Why SigEp?
Note from the Editor:
This is the first installment in our semester series Why SigEp? where brothers of SigEp’s LA Beta chapter open up to share about what made them join our chapter and the best parts of the experience through their eyes. Enjoy! -Matt Johnson
My name is Cade Adkins and I am a junior chemical engineering major in Sigma Phi Epsilon. When asked why I wanted to join Sigma Phi Epsilon, a multitude of reasons came to mind. I am from Jasper, Alabama and came to LSU with my family and friends living six hours and thirty minutes away. I was interested in the idea of joining a fraternity and going through formal rush to find friends and help me fit in on campus. Sigma Phi Epsilon’s accolades made me doubtful they’d accept someone from outside of Louisiana, but as soon as I stepped into the house during recruitment I could sense that my experience there would be different.
A towering, jovial Sig Ep with boundless charisma and an impeccable red beard named Jack Griffin sought me out and introduced himself to me. He was genuinely interested in my college goals, my background, and encouraged me to enjoy the rest of my fraternity rush experience. That first encounter with Sig Ep was unlike any experience I had during rush that night or, for that matter, any experience with a fraternity since. It made me desire to be a part of Sigma Phi Epsilon and to become someone who could make others that excited about the future of their college experience.
Sigma Phi Epsilon is an organization that promises to help you through college and ultimately succeed in your career. From friends to role models, the brothers of LA Beta helped me establish deep relationships that I hope to treasure for the rest of my life.
I went from not knowing a single soul to having a house full of friends that I knew would be there for me. One of the first individuals my age I met within Sig Ep was Will Price. This muscular guy with a shock of short but curly hair bounds over to me and shakes my hand with a grin. He instantly wanted to get to know me and asked me all kinds of questions. I thought to myself that if this is what all the Sig Eps were like I had really found a special place.
We talked and discovered we played the same position in high school football, and we both wanted to pursue a degree in the medical field. From then on, we have played video games, studied, exercised, and volunteered at LSU together. It is high quality friends and individuals such as these that you can find within the walls of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Will Price is a model brother, and I know that if I needed someone to have my back that he would be there for me.
Sig Ep also gave me the chance to meet Matthew Johnson, my current roommate. We became fast friends after both joining Sig Ep as freshmen and realizing that we lived in the dorms together. We have since taken a trip to Europe with our other two roommates, and we would never have had the opportunity to live together and have that adventure without Sig Ep helping to forge our friendship.
I have been able to foster innumerable connections and be more involved in the LSU and greater Baton Rouge community because of my membership in Sig Ep. I have never once regretted joining Sig Ep and I am proud to call myself a brother. I am truly thankful to all of the LA Beta brothers for helping me not only greatly enjoy my college experience, but to succeed academically in the pursuit of my career. I would not be where I am today without the influence of Sigma Phi Epsilon.
If you or someone you know would be interested in joining SigEp to start your own Why SigEp? journey, please follow the Membership Interest link. Otherwise, alumni and friends can follow the Refer a Brother link to connect potential new members with the chapter.