More than a year after the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house fire, and a year of being on social probation, the fraternity is once again active on campus.
On the night of March 22, 2014, SAE’s fraternity house caught fire in the middle of the night, destroying the house.
After the incident, the fraternity was put on social probation from August 2014 to August 2015. Over the course of the year, many sanctions had to be completed by the chapter.
The chapter as a whole completed programming events, alcohol and risk management training, and a thousand community service hours over the course of their probation.
“It was really rough for myself and the guys for really the first whole semester,” said Ryan Gibbons, SAE president. “But eventually we just banded together, and said we were going to beat this thing as one.”
“The probation was hard on the chapter, but they are emerging as a stronger chapter because of it,” said Katie Williams, director of student activities.
As of August 2015, the chapter is now allowed to participate in formal rush with the other fraternities on campus, as well as have rush events at the new house.
The chapter held a number of events during the week of rush, which included a game night, a Master’s night, a formal True Gentleman night and a Low Country Boil with a performance by Jake Hoot.
“I expect everything to go smoothly, and I’m looking forward to everything getting back to normal,” Gibbons said.
“Things have definitely been feeling different over the last couple of years with two years ago having our old house on Seventh, last year not being able to utilize a house at all, to this year having the availability to use our new house,” said Mark Phillippi, one of SAE’s rush chairs. “It’s really exciting getting to bring these new guys down, and let them see our new house that I thought would never be built when I was a freshman.”
On Sept. 18, the chapter is planning on teaming up with fellow fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta, and holding a registered toga party. It will be the first registered party SAE has held in almost a year and a half.
