Editing Sigma Alpha Epsilon (section)

{{Short description|North American collegiate fraternity}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox Fraternity
| name        = Sigma Alpha Epsilon 
| letters     = {{lang|grc|ΣΑΕ}}
| crest       = Saecoat.png
| image_size  = 190px
| founded     = {{Start date and age|1856|3|9}}
| birthplace  = [[University of Alabama]]
| affiliation = NIC
| status      = Active
| type        = Social fraternity
| scope       = National (US)
| motto       = Phi Alpha ({{lang|grc|ΦΑ}}) 
| mission     = 
| colors      = {{Color box|#6B3FA0|border=darkgray}} [[Royal purple]] <br />{{Color box|#CFB53B|border=darkgray}} [[Old gold]] 
| flag        = [[File:Sigma_Alpha_Epsilon_flag.jpg|120px]]
| flower      = [[Viola (plant)|Violet]]
| publication = ''The Phi Alpha''<br />''The Record''
| symbol      = [[Lion]]
| patron roman divinity = [[Minerva]]
| chapters    = 215 Active
| colonies    = 21
| members     = 15,000
| lifetime    = 362,500+
| address     = 1856 Sheridan Road
| city        = [[Evanston, Illinois|Evanston]]
| state       = [[Illinois]]
| ZIP code    = 60208
| country     = United States
| homepage    = {{URL|http://www.sae.net|sae.net}}
| footnotes   = <ref name="facts_figures">{{cite web | url=http://www.sae.net/factsandfigures | title=Facts & Figures | publisher=Sigma Alpha Epsilon | access-date=February 3, 2015}}</ref>
}}

'''Sigma Alpha Epsilon''' ('''{{lang|grc|ΣΑΕ}}''') is a North American Greek-letter social college [[Fraternities and sororities in North America|fraternity]]. It was founded at the [[University of Alabama]] in [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama]], on March 9, 1856.<ref name=":1">Baird, William Raimond, ed. (1905). "[https://hdl.handle.net/2027/njp.32101067000206?urlappend=%3Bseq=265%3Bownerid=27021597767049231-281 Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities]" 6th&nbsp;ed. New York: The Alcolm Company – via Hathi Trust.</ref> Of all existing national social fraternities, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is the only one founded in the [[Antebellum South]].<ref name="APNews-20150311">{{cite news|last1=Breed|first1=Allen G.|title=Fraternity in racist video has roots in antebellum South|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-fraternity-in-racist-video-has-roots-in-2015mar10-story.html|access-date=January 31, 2018|work=San Diego Union Tribune|agency=Associated Press|date=March 10, 2015}}</ref> Its national headquarters, the [[List_of_Northwestern_University_buildings#Religious_buildings|Levere Memorial Temple]], was established next to the campus of [[Northwestern University]] in [[Evanston, Illinois]], in 1926. The fraternity's mission statement is "To promote the highest standards of friendship, scholarship, and service for our members throughout life."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mission & Vision |url=https://www.sae.net/about/mission-vision/ |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=Sigma Alpha Epsilon |language=en-US}}</ref>

The fraternity has chapters and emerging chapters in 50 states and provinces as of 2011.<ref name="155 founders">{{cite web|title=155 Founder's Day Announcement|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktdA5Pc4ITQ| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/ktdA5Pc4ITQ| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|work=155 2011 Founder's Day Announcement| date=March 8, 2011 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Sigma Alpha Epsilon had eleven deaths linked to drinking, drugs and [[Hazing in Greek letter organizations|hazing]] between 2006 and 2013, more than any other Greek organization in the United States according to data compiled by [[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]].<ref name="Bloomberg deadliest fraternity"/> During the 2010s, at least 18 Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapters were suspended, closed, or banned. In March 2014, the fraternity announced that it was eliminating the tradition of pledging following these deaths and other hazing incidents.<ref name="Bloomberg deadliest fraternity" /><ref name="dave">{{cite news|last=Dave|first=Paresh|title=Sigma Alpha Epsilon ends pledging process, citing hazing deaths|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/education/bs-md-frat-ends-pledging-20140309,0,7957455.story|access-date=March 11, 2014|newspaper=Baltimore Sun|date=March 9, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/sigma-alpha-epsilon-were-banning-pledging-n48406 |title=Sigma Alpha Epsilon: We're Banning Pledging |publisher=NBC News |date=March 9, 2014 |access-date=March 10, 2015}}</ref>