The Truth Campaign

Written by Andy Huston (Minnesota, ’01), Executive Director

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Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity launched the TRUTH Campaign (Time to Report Unauthorized Traditions & Hazing). This proactive effort is designed to bring to light issues – big or small – that have occurred during recent years. The focus of the TRUTH Campaign is to work with chapters and members to collaboratively address reported events, traditions, and behaviors.

Supreme Prior Jerry Conrey’s State of the Fraternity address at the 2021 Convention emphasized that truth is the most significant of Sigma Alpha Mu’s eight core values as stated in our Ritual. Hazing and unauthorized traditions pose a threat to the health and wellbeing of our members – as well as the livelihood of our chapters.

The TRUTH Campaign empowers people with the truth to act now before an incident happens. The international fraternity is committed to helping chapters fix these behaviors, practices, and cultural concerns to align with our policies, expectations, and most importantly, foster an exceptional brotherhood experience. Many members, parents, or friends of the fraternity may have been hesitant to report their concerns for fear that the chapter will be sanctioned, fined, assessed a risk management surcharge, or closed. The TRUTH Campaign was created to give amnesty to chapters that fix reported concerns.

“The truth is simple – hazing and unauthorized traditions have no place in Sigma Alpha Mu. Chapters have been closed for hazing-related misconduct that they thought was building unity, bonds, and brotherhood – only to see that disappear because of their actions,” shared Executive Director Huston. “We are committed to investing the time and resources with chapters to create a safe and values-based experience that aligns with our policies as well as our standardized True MDH Initiative candidate education program.”

Submit a TRUTH Campaign report online at sam.org/incident-report, call our offices at 317.789.8338, or connect with a member of our staff. Please note that submissions will be treated as confidential. We need your contact information to follow up in collecting specific details about your report.

Any reports that are received during the academic year from ongoing behavior will follow our regular standards committee show cause and investigative processes. Those incidents will not be subject to these same “amnesty” protections of the TRUTH Campaign.

FAQs

How will my information be kept confidential?

The fraternity will not disclose the identity of any reporting individual. Attempts to identify the reporting individual by a chapter are discouraged and anyone involved in retaliation will be addressed through a standards process.

Will this actually create change?

We have worked with chapters in the past to address these changes to traditions and reported hazing behaviors. These efforts have been successful because we have received honest details about the events that were occurring, so all stakeholders could work collaboratively to address the concerns.

To find more frequently asked questions, related resources, and information, go to sam.org/truth.