Nobel Prize Recipient Barry Barish named 2019 ΣΑΜ Man of the Year

Dr. Barry Barish (UC Berkeley, ’55), a recipient of the 2017 Nobel Prize in physics, has been awarded Sigma Alpha Mu’s 2019 Achievement Award. Fra Barish is the principal investigator at LIGO, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, a collaborative project with over one thousand researchers from more than twenty countries. Barish received the Nobel Prize for his decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves.

 

The Sigma Alpha Mu Achievement Award shall be presented annually to one member of the Fraternity whose achievements in any sphere of life, except Fraternity activities, are deemed such as to merit recognition by the Fraternity, in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the Octagon. As such, this recognition is known as the “Man of the Year.”

 

He will be presented the Achievement Award at the 2019 Convention Banquet in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday, August 10th. He will be joined by his wife, Samoan, and his roommate from Sigma Sigma Chapter house Bruce Lubarsky.

 

Please consider donating to the foundation in honor of Fra Barish by going to sam.org/donate.

 

You can register and learn more about the 2019 Leadership Conference and Convention at sam.org/convention.

 

 

Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity was founded in 1909 at the College of the City of New York. 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. Sigma Alpha Mu currently has 56 chapters and colonies and more than 57,000 living alumni.

Michele Peterson named Assistant Executive Director

 

Michele Peterson has been promoted to Assistant Executive Director for Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity following her service the past three years as Director of Chapter Services.

 

“Michele is an invaluable part of our team,” stated Executive Director Andy Huston. “This promotion is recognition of her strong performance and leadership in support of our members through enhanced chapter services, educational programs, and risk reduction resources.”

 

Andy continued, “this is an opportunity to expand Michele’s professional development with increased involvement in the business administration of the fraternity’s work while continuing to improve our programs and services through assessment. Additionally, Michele continues to be a valued partner and sought after facilitator for interfraternal and campus programs.”

 

After three years of working on staff, Michele explained, “I’m excited for the opportunity to learn and grow as a professional.”  Michele continued, “In this new role, I look forward to having a greater impact on the Fraternity’s strategic plan implementation while continuing to be a resource and advocate for our undergraduate leaders, chapters, and advisors.”  

 

Michele graduated from Western Illinois University in 2007 with a degree in Social Work and graduated with her Masters in Student Affairs and Higher Education in 2009 from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

 

Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity was founded in 1909 at the College of the City of New York. 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. Sigma Alpha Mu currently has 56 chapters and colonies and more than 57,000 living alumni.

ΣΑΜ Hires New ELC, Patrick Wright III

Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity hired Patrick Wright (FIU, ‘14) as its newest Educational Leadership Consultant. Patrick graduated from Florida International University with a degree in Psychology. As an Educational Leadership Consultant (ELC), Patrick will serve as the primary liaison to several chapters, further our educational resources, and provide support to the fraternity’s collegiate members and volunteers. He brings significant experience to this role as former Prior of the Delta Zeta Chapter at FIU. Additionally, Patrick was a member of the 2019 Developing Leaders Initiative, worked at Sigma Alpha Mu Headquarters last summer as the 2018 Karchmer Intern and was elected to serve on the Undergraduate Advisory Committee by the 2017 Convention. He currently works at FIU in the Office of Administration.

“I had the opportunity to work closely with Patrick throughout his undergraduate tenure,”  shared Executive Director Andy Huston. “Through those interactions as a chapter leader, volunteer on task forces, and educational program participant it was clear that he is an exemplary leader. Patrick is committed to doing whatever it takes to make sure we deliver exceptional programming and service to our members. This is a great opportunity for Patrick to begin a career that impacts lives while advancing a mission in which he is invested..”

As Vice President of Administration in his Interfraternal Council, Patrick shared, “I can not wait to share my affinity for the fraternity with fellow fratres for the next two years of my journey towards becoming a student affairs professional.”

Patrick’s full-time employment with Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity Headquarters located in Indianapolis, Indiana will begin on July 8, 2019.

Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity was founded in 1909 at the College of the City of New York. 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. Sigma Alpha Mu currently has 55 chapters, colonies, and interest groups with more than 56,000 living alumni.

Zackary Newman named ΣΑΜ Karchmer Intern 2019

Zackary Newman has been named Sigma Alpha Mu’s 2019 Karchmer Intern. Zackary attends the University of West Florida where he joined the fraternity in 2016. He is pursuing a degree in Political Science and International Studies. As the Karchmer Intern, Zachary will gain valuable experience in project management, program development, nonprofit management, marketing, and communications to enhance the experience of collegiate members and volunteers attending the 2019 Leadership Conference and Convention in Phoenix. He brings significant experience to this role as former social chairman, brotherhood chair, and judicial board member of the Delta Eta Chapter as well as a Student Ambassador at the University of West Florida. Additionally, Zackary was a participant in Sigma Alpha Mu’s 2019 Developing Leaders Initiative where he gained significant exposure to the fraternity’s educational strategic plan and operations.

“This is an immersive internship program where Zackary will become a critical part of our team to deliver a successful Convention,” shared Executive Director Andy Huston. “I’m confident that his experience and enthusiasm will positively impact the fraternity while also expanding his professional development. “

Zackary shared, “Looking forward to developing my capabilities as a leader, a fraternity man, and collegiate student.”

Zackary will begin his internship for the fraternity in Indianapolis on June 10th, 2019.

Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity was founded in 1909 at the College of the City of New York. 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. Sigma Alpha Mu currently has 55 chapters, colonies, and interest groups with more than 56,000 living alumni.

ΣΑΜ named Samuel Friday Special Projects & Membership Services Coordinator

Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity named Samuel Friday (West Florida, ‘15) to be the fraternity’s Special Project and Membership Services Coordinator. Sam is receiving this promotion after serving the past year as an Educational Leadership Consultant. 

“The Special Projects and Member Services Coordinator is a new position that blends educational support for chapters with managing membership materials,” stated Executive Director Andy Huston. “Sam will help develop new educational resources for our chapters, manage initiation processing, and will be the staff liaison to several chapters. 

We will also benefit from Sam’s creativity and communication in leading social media efforts of Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation. I am excited to further Sam’s impact on the fraternity in this role.

As an Educational Leadership Consultant, Sam established best practices with twenty chapters across North America. While broadening the membership he’ll serve, Sam asserted, “I look forward to identifying the underutilized fraternal resources and delivering on services that aid in your Sammy membership.”

Sam also expressed, “I appreciate the practical opportunities in this position to gain experience in the field of higher education.” Sam under his new title has begun working for the fraternity at headquarters. 

Sam graduated from the University of West Florida with a degree in Telecommunications and Film in 2017. 

Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity was founded in 1909 at the College of the City of New York. 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. Sigma Alpha Mu currently has 56 chapters and colonies and more than 56,000 living alumni.

ΣΑΜ Hires New ELC, Maurice Cortes

Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity hired Maurice “Mo” Cortes (UCSD, ‘15) as its newest Educational Leadership Consultant. Mo graduated from The University of California San Diego with a degree in Political Science. As an Educational Leadership Consultant (ELC), Mo will provide support to the fraternity’s collegiate members and volunteers. He brings significant experience to this role as former Vice Prior and the Recruitment chair of the Gamma Rho Chapter at UCSD.

“Maurice will be a tremendous asset for chapters as a member of the Sigma Alpha Mu International Headquarters staff,”  shared Executive Director Andy Huston. “In his first year as a member of Gamma Rho Chapter at UCSD, the chapter recognized him as the recruiter of the year. He went on to serve as recruitment chairman where he continued to demonstrate his natural ability to relay his passion and enthusiasm for the fraternity.”

Maurice later served as Vice Prior successfully managing the chapter’s operations and implementing risk management strategies. Andy continued, “Maurice graduated from the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI) where he gained a broader perspective of the challenges and opportunities facing fraternity/sorority life across the country. I’m confident that Maurice will be a great ambassador for Sigma Alpha Mu as an ELC.”

With Gamma Rho’s sustainable chapter growth over the last four years, Mo explained, “we utilized best recruitment practices, and executed. I look forward to sharing these practices with more chapters.” Mo began working for the fraternity in Indianapolis on July 5th, 2018.

Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity was founded in 1909 at the College of the City of New York. 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. Sigma Alpha Mu currently has 56 chapters and colonies and more than 56,000 living alumni.

Executive Director Emeritus William “Bill” Schwartz Enters Chapter Eternal

It is with a heavy heart that Sigma Alpha Mu shares that Executive Director Emeritus William "Bill" Schwartz (Oklahoma, '50) passed away on Saturday, May 19th. Bill was affectionately known to many as Mr. ΣΑΜ. After serving in the Army and graduating from Oklahoma, he began his tenure on Sigma Alpha Mu's staff in 1955. He served as Executive Director from 1962-1994 and continued as editor of The OCTAGONIAN until 2011. He was beloved in our fraternity as he was interfraternally. Bill's interfraternal leadership included President of the Fraternity Executives Association (FEA) from 1974-75, a founder of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA) in 1976, and service on the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) Board of Directors. He was recognized with interfraternal service awards by 9 organizations, received the Jack Anson Award from the AFA, Distinguished Service Award from the FEA, NIC Gold Medal, and Sigma Alpha Mu's Distinguished Service Award (which was renamed in his honor in 2010).

 

Bill is survived by his daughter Jolie Schwartz Genender, her husband (Alan) and son (Josh). 

 

The funeral is scheduled for Tuesday morning in Indianapolis. The service will be at 11 a.m. at Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation (6501 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46260), followed by burial and shiva at the home of Lindsay Williams.

 

There will also be a shiva on Wednesday from 4-9p at the home of Ann and Ken Genender (3162 Doriann Dr, Northbrook, IL 60062).

 

If you are planning to attend the service and/or either of the shivas, please notify Executive Director Andy Huston (andy@sam.org) to provide a count for the family. 

 

Sigma Alpha Mu will also celebrate Bill's life at the annual Convention Memorial Service on August 11th at the Chicago Marriott O'Hare. 

 

The family has asked that donations in his memory be sent to Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation's Bill Schwartz Memorial Fund. Gifts can be made at www.sam-fdn.org or Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation at 8701 Founders Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46268.

 

 

Sigma Alpha Mu was founded in 1909 at the College of the City of New York as a fraternity of Jewish men; the organization has been open to all men of good moral character since 1953. With its International Headquarters located in Indianapolis, IN, the fraternity currently has 56 collegiate chapters and colonies and over 55,000 living alumni throughout the United States and Canada.

Effective Immediately: Sigma Alpha Mu Chapter Closure at Ohio State University

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

DATE:  February 8, 2018

 

SUBJECT: CLOSURE OF THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY CHAPTER OF SIGMA ALPHA MU FRATERNITY

 

CONTACT: Andy Huston, Executive Director, samhq@sam.org

 

The Sigma Alpha Mu International Fraternity has suspended the charter at the Sigma Beta Chapter at The Ohio State University (OSU), effective immediately, due to violations of the Fraternity and University’s hazing and alcohol policies.
 
The Fraternity’s decision to close the chapter follows an investigation conducted by the International Headquarters. As a result, all activities and operations must cease immediately.
 
“Our top priority is to create a healthy and safe environment for our members and to foster a culture of responsibility in our chapters,” said Executive Director Andy Huston. “We simply will not tolerate such violations of policies, expectations and values.”

 

Sigma Alpha Mu was founded in 1909 at the College of the City of New York as a fraternity of Jewish men; the organization has been open to all men of good moral character since 1953. With its International Headquarters located in Indianapolis, IN, the fraternity currently has 57 collegiate chapters and colonies and over 55,000 living alumni throughout the United States and Canada.

Tell Congress to Support the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act

 

Fraternities and sororities are the nation’s second largest provider of college student housing. Weprovide housing – and one-of-a-kind experience – for more than 370,000 of the most active students on campuses. Yet, donations toward building and maintaining our houses are restricted from receiving full tax deductions. The Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act (CHIA) would provide our houses with equal access to facility upgrades under the law. By simplifying the tax code, all non-for-profit housing (including fraternities and sororities) will be able to gain incentives to increase funding for life-safety and capacity upgrades like fire sprinklers and alarm systems. If integrated into tax reform, CHIA–which has always enjoyed bipartisan support–will also make a meaningful difference in the student debt crisis, by expanding the offering of affordable collegiate housing options.Now we need your help.

 

Click here to tell Congress to include CHIA in the upcoming tax reform package

 

The more voices Congress hears, the more likely students across the country will gain the benefits of safe and affordable student housing. Thank you for your support.

 

Contact Congress now!

Announcing the 2017 Award Winners

 

Scholastic Recognition Award

Beta – Cornell University

Theta – University of Pennsylvania

Kappa – University of Minnesota

Rho – University of Illinois

Tau – University of Alabama

Psi – University of Pittsburgh

Sigma Theta – University of Texas

Sigma Sigma – University of California – Berkeley

Mu Theta – University of Southern California

Mu Psi – Miami University (Ohio)

Sigma Delta – Rutgers University

Delta Beta – American University

Delta Upsilon – University of Nevada – Las Vegas

 

 

 

 

Dr. Alexander Lowy Scholarship Award

Theta at the University of Pennsylvania

 

 

 

 

Chapter Publications Award

Sigma Theta at the University of Texas

 

Recruitment Excellence Awards

Largest Number of Initiates is Beta Gamma – University of Arizona
Largest Percentage of Change in Number of Initiates is Gamma Iota – Towson University

Largest Percentage of Change in Chapter Size is Epsilon Epsilon – SUNY Geneseo

 

The Religious Endeavor Award

 Sigma Theta at the University of Texas

 

 

 

 

The Community Service Honorable Mention

Mu Zeta – Washington State University

 

 

 

 

The Community Service Award Beta Omega

Beta Omega – Kentucky Wesleyan

 

Risk Management Innovation Award

Gamma Lambda – Northern Illinois

Sigma Zeta – Indiana

 

Harry B. Cohen Fraternity Service Award

Sigma Beta Advisory Board

Marc Heller (Mu Chi ‘89)

David Alloy (Sigma Omicron ‘70)

 

Chapter Advisor of the Year Award

Chris Small of Gamma Iota at Towson University

Kelly Dieters of Epsilon Alpha at Stephen F. Austin

 

Alumni Recorder Award

Jacob Birenbaum of Gamma Kappa at Texas A&M

 

Rabbi Liebeman Award

David Levey of Psi at the University of Pittsburgh

 

Outstanding Athlete Award

Vincent Declercq of Beta at Cornell University

 

Recorder of the Year

Brian Ackerman of Psi at the University of Pittsburgh

 

 

 

 

Exchequer of the Year

Alex Khan of Beta Omega at Kentucky Wesleyan

 

Vice Prior of the Year

Ricky Meyers from Beta at Cornell University

 

 

 

 

Prior of the Year

Aaron Shubert from Delta Alpha at Hofstra University

 

Undergraduate Achievement Award (Sophomore)

Gavin Pielow of Mu Zeta at Washington State University

 

Undergraduate Achievement Award (Senior)

Ryan Zuckerman of Sigma Zeta at Indiana University

 

Hammerstein Best in Province Awards

Mu Psi (Miami University – OH)- Great Lakes Region

Beta (Cornell University) – Empire

Psi (University of Pittsburgh)- Keystone

Beta Psi (University of Virginia)- Mid-Atlantic

Gamma Chi (Brandeis University) – New England

Gamma Kappa (Texas A&M)- Gulf Coast

Gamma Tau (University of Florida) – Southeast

Delta Upsilon (UNLV) – Southwest

Mu Zeta (Washington State) – Pacific Northwest

 

Founder’s Level

Beta – Cornell University

Kappa – University of Minnesota

Psi – University of Pittsburgh

Mu Theta – University of Southern California

Mu Psi – Miami University of Ohio

Gamma Chi – Brandeis University

Epsilon Nu – University of Connecticut

 

 

 

 

 

Founder’s Cup Winner

Mu Theta (University of Southern California)