Joining Today: Tradition, Safety, and the True MDH Initiative
What Does Joining Look Like Today?
TRUE MDH Initiative – National Hazing Prevention Week
During National Hazing Prevention Week, Sigma Alpha Mu proudly demonstrates how tradition and safety can thrive together through our groundbreaking True MDH Initiative.
Leading the Way Forward
For generations, more than 70,000 men have committed The Creed, Fast and Firm, and The Founders to memory when joining Sigma Alpha Mu. As evolving anti-hazing policies and state laws created new challenges for fraternal education, Sigma Alpha Mu chose to lead rather than simply comply.
Our Solution: The True MDH Initiative
In 2018, Sigma Alpha Mu pioneered the True MDH Initiative, ensuring every new member receives consistent, comprehensive candidate education while maintaining the brotherhood experience that has united our members for decades. This groundbreaking program delivers standardized educational programming across all Sigma Alpha Mu chapters.
What Makes It Effective
Comprehensive Training & Support:
- Required train-the-trainer certification for all Candidate Educators
- Adaptable curriculum spanning 4-8 weeks to meet local regulations
- Complete educational resources including PowerPoint meeting slides
Rich Educational Experience:
- Deep exploration of our eight core values: simplicity, holiness, purity, justice, sincerity, fraternalism, idealism, and truth
- Focus on developing true manhood, democracy, and humanity
- Integration of fraternity & chapter history through the Purple Book
Built-in Safety & Compliance:
- Curriculum designed to eliminate potential hazing and risk management issues
- Full compliance assurance for chapters following the program
- Safe, engaging candidacy process that protects both active members and candidates
The Result
Chapters gain confidence knowing their new member program is fully compliant, educationally robust, and builds the strong brotherhood bonds Sigma Alpha Mu is known for. Today’s Sigma Alpha Mu brothers carry forward the same cherished traditions—The Creed, Fast and Firm, The Founders—while building even stronger, safer bonds of brotherhood.
Executive Director Andy Huston added, “Our consistent effort to provide anti-hazing education and development of the True MDH Initiative are factors that strengthen the health and wellbeing of our members and chapters. As a result, Sigma Alpha Mu has not had a chapter closed for hazing-related policy violations in the past four academic years.”
The bonds of brotherhood are stronger than ever, and our commitment to developing principled men remains unwavering.
About Sigma Alpha Mu
Our vision is to transform Sigma Alpha Mu into the first choice of collegians seeking a forward-thinking, inclusive fraternity which enhances the university experience and prepares the fraternity member for a fulfilling life. Sigma Alpha Mu’s Mission is to foster the development of collegiate men and our alumni by instilling strong fraternal values, offering social and service opportunities, encouraging academic excellence and teaching leadership skills. We will continue to attract members of all beliefs who appreciate our great heritage as a fraternity of Jewish men.
Learn more at https://sam.org
