A Letter From The Former Chapter Advisor

It is indeed an honor and a pleasure to accept the position of Mu Psi Chapter Advisor. In our chapter’s 40-plus year history, only two men, Jerry Miller and the late Jack Samuelson, have served as our Chapter Advisor. Jerry recently stepped down after devoting 25 years to this fraternal responsibility. He still lives in Oxford and is a faculty member in Miami’s Department of Economics. Individually and collectively, to Jerry we owe a debt of fraternal gratitude. To him we say, “Thank you!”

Twenty-five years ago, as a Freshman at Miami, one of the smartest things I ever did was make the confident decision to join a fraternity. And given my family’s strong SAM lineage, there was never any doubt as to which fraternity I would join.

Times change. People often change with them. But principles - never. Our fraternity remains a values-based organization dedicated to providing a laboratory for learning important life lessons not taught in the college classroom. Young men still tend to join a fraternity for the obvious tangible benefits. But, they leave their undergraduate fraternity experience having realized the intangible ones; the bonds of brotherhood and friendship, the opportunity to gain invaluable leadership experience, and responsibility to one’s self, the chapter, the school, and the community.

Compared to generations past, today’s campus environment is so vastly different. Technology has impacted the student’s personal and academic lifestyle in unimaginable ways. And this trend will only continue. Unfortunately, there has also been a change in the general behavior and attitudes of many students and student groups. Fraternities, and sororities too, are quick to receive major negative PR, and much of it is deserved. On many campuses, Greek organizations exist perilously amidst a host academic institution far less tolerant of careless actions and inappropriate behavior.

It is a shame, though, that all of the good things which we do never quite get the same spotlight. We devote countless hours preparing for our philanthropic activities for Pediatric AIDS and the American Heart Association. On the drawing board are plans to increase our involvement in the campus community. We do not exist in a vacuum.

Mu Psi Chapter is presently rebounding from a couple of years “in a slump.” While it takes time to reverse certain trends, others can be remedied in a semester. I sincerely believe the men have learned from their mistakes and are dedicated to bringing the chapter back up to it’s previously high level of performance and prominence on campus and within SAM nationally.

Mu Psi Chapter of Sigma Alpha Mu remains loyal to the ideals upon which it was founded. Today, our challenge is great - but our potential is even greater.

Lenny Dave
SAM Supreme Recorder