And we're back! Iowa Beta recruits 42 men as the chapter continues its march to active status

Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at the University of Iowa took a giant step forward with a formal colonization ceremony as 42 members officially joined the group; two of whom are SAE transfers from other colleges.

The ceremony was conducted at the University Capitol Centre in downtown Iowa City on September 1. The next step to full membership in SAE is for the colony to be reinstalled as the Iowa Beta chapter, which should happen in the coming months after a series of milestones have been achieved. Iowa Beta will reoccupy the Chapter House in August 2017.

SAE national dignitaries were present, including the Eminent Supreme Warden, the Hon. Greg Brandt; Province Tau Archon Clark Schoening; Foster Region Director Everet Thompson and Fraternity Services Center Coordinator of Expansion, Adam Beckerleg.

Iowa Beta Alumni Association volunteers worked in tandem with SAE national to identify and recruit young men of strong academic standing, leadership abilities and high moral conduct.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This marks the first time since 1982 that the Iowa Beta chapter was restarted. To read about the restart of Iowa Beta in 1982, please click here: http://www.iowasae.com/august-2014.html

Nobody does it better: Iowa Beta Alumni Association is once again ranked as the best Chapter Alumni group in the Realm

It's a hat trick for Iowa Beta. The Iowa Beta Alumni Association was named the "Outstanding Chapter Alumni Association" for the second straight year and for a third consecutive year, the Iowa Beta Alumni Association was recognized for its outstanding programs and initiatives. The recognition was given during the national Fraternity's annual awards competition in August.

Founded in 1999, the Iowa Beta Alumni Association is now the largest SAE alumni group in the country, with more than 318 official members and multitudes of non-member "Friends of Iowa Beta" supporters. Recognized by the IRS as a Section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for educational purposes, its objectives include reengaging and supporting Iowa Beta alumni, establishing a Chapter Advisory Board to rebuild the Iowa Beta chapter, and providing scholarship, leadership, and lifetime career development opportunities for Iowa Beta SAEs.

The Iowa Beta Alumni Association sends news-related communications to all known living Iowa Beta alumni with a valid email address. Additionally, electronic birthday cards are distributed. The Association also drafts and blasts special bulletins to the membership in the event a brother has entered the Chapter Eternal. This strategy helps keep alumni informed of the latest Iowa Beta developments.

In addition, the Iowa Beta Alumni Association has a strong career networking and mentorship program which has led to several younger alumni receiving job opportunities that they otherwise would not have had.

"We are incredibly excited to have been recognized by the Fraternity as 'Outstanding' for the third consecutive year," said Iowa Beta Alumni Association president Marc Rosenow (IABE '86). "This recognition belongs to all of the volunteers and supporters of Iowa Beta who have worked so hard to support the Chapter. It shows that Iowa Beta alumni are engaged and care. We are deeply grateful for this recognition and you can't help but be thrilled about the future of the Iowa Beta."

Iowa drops in the rankings of party schools

The University of Iowa has dropped in the polls but this time it is not a sports team being scrutinized.

According to the a report in the Iowa City Press Citizen, the Princeton Review's annual list of the country's top party schools has the Hawkeyes at No. 6. which is a drop of four places from its No. 2 spot in last year's rankings. Three years ago, the school was No. 1.

The list is chosen out of 381 schools surveyed annually by the publication. Party school rankings are determined based on students' answers to questions about alcohol and drugs, the number of hours they devote to studying and the popularity of fraternities and sororities at their schools.

QUIZ Answer: Fran Tarkenton

Francis Asbury ("Fran") Tarkenton (Georgia ’61) is regarded as one of the all-time great National Football League (NFL) quarterbacks.Today, he is a television commentator, author and entrepreneur.

Tarkenton played for the Minnesota Vikings (1961-1966), the New York Giants (1967-1971) and back with the Minnesota Vikings (1972-1978). He served as a commentator on Monday Night Football and a co-host of That's Incredible!. At the time of his retirement he owned every major quarterback record.

His career NFL statistics include:

Pass Attempts: 6,467

Pass completions: 3,686

Percentage: 57.0

TD-INT: 342-266

Passing yards: 47,003

Passer rating: 80.4

Tarkenton was a 9 time Pro Bowl player (1964, 1966-1970, 1974-1976), First-team All Pro (1975), Second-team All-Pro (1973), MVP (1975), Offensive Player of the Year (1975), Bert Bell Award (1975), Passing Yards Leader (1978), Passing Touchdowns Leader (1975). The Minnesota Vikings retired his Number 10 and named him to the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor.

After retiring from football, Tarkenton founded Tarkenton Software which subsequently merged with KnowledgeWare until selling the company to Sterling Software in 1994.

Currently, he is a TV commentator, entrepreneur, motivational speaker and author.

Brother Fran Tarkenton was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.