WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
ΣΑΕ

Nature's finest brotherhood, scholarship, and athletics — since 1856.

The Michigan Delta chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Western Michigan University. Part of a national fellowship of over 12,000 active collegiate members and 250,000 living alumni across 220 chapters.

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1856Founded, Tuscaloosa AL
1961Michigan Delta Chartered
250,000+Living Alumni
220Chapters Nationwide
1856 — 2026

A blue ribbon chapter, refounded by a new generation.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon was established in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1856. Michigan Delta's own story began at Hoejke Hall in 1957, was chartered in 1961, weathered a closure in 2011 — and was brought back to life by a new generation of men in 2024.

1856
Sigma Alpha Epsilon founded at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.
1957
The idea for a new fraternity takes root at Hoejke Hall, WMU.
1958
Chi Sigma Kappa forms, then dissolves and re-forms as the Phi Alpha Fraternity, petitioning SAE for membership.
1959
The chapter finds a home at 1325 Douglas Ave., remembered for its barracks-style attic sleeping quarters.
1961
73 charter members found the Michigan Delta Chapter, October 8.
1976
The chapter moves to 919 Short Rd. near East Campus — three decades of record membership and awards follow.
2009
The chapter relocates to 3315 W. Michigan Ave., near Fraternity Village.
2011
The chapter closes after a period of difficulty.
2023
Michigan Delta alumni file an application for re-chartering.
2024
A small group of young men set out to refound Michigan Delta.
2026
Over 45 men are formally initiated on March 21, continuing the legacy.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon crest, Michigan Delta chapter
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Crest — Michigan Delta
From the Archives
Michigan Delta chapter photo, March 1975
Chapter Photo — March 1975
Michigan Delta chapter photo, April 1976
Chapter Photo — April 1976
The SAE Record, May 1966, featuring the 1325 Douglas Ave. chapter house
The SAE Record, May 1966 — 1325 Douglas Ave.
Read the 1961 Initiation Story, from The SAE Record →
The True Gentleman
“The True Gentleman is the man whose conduct proceeds from good will and an acute sense of propriety, and whose self-control is equal to all emergencies; who does not make the poor man conscious of his poverty, the obscure man of his obscurity, or any man of his inferiority or deformity; who is himself humbled if necessity compels him to humble another; who does not flatter wealth, cringe before power, or boast of his own possessions or achievements; who speaks with frankness but always with sincerity and sympathy; whose deed follows his word; who thinks of the rights and feelings of others, rather than his own; and who appears well in any company, a man with whom honor is sacred and virtue safe.”
— John Walter Wayland

Our mission is advancing the highest standards of friendship, scholarship, leadership, and service for our members throughout life. Our vision: True Gentlemen making our global community better.

What We Stand On

Three pillars, one standard.

01

Brotherhood

A lifelong fellowship built in the chapter house and carried well past graduation.

02

Education

Academic standards and new member development that hold every brother accountable to growth.

03

Chapter House Support

Investing in the house and grounds that anchor Michigan Delta's presence at WMU.

Athletics

Competing on every field.

Michigan Delta intramural athletics
Michigan Delta intramural athletics
Michigan Delta intramural athletics
Michigan Delta intramural athletics
Michigan Delta intramural flag football
Michigan Delta annual pig roast
Upcoming — October 10, 2026

The Annual Pig Roast

A Michigan Delta tradition — brothers, alumni, and friends of the chapter together for the year's biggest cookout.

Saturday, October 10, 2026 · 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Rush SAE — True Gentleman
Rush SAE Rush SAE

Think you've got what it takes to wear the letters?

Rush is open to all Western Michigan University students. Come meet the brothers of Michigan Delta and see what nature's finest brotherhood is about.

Email Rush Chair
Tyler Reiff, Rush Chair
Tyler Reiff
Rush Chair
TylerAReiff@gmail.com (847) 744-3532

Want to be part of something special?

Sigma Alpha Epsilon–Michigan Delta is all about creating a unique fraternity experience. We're on a mission to find and nurture True Gentlemen who are eager to join our 65-year-old tradition at WMU.

We've made a change by ending the traditional pledgeship program, which has helped us build a strong sense of brotherhood right from the start for our new members. This means everyone in the house is treated equally and works together to achieve the high standards of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

Plus, being an SAE comes with some fantastic perks, like:

Fall Rush

Rush Schedule

Everything you need to know about rush week — dates, times, and events.

Michigan Delta Fall 2026 Rush Schedule
Executive Leadership Board

The men running Michigan Delta.

Don Van Koevering
Chapter President (EA)
Don Van Koevering
Joshua Tittle
Vice President (EDA)
Joshua Tittle
Aviation Flight Science, Trenton, MI
(734) 231-4337
Ryland Fairbanks
Member Education
Ryland Fairbanks
Finance Major, Fenton, MI · (810) 844-3915
Tyler Reiff
Rush Chair
Tyler Reiff
Physician's Assistant Prep, Buffalo Grove, IL
(847) 744-3532
Lex Chatson
Health and Safety
Lex Chatson
Pre-Med, Kalamazoo, MI · (269) 491-7094
Dylan Proctor
Eminent Warden
Dylan Proctor
Aviation Flight Science, Huntington, NY · (347) 802-6618
Sam Zandstra
Alumni Relations Chairman
Sam Zandstra
Finance, Grand Rapids, MI · (616) 897-7636
Justin Oviatt
Former Chapter President
Justin Oviatt
Aviation Management, Rochester Hills, MI
(248) 321-7187
Jaxson Vincent
Former Chapter President
Jaxson Vincent
Sales, Henderson, KY
(270) 454-0447
Gregory Reed
Scholarship Chairman
Gregory Reed
Sales & Business Marketing / Leadership & Business Strategy, Frankfort, MI · (231) 342-7746
Guiding the Chapter

Michigan Delta Alumni Advisory Board

Alumni who advise and assist the chapter on goal setting, recruitment, new member education, financial management, and health and safety.

Visit the Alumni Page →
Tobias Roberts
Chairman of the Advisory Board · '95
Tobias Roberts
President/Owner, Community Resource Consultants, Inc.
Tobiasroberts@gmail.com
Jim Curry
Chapter Advisor · '83
Jim Curry
Kalamazoo, MI — retired Zoetis Principal Scientist
curryster@gmail.com
Dana Smith
Alumni Advisor · '78
Dana Smith
Retired bank regulator; longtime MIDE Alumni Assoc. & House Corp. President/Treasurer
smithco1983@yahoo.com
Chuck Tafel
Board Member · '94
Chuck Tafel
Partner, GLT International — former chapter President (EA)
tafel1856@gmail.com
Andre' Fairbanks
Board Member · '95
Andre' Fairbanks
Boeing 747 Captain, UPS — former chapter President (EA)
AndreFairbanks74@gmail.com
Tim Wilhelm
Board Member · '96
Tim Wilhelm
Former MIDE House Corporation President
twilhelm82@yahoo.com
Jeremy Howard
Board Member · '96
Jeremy Howard
Director of Liquids Manufacturing, North America — SOPREMA USA
howard504@yahoo.com

Interested in joining the Alumni Advisory Board? Contact any board member above.

Stay Connected

Alumni News

Updates, milestones, and stories from Michigan Delta alumni.

The Lions Project — Rex and Leo statues at the Michigan Delta chapter house
The Lions Project

A Symbol of Our Strength: Help Us Bring The Lions Home

Dear Brothers,

As we celebrate the re-chartering and 65th anniversary of Michigan Delta, we continue to look for ways to honor our history and solidify our presence on campus. This year, we are embarking on a project that will serve as a permanent mark of our fraternity's legacy at the chapter house: the installation of custom lion sculptures.

These statues will serve as more than just an ornament; they will be a rallying point for brothers returning for homecomings and a symbol of the strength that has defined our brotherhood since 1961.

How You Can Help

To make this vision a reality in time for our Homecoming Pig Roast on October 10th, we are seeking support from across our pledge classes. We have structured this to be a true collective effort:

  • Pledge Class Challenge — We are inviting each pledge class to sponsor a portion of the project. Can your class pool resources to be a part of this history?
  • The October 10th Reveal — Our goal is to have the sculpture installed and unveiled during the Pig Roast weekend, so every brother can see the tangible impact of our collective support.

Your support ensures that as the generations change, the symbol of the Michigan Delta lion remains constant. I look forward to seeing many of you on October 10th to celebrate our shared history and this new chapter for our house.

In the Bonds,
Tobias J. Roberts
Michigan Delta Alumni Advisory Board

Support The Lions Project