“Toga! Toga! Toga!” Since the 1970s, Hollywood has given the public a less than stellar image of fraternity brothers. On film and TV, these “frat boys” are little more than booze guzzling, womanizing manchildren. No matter how funny we may find them, they don’t portray an accurate image of the fraternity man.

The SigEps at Northern Kentucky are fighting to change that image. As one of the Fraternity’s newest Residential Leaning Communities (RLCs), the chapter has already made great strides to establish themselves as anything but a Hollywood fraternity stereotype. Inspired by the neighboring RLC at Cincinnati, the brothers set out to offer university courses inside their chapter home. They believed this would give them the perfect opportunity to stand out from other fraternities on campus, according to RLC Chairman, Gavin Bonar, ’14. However, a tight budget at the university led to a cut in funding for the first planned class.

“We weren’t ready to give up, so I met with the dean of students,” Bonar said. “He suggested we build some momentum and offer the classes through the school’s ‘Leadership Institute.’”

Back on track, the chapter kicked off classes this fall, first offering a healthy living course to all students on campus and an Interfraternity Council-sponsored course to men in the Greek community titled “Values of a Fraternity Man.”

Chapter President Max Heckel, ’14, is enrolled in the values course taught by Greek life adviser and fellow SigEp Adam Dralle, Valparaiso ’10. Heckel said the 12-student class examines the core values of fraternities and how members of each fraternity reflect those values.

This spring the chapter is looking forward to “Manhood 101,” a class they will co-host with SigEps from Cincinnati. Led by various alumni and a faculty fellow, the class will focus on topics ranging from proficiency in life skills like cooking and repairing your car, to characteristics and values that make a man.

The classes are a first step on this chapter’s path to establishing itself as a major presence on campus. Alumni Volunteer Corporation President Mark Gallondorn, ’09, and Chapter Counselor Mark Krzywonos, ’84, are impressed with the strides the chapter has made since rechartering in 2009.

“The program has a lot of advantages for the chapter and its members,” Gallondorn said. “It gives exposure to our organization and its values by allowing the university leadership and other students the ability to learn about a great fraternal organization and its members.”