[SigEpGodUDM]

I am a Sig Ep in MIchigan. I just finshed pledging last term. I had a blast. Sure I went through a lot and there were mental struggles but there was no hazing. The principle of bringing a group of brothers together is preserved in a pledge class. It forces the pledges to get to know their older members. Going BM gives me no incentive to get to know the older brothers and as for the chapters I have visited that are balance man I have met no new members who understand the full concept of being a brother. I was taught the address and songs the grip and the way a true brother should be. On our road trip i met new members who didn't even know the address to their house let alone the songs in which our fraternity lies dear. True our founding fathers were not traditional but who would have pledged them because there was no one in front of them. Obviously at some point the founders decided to go with a traditional style chapter and I think it was a right thing to do. It promotes unity amongst all not some. I will keep my fraternity traditional till the day i die and as for you guys who say traditional is subpar well my chapter just doubled numbers from 16 to 32 and we hold 4 out of five positions on ifc including pres. We have the second highest g.p.a on campus and we have the strongest group unity. We run our campus and we love it. Not to mention we love each other.

On an ending note, as fitting as this may seem. We need to stop arguing about which style is better. We all have our preferences and we should be allowed to go as we choose. We must remember we are all brothers and brothers should not dislike each other nor argue to change each other. Sigma Phi Epsilon is not just a fraternity but it's a way fo life we need to keep sacred and entrust. We cannot just let anyone in then what our we the Boy scouts. Pledging eliminates the weak and the ones who can't commit full time. For the people who are music majors or athletes maybe the fraternal life is not for them. If they don't have the time to pledge then how do I know they will have the time for my fraternity which I hold dear. Think about it! Maybe the fraternity life is best left to those who can give it their all from the start not to be molded or shaped to fit a standard. Our diversity is what keeps us unique let's stay traditional and prevent a nazi like regime from running our fraternities.