A pledge was once an oath a man made to his fraternity, not a status of membership and certainly not a member of lesser value. When he took that oath, another commitment was made: his brothers promised to help him develop throughout college.

SigEp’s Balanced Man Program restored these ideas, and today a pledge is once again a commitment between men. But what would happen if a fraternity committed to the development of students before they became members? Two and a half years ago, SigEps at Ohio State asked that very question. The answer gave rise to an innovation that has the potential to change the way SigEps everywhere look at recruitment and the freshman experience.

The Ohio Gamma Chapter’s Balanced Man Success Series is built to aid in the development of both potential and current chapter members. “It allows us as a deferred recruitment chapter to start developing potential members in the fall before they join,” said Chapter President Christopher John, ’16, who sees many benefits to the program. A series of fall seminars on various topics is held at the chapter facility and on-campus. Sessions range from Ohio State basketball star Aaron Craft speaking on the secrets behind his success to SigEp alumni Michael Repasky, Ohio State ’08, and Sean Anthony, Dartmouth ’06, facilitating seminars on goal setting and professionalism. The chapter also brought in the Ohio State vice president for student life to speak on leading with integrity.

Chapter leaders use the Balanced Man Scholarship, a program that happens in tandem with the Success Series, to build their freshmen invitation list. They plan most of the seminars to coincide with chapter meetings, making it easier for brothers to attend.

Toward the end of most seminars, attendees break into groups of five to 10 freshmen and two to three brothers called cohorts. Brothers then lead a discussion or activity that builds on what they just learned.

“The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.”
~ EPICTETUS

Chapter Counselor Don Stenta, ’01, views it as an important way for the Fraternity to bring values to the forefront. “I think it brings the BMP to life. The whole program is geared toward making first year students as successful as possible—it activates our values.”

“It allows us as a deferred recruitment chapter to start developing potential members in the fall before they join,” said Chapter President Christopher John, ’16, who sees many benefits to the program.

A tipping point toward brotherhood

Brother Patrick Ferguson, ’17, was one of the freshmen who attended the series last year. “I was nervous. I didn’t know what to expect. Walking off campus to a fraternity was kind of scary,” Ferguson said.

One seminar that really stuck out to Ferguson was goal-setting. “I started studying for exams two weeks in advance because people were checking in, asking me about my goals, and I got boosts in all my exam scores. They helped me improve myself, and I wasn’t even a brother.”

Mike Sliman, ’17, also attended the Success Series. He said, “It gave me a great first impression of SigEp. I didn’t come in wanting to join a fraternity.”

Ferguson’s switched his thinking based on the Success Series too. “I met brothers, our values aligned and they were people I could look up to and be like. In the end it was a no-brainer to accept a bid, but I needed the BMSS to really be convinced.”

Chapter President John is quick to point out that the recruitment of new members through the Balanced Man Success Series happens organically. “Some are naturally interested in SigEp and ask questions. We don’t preach SigEp much at all. We don’t train the cohort leaders with a sales pitch. SigEp is shown through our actions and what we’re doing,” he explained.

The SigEp difference

The innovative thinking behind Ohio Gamma’s Success Series is the key to the chapter’s success. “We’re continually going against the negative connotation fraternities have. We’re showing we care about the people on campus and in the community, and we’re willing to give our time to better others,” said John.

Chapter Counselor Stenta believes the impact is bigger than SigEp. “We do this development program before they become a member. It changes their first-year experience. And if we end up recruiting them as brothers, they will expect more out of a fraternity.”

The undergraduates and volunteers at Ohio Gamma have made a pledge to the new students and community at Ohio State: to invest in the development of Balanced Men, whether they hold the title of brother or not. That pledge, fulfilled through the Balanced Man Success Series, is now recruiting some of the best men the university has to offer.

“We do this development program before they become a member. It changes their first-year experience. And if we end up recruiting them as brothers, they will expect more out of a fraternity.”