Sigma Alpha Mu

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Sigma Alpha Mu Founded: November 26, 1909 (1909-11-26) (age 100) at City College of New York Founders: Lester Cohen Adolph I. Fabis Samuel Ginsberg Hyman I. Jacobson Jacob Kaplan Abraham N. Kerner David D. Levinson Ira N. Lind Colors: Purple and White Flower: Purple Aster

Sigma Alpha Mu (ΣΑΜ), also known as "Sammy", is a college fraternity founded at the City College of New York in 1909.^[1] Originally only for Jewish men,^[1] Sigma Alpha Mu remained so until 1953, when members from all backgrounds were accepted. Originally headquartered in New York, Sigma Alpha Mu has relocated its international headquarters to Indianapolis, Indiana. Sigma Alpha Mu now has 69 chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada.

Contents 1 Mission and creed 2 Fraternal positions 3 Candidate Education 4 Community service 5 Chapters 6 Notable members 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Mission and creed

Sigma Alpha Mu's stated mission is "to guide each undergraduate member toward a more meaningful life, to prepare members for responsible fraternity and community involvement, and to create social and service opportunities for its alumni." Its creed is "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; to inculcate among its sons such ideals as will result in actions worthy of the highest precepts of true manhood, democracy, and humanity."^[2]

[edit] Fraternal positions

Each chapter has a council to take charge and lead the organization which consists of four positions:

• Prior (president): Primarily deals with external affairs such as meeting with presidents of other fraternities, meeting with members of the university, or any other organization’s leaders.
• Vice prior (vice president): Typically deals with internal affairs, assists the prior with any complicated issues.
• Exchequer (treasurer): Manages financial issues of the house, collects house rent and social dues, and takes care of budgeting for events.
• Recorder (secretary): Documents any and all pertinent information about the fraternity.

[edit] Candidate Education

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Following a school's "rush", or recruitment period, all chapters of Sigma Alpha Mu allow for an eight week Candidate Education (pledge) program where the candidates learn about the fraternity. At the end of the eight week period, these candidates are tested to determine whether or not they have learned about the fraternity and are reliable to carry on the fraternity’s traditions. The basic goal of the pledge program is for the candidates to become more acquainted with the fraternity and more importantly, each other.

[edit] Community service

Sigma Alpha Mu members, through their chapters, participate in service in the communities in which their respective colleges are located. Bounce for Beats, a national service project, began in the 1960s. Scores of chapters bouncing a basketball to symbolize the heartbeat—or now conducting other basketball-related events—have collected hundreds of thousands of dollars for worthy causes including the American Heart Association and Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Since 1995, proceeds from the event have benefited the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.^[3]

In 2005, ΣΑΜ chose the Alzheimer's Association as its service project where they raise donations for Alzheimer's Research.^[4] Association board member Marshall Gelfand was instrumental in forging the partnership between the two organizations and received the fraternity's Certificate of Merit in 2005, which is awarded to ΣΑΜ alumni whose service and achievements in community endeavors are worthy of special recognition. Donations raised by the fraternity are part of The Judy Fund, established in 2003 on behalf of Mr. Gelfand's wife who in 1995, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. Mrs. Gelfand died in 2004. Alzheimer's Association's fastest growing individual named fund, The Judy Fund, has raised more than $2.5 million.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Chapters

[edit] Notable members

• Martin Agronsky, Political journalist and commentator, recipient of DuPont-Columbia Award^[1][5]
• Marv Albert, Sports Commentator for NBC^[6]
• Dave Bing, Mayor of Detroit, Michigan, former NBA player, and Detroit businessman.
• Ernie Davis, 1961 Heisman Trophy Winner^[1][5]
• Tom Downey, Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives^[1][5]
• Sam Fox, United States Ambassador to Belgium^[7]
• Donald Glaser, Nobel Laureate in Physics^[8]
• Paul Michael Glaser, Actor and director^[1][9]
• Harry Glickman, Founder and President of the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers^[1][5]
• Stanley Gold, Lawyer, Investment company executive, and philanthropist^[10]
• Leonard Goldenson, Chairman of ABC^[1][5]
• Irwin M. Jacobs, Chairman and co-founder of Qualcomm Inc.(QCOM); pioneered CDMA technology.^[11]
• Tom Lantos, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives^[12]
• Bora Laskin, Former Chief Justice of Canada^[13]
• Bernard Madoff, American businessman and investment fraud orchestrator^[14]
• Morris Marx, Former President University of West Florida^[15]
• Don Most, Actor, from television sitcom Happy Days^[16][17]
• Michael Milken, Financial Executive for Drexel Burnham Lambert; UC Berkeley ^[18]
• Alan Rafkin, Television director^[1][5]
• Philip Roth, Author^[1][5]
• Alan Rothenberg, President of the US Soccer Federation^[1][5]
• Marshall Rothstein, Canadian Supreme Court^[15]
• Dan Schayes, NBA Player^[1][5]
• Gerald Schwartz, Co-Founder of CanWest Global Communications, Founder and CEO of Onex Corporation, Current Director of Scotiabank ^[15]
• Ron Silver, Actor, starred in Blue Steel and Timecop former President of the Screen Actors Guild^[16]
• David Stern, Commissioner of the NBA^[19]
• Les Wexner, Chairman of The Limited, Structure, Bath and Body Works, and Express^[20]
• Zollie Volchok, President of NBA Seattle Supersonics^[1]
• Steve Wynn, Owner of the Wynn Las Vegas, former owner of Golden Nugget, and former owner and developer of Mirage, Treasure Island, and Bellagio Casinos and Resorts in Las Vegas, Nevada^[21]
• Andrew Wilkow, Conservative Talk Show Host on Sirius XM Radio

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity Web Site
• The 3rd Annual Sammy Sideout Benefit Gamma Nu Chapter

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