Sigma Alpha Mu, also known as “Sammy,” is in the process of returning to UCLA. Sigma Alpha Mu is a historically Jewish, non-hazing, social fraternity that was built on the ideals of leadership, academic achievement, philanthropic excellence and professional development. Since the chapter is starting up now, students who are interested in joining would become Founding Fathers of Sigma Alpha Mu at UCLA. That means there would not be a pledging period or pledge process. Instead, the students would create the fraternity. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to leave a lasting legacy at UCLA for many years to come. Sigma Alpha Mu is looking for smart, forward-thinking individuals who want to have the leadership and college experience of a lifetime.
Educational Leadership Consultants Kyle Riegler and Ian Shore say that they are excited to be back on campus and are looking forward to the great things that the Sigma Pi chapter will accomplish at UCLA. Riegler and Shore will be on campus until February 23 recruiting men who want to become Founding Fathers of the chapter.
The Sigma Alpha Mu chapter at UCLA was originally founded in 1926, with fluctuating numbers throughout the rest of the twentieth century, until it was finally closed in the mid 2000s. When asked about his commitment to Sigma Alpha Mu, Riegler, a graduate of Florida Atlantic University, said that, “I think for me, my fraternity gave me so much outreach within my university. In our creed, it says ‘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.’ My fraternity showed me how much I could love my own university, and I in turn feel an obligation to give back to my fraternity because it gave me so much.” As he explained, according to the North-American Interfraternity conference, fraternity men and sorority women donate more to their universities than non-affiliated men and women because they feel more of a connection to their alma maters.
Shore, a University of Arizona graduate, shares his experience on belonging to Sigma Alpha Mu: “People think that they understand what it means to be proud. I thought I did as a freshman in college…as a sophomore in college…as a junior in college… But I really didn’t understand why it meant to be proud of something until I looked back and saw how the chapter grew from 20-70, to see me grow up, to see what it means to be a man. I can credit that to my fraternity. If it weren’t for my fraternity, I would go to class and do things, but I wouldn’t be the man I am today.”
The next step for Riegler and Shore is to find a group of committed men to create a vision of where they want the chapter to go. Shore adds, “It’s not our vision, it’s theirs.”
*The phone number to reach Ian Shore has been removed because he no longer works for Sigma Alpha Mu.
