Sigma Alpha Mu

Sigma Alpha Mu Founded: November 26, 1909 (1909-11-26) (age 101) at City College of New York Founders: Lester Cohen Adolph I. Fabis Samuel Ginsberg Hyman I. Jacobson Jacob Kaplan Abraham N. Kerner David D. Levinson Ira N. Lind Colors: Purple and White Flower: Purple Aster

Sigma Alpha Mu (ΣΑΜ), also known as "Sammy", is a college fraternity founded at the City College of New York in 1909.^[1] Originally only for Jewish men,^[1] Sigma Alpha Mu remained so until 1953, when members from all backgrounds were accepted. Originally headquartered in New York, Sigma Alpha Mu has relocated its international headquarters to Indianapolis, Indiana. Sigma Alpha Mu now has 69 chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada.

Fraternity History

In the fall of 1909, the sophomore class at the College of the City of New York had found itself embarrassed by "lowly freshmen". At a school where "warfare" between freshman and sophomore class was a tradition, the sophomores found it necessary to regain their fallen honor. Class Marshal Lester Cohen called a meeting of sophomore leaders on November 26, 1909 to decide on a plan for redemption. Eight appeared Lester Cohen, Hyman Jacobson, Adolph I. Fabis, Samuel Ginsburg, Abraham N. Kerner, Jacob Kaplan, Ira N. Lind and David D. Levinson, who are now known as the Founders of Sigma Alpha Mu.

It is interesting to note that while there were many friends among the eight, none of them knew all the others. During the discussion which took place, much loftier ideals were expressed than the mere formulation of plans for asserting sophomore honor. The men discovered that they held many ideals in common, and the inspiration for the formation of a new fraternity came to them. During this meeting, it was suggested that the Greek Letters "Kappa Phi Omega" be used to symbolize the words "Cosmic Fraternal Order" as the new name for the fraternity. This proposal was accepted and the meeting was adjourned.

A second meeting was held a week later. It was found necessary to revise the name of the fraternity because several members had inadvertently made public the chosen name. Ginsburg then suggested a motto which was unanimously adopted and which has since remained the Fraternity motto. From that time the Fraternity was known as Sigma Alpha Mu.

The new Fraternity settled down to the accomplishment of the ideals which had promoted its creation. It was its aim to prove to the outside world that criticism and objectives leveled against fraternities in general-specious though many of those arguments may have been-were not applicable to Sigma Alpha Mu. The founders decided to plan and grow along lines different from those of existing fraternities.

Two years after the founding Sigma Alpha Mu began to grow. To a small group of five at Cornell University, the Founders imparted their ideas and inculcated their ideals, and then guided, watched and aided them-their brothers in far off Ithaca. Little wonder that Beta chapter patterned its growth as Alpha had and the two chapters, in bond of brotherhood, were as one. After this, slowly but surely, Sigma Alpha Mu expanded North, South, East and West. Sigma Alpha Mu maintains its commitment to growth and attends and assists both the old and new chapters.

The eight Founders of Sigma Alpha Mu were all of the Jewish faith, and it naturally followed that they attracted to their brotherhood men of similar background. They believed in fraternalism among Jewish college men, convinced that without it, a large number of Jewish students would be deprived of the pleasant associations and companionships they now find in most colleges. Sigma Alpha Mu acknowledges its Jewish heritage and the ethical values of Judaism, but with the advent of the mid-twentieth century, expressions of liberalism suggested that constitutional limitations of membership to any particular religious group was not in keeping with the ideal of democracy which had always been part of the Fraternity's creed. Thus, responsive to this thinking, Sigma Alpha Mu at its 1953 Convention amended its constitution, making eligible for membership any male student of good moral character who respects the ideals and traditions of the Fraternity.^[2]

Mission and creed

Sigma Alpha Mu's stated mission is "to guide each undergraduate member toward a more meaningful life, to prepare members for responsible fraternity and community involvement, and to create social and service opportunities for its alumni." Its creed is "To foster and maintain among its sons a spirit of fraternity, a spirit of mutual moral aid and support; to instill and maintain in the hearts of its sons love for and loyalty to Alma Mater and its ideals; to inculcate among its sons such ideals as will result in actions worthy of the highest precepts of true manhood, democracy, and humanity."^[3]

Fraternal positions

Each chapter has a council to take charge and lead the organization which consists of four positions:

• Prior (president): Primarily deals with external affairs such as meeting with presidents of other fraternities, meeting with members of the university, or any other organization’s leaders.
• Vice prior (vice president): Typically deals with internal affairs, assists the prior with any complicated issues.
• Exchequer (treasurer): Manages financial issues of the house, collects house rent and social dues, and takes care of budgeting for events.
• Recorder (secretary): Documents any and all pertinent information about the fraternity.

Candidate Education

Following a school's "rush", or recruitment period, all chapters of Sigma Alpha Mu allow for a Candidate Education (pledge) program where the candidates learn about the fraternity. At the end of the period, these candidates are tested to determine whether or not they have learned about the fraternity and are reliable to carry on the fraternity’s traditions. The basic goal of the pledge program is for the candidates to become more acquainted with the fraternity and more importantly, each other.

Community service

Sigma Alpha Mu members, through their chapters, participate in service in the communities in which their respective colleges are located. Bounce for Beats, a national service project, began at Case Institute of Technology's Mu Gamma Chapter in 1965. Scores of chapters bouncing a basketball to symbolize the heartbeat—or now conducting other basketball-related events—have collected hundreds of thousands of dollars for worthy causes including the American Heart Association and Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Since 1995, proceeds from the event have benefited the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.^[4]

In 2005, ΣΑΜ chose the Alzheimer's Association as its service and philanthropy project where they raise donations for Alzheimer's Research.^[5] Association board member Marshall Gelfand was instrumental in forging the partnership between the two organizations and received the fraternity's Certificate of Merit in 2005, which is awarded to ΣΑΜ alumni whose service and achievements in community endeavors are worthy of special recognition. Donations raised by the fraternity are part of The Judy Fund, established in 2003 on behalf of Mr. Gelfand's wife who in 1995, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. Mrs. Gelfand died in 2004. Alzheimer's Association's fastest growing individual named fund, The Judy Fund, has raised more than $2.5 million.^{[citation needed]}

Chapters

Main article: List of Sigma Alpha Mu chapters

Notable members

• Martin Agronsky, Political journalist and commentator, recipient of DuPont-Columbia Award^[1][6]
• Marv Albert, Sports Commentator for NBC^[7]
• Dave Bing, Mayor of Detroit, Michigan, former NBA player, and Detroit businessman.
• Ernie Davis, 1961 Heisman Trophy Winner^[1][6]
• Tom Downey, Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives^[1][6]
• Bob Dylan, Singer-songwriter, musician, and poet ^[1][6]
• Donald Fehr, Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Association
• Sam Fox, United States Ambassador to Belgium^[8]
• Donald Glaser, Nobel Laureate in Physics^[9]
• Paul Michael Glaser, Actor and director^[1][10]
• Harry Glickman, Founder and President of the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers^[1][6]
• Stanley Gold, Lawyer, Investment company executive, and philanthropist^[11]
• Leonard Goldenson, Chairman of ABC^[1][6]
• Maurice R. Greenberg, former Chairman and CEO of American International Group
• Irwin M. Jacobs, Chairman and co-founder of Qualcomm Inc.(QCOM); pioneered CDMA technology.^[12]
• Tom Lantos, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives^[13]
• Bora Laskin, Former Chief Justice of Canada^[14]
• Bernard Madoff, American businessman and investment fraud orchestrator^[15]
• Morris Marx, Former President University of West Florida^[16]
• Don Most, Actor, from television sitcom Happy Days^[17][18]
• Michael Milken, Financial Executive for Drexel Burnham Lambert; UC Berkeley ^[19]
• Alan Rafkin, Television director^[1][6]
• Philip Roth, Author^[1][6]
• Alan Rothenberg, President of the US Soccer Federation^[1][6]
• Marshall Rothstein, Canadian Supreme Court^[16]
• Dan Schayes, NBA Player^[1][6]
• Gerald Schwartz, Co-Founder of CanWest Global Communications, Founder and CEO of Onex Corporation, Current Director of Scotiabank ^[16]
• Ron Silver, Actor, starred in Blue Steel and Timecop former President of the Screen Actors Guild^[17]
• David Stern, Commissioner of the NBA^[20]
• Les Wexner, Chairman of The Limited, Structure, Bath and Body Works, and Express^[21]
• Zollie Volchok, President of NBA Seattle Supersonics^[1]
• Steve Wynn, Owner of the Wynn Las Vegas, former owner of Golden Nugget, and former owner and developer of Mirage, Treasure Island, and Bellagio Casinos and Resorts in Las Vegas, Nevada^[22]
• Andrew Wilkow, Conservative Talk Show Host on Sirius XM Radio

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n} Sanua, Marianne Rachel (1994). 'Going Greek': A social history of Jewish college fraternities in the United States, 1895-1945. Columbia University. http://wwwlib.umi.com/dissertations/fullcit/9516173. 
2. ^ http://www.sam.org/historical-information
3. ^ "About Us". Sigma Alpha Mu. Archived from the original on 2007-02-08. http://web.archive.org/web/20070208051213/http://sam.org/aboutus.asp. Retrieved 2007-04-18. 
4. ^ Want, Ryan (March 31, 2004). "Sammy raises more than $1,000 in Bounce for Beats benefit". Indiana Daily Student. http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=22333&comview=1. Retrieved 2006-12-10. 
5. ^ "News". Sigma Alpha Mu. July 1, 2005. Archived from the original on 2006-12-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20061229184214/http://www.sam.org/headlines.asp#alzheimers. Retrieved 2007-01-19. 
6. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} University of Nevada Greek Life:Famous Greeks Retrieved on 2007-10-13
7. ^ "Sports Broadcasters and Writers". http://www.nicindy.org/whos_greek/greeks_in_sports/other/Sportscasters%20and%20Sportswriters.php. Retrieved 2007-12-23. 
8. ^ "Background information on Sam Fox". Washington University. http://news-info.wustl.edu/News/2002/fox.html. Retrieved 2008-05-30. 
9. ^ "Sigma Alpha Mu". WVU Greeks. West Virginia University Interfraternity Council. http://www.wvu.edu/~ifc/index_files/page0019.html. Retrieved 2009-10-14. 
10. ^ "Official Website of Paul Michael Glaser". http://www.paulmichaelglaser.org/pmg_bio.html. Retrieved 2007-12-12. 
11. ^ Greenberg, Brad A. (October 18, 2007). "New Chairman of the Jewish Federation: I’m ‘gonna make it relevant’". The Jewish Journal. http://www.jewishjournal.com/articles/print/new_chairman_of_the_jewish_federationim_gonna_make_it_relevant_20071019/. Retrieved 2008-12-17. 
12. ^ "Irwin Jacobs". Centennial Spotlight. Sigma Alpha Mu. http://www.tpg.cc/sigmaalphamu/0907a.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-28. 
13. ^ "Against All Odds". Columns Magazine, September 1999. http://www.washington.edu/alumni/columns/sept99/lantos3.html. Retrieved 2007-11-22. 
14. ^ "The Hon. Bora Laskin: A Legendary Force at the University of Toronto". The University of Toronto Faculty of Law. http://www.law.utoronto.ca/prosp_stdn_content.asp?itemPath=3/4/15/0/0&contentId=1299. Retrieved 2007-11-23. 
15. ^ Salkin, Allen (January 16, 2009). "Bernie Madoff, Frat Brother". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/18/fashion/18madoff.html. Retrieved 2009-02-07. 
16. ^ ^{a b c} "Sigma Alpha Mu - a powerful Fraternity". Israel Times. http://www.israel-times.com/finance/2006/10/sigma-alpha-mu-a-powerful-fraternity-1431/. Retrieved 2008-01-02. 
17. ^ ^{a b} "Greeks in Entertainment". http://www.nicindy.org/whos_greek/greeks_in_entertainment/. Retrieved 2007-12-23. 
18. ^ Longsdorf, Amy (May 11, 2008). "'Happy Days' star reflected on days at Lehigh University for new film 'Moola'". The Morning Call. http://www.mcall.com/entertainment/all-donmost.6393160may11,0,1613219.story. Retrieved 2008-05-12. 
19. ^ "Michael Milken". http://www.nndb.com/people/630/000024558/. Retrieved 2008-07-14. 
20. ^ "Greeks in Professional Basketball 2000-2001". http://www.nicindy.org/whos_greek/greeks_in_sports/basketball/2001Basketball.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-01. 
21. ^ "OSU Greek History". http://ohiounion.osu.edu/greek_life/enhance/history.asp. Retrieved 2007-12-18. 
22. ^ "Minutes of the Stated Meeting of the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania June 18, 2004". The University of Pennsylvania. p. 2. http://www.archives.upenn.edu/primdocs/upa/upa1_1/2000to09/20040618res.pdf. Retrieved 2007-11-22. 

External links

• Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity Web Site
• The 3rd Annual Sammy Sideout Benefit Gamma Nu Chapter

Persondata
Name
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	November 26, 1909
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death