Border War. This is the first year they are doing this event.
KKG’s SigEpic Tailgate will take place this Saturday, prior to the border war. There will be food and games available KKG and SigEp and all the money raised will go to both Big Brothers Big Sisters and Reading is Fundamental.
SigEp hopes to raise $3,000 toward Big Brothers and Big Sisters this year and hopes to raise more money with KKG’s SigEpic Tailgate.
Blazovich said individuals in fraternity and sorority life believe there is a stigma about Greek life and feel that it doesn’t reflect what the University of Wyoming chapters have to show for it.
“I think people still view Greek Life with this ‘Animal House’ mentality, that everybody is rowdy and wild and a bunch of partiers. Nothing could be further from the truth,” Blazovich said. “People involved in Greek Life are very involved on campus and in the community. We’ve had people who volunteer at the local food pantry and have been a Big Brother to someone in the community. I’m most impressed with how Greek Life gives back to organizations.”
