Sigma Alpha Epsilon will hold a barbecue sale Wednesday in support of its philanthropy, Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Its goal, according to Beau Corey, former vice president and senior in accounting, is to reinvent its image on campus.
“We lost our recognition by the University in 2003 for bad conduct and we came back as a colony in 2007,” Corey said. “After a year of that we were fully chartered and were recognized by both the school and national organization.”
Corey said he was involved with the re-establishment of SAE.
“It was really slow at first but we are actually the biggest men’s fraternity on campus with about 80 active members,” Corey said.
Hosting philanthropy events and becoming more sociable will help rebuild the fraternity to what it once was, Corey said. SAE is working hard to reinvent its image by pushing for better academic, social and philanthropic standing, he said.
“We are really trying to reintegrate ourselves into the Greek community and I think we are doing a pretty good job at it,” Corey said. “I think us being the fraternity with the most members, we have clearly met that goal.”
Wayland Simmons, president of SAE and a junior in economics, said he fully supported the chapter’s expansion.
“Since I have been a part of the organization I have seen it come full circle,” Simmons said. “We have our alumni involved with our philanthropy, we are in good standing with Greek life and we are just in a good spot right now with this barbecue fundraiser.”
Corey said he founded the idea of an annual benefit barbecue last year.
“The reason I thought about it is that I knew people like to eat barbecue here and people like to help out with good causes,” Corey said. “So, I just put two and two together and created this idea.”
Corey said the fraternity raised $1,000 at the barbecue last year and hopes to double it this year. He said it will become an annual event.
“I am excited to see if we can raise more money than we did last year,” Corey said. “People love barbecue around here and MADD is a great organization.”
Simmons said the fraternity will also continue to host its annual golf tournament in the upcoming months. This year he said the tournament will be held at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course.
“This is a good example of how we are working to be recognized as a positive organization that not only serves its community but is a strong brotherhood,” Simmons said.
Matthew Hubbard, president of the UNC-Wilmington chapter of SAE, said it is excited to have another strong chapter of SAE in the state.
“We definitely support them being put back on campus and being recognized again,” Hubbard said. “It is great to be able to have more chapters in the state. It is great news for the fraternity and the national fraternity as well.”
