Miami University senior Rob Brooks does not like to be a part of something that fails. Brooks hopes to leave a legacy on Miami's campus by bringing back the once-active fraternity Sigma Alpha Mu.
"It's a shame to see a fraternity go," Brooks said.
Sigma Alpha Mu, nicknamed "Sammy," is in the process of re-colonizing at Miami.
According to Brooks, the group of founding fathers consists of 15 men. The group will become a colony during spring semester and then an official fraternity at the start of the 2011 school year.
The historically Jewish fraternity was founded at the university Nov. 19, 1959.
Conditions within the fraternity began to deteriorate eight years ago due to lack of leadership, leaning on their heels, lack of commitment to the ideals of the fraternity and lack of respect for the fraternity house, according to chapter adviser Jerry Miller, who advised the fraternity for 21 years before the group became inactive.
"When you get a bad combination of members who are not committed and a rushed program, there's only one outcome," Miller said.
The fraternity was active at Miami until fall 2008, when members requested to have their charter pulled.
"They couldn't fill the house," Miller said. "It was the members' choice to have the charter pulled. We were never suspended."
Although the men could not fill the required number of spots in the fraternity house, they decided to remain a houseless fraternity. With 45 members, they could not pay their liability insurance and wrote to nationals to be in a suspended state, Miller said.
As a member of Sammy before it became inactive, Brooks approached Miller about bringing the fraternity back to campus. He has worked closely with Miller and underclassmen to ensure the ideals of the fraternity will be kept.
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"Rob is beyond determined," Miller said. "His motivation and desire to succeed has made him a
pleasure to work with."
Miami University first-year and founding father of the new Sammy chapter, Adam Piccus has enjoyed working with Brooks and Miller.
"I like working with Jerry (because) he knows exactly what he is doing and has a lot of passion and experience," Piccus said. "I also enjoy working aside Rob (because) he guides us on a peer level."
While the fraternity is historically Jewish, Sammy extends bids to non-Jewish men as well.
"We admit anyone as long as they have good moral character," Brooks said.
Although there is no religious requirement, the fraternity looks forward to working with Hillel in the future, a Jewish campus organization.
Hillel Rabbi Rachel Gartner has offered to come and speak to the fraternity about Jewish values.
"Many people are interested in the cultural side of being Jewish but don't really know what this means," Gartner said. "I want to give everyone in the fraternity — Jews and non-Jews — a better sense of the Jewish culture by coming and talking about Jewish values."
According to Brooks, Sammy's main advantage in the recruitment process is going to be the ability to generate excitement about being a founding father, as this only happens once.
"People enjoy the thrill of starting something," Brooks said. "I can see it being harder to recruit members in the future."
So long as the founding fathers put forward hard work and determination, Sammy will soon be an official Greek organization at Miami once again.
"This group of men will be a powerful force who will respect the fraternity house," Miller said.
Miller looks forward to the men becoming an official fraternity at the start of the 2011-12 academic school year with a commitment to the Sigma Alpha Mu creed.
"Everything is in place for Sammy to return and to return strong," Miller said.
When Sammy returns, there would be a total of 29 fraternities assuming existing fraternities remain active.
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