A new set of colors has been added to the sea of jerseys that flood the student center every Friday. Sigma Nu Epsilon, a group of 31 students proudly wearing navy and silver, is Harding’s newest men’s social club.
After hearing about the large amount of freshmen and sophomores who did not make it into a club in fall 2012, Sigma Nu Epsilon president senior Colton Beavers said he approached Assistant Dean of Students Kara Abston about starting a new men’s club. Beavers said he hoped that even though he is about to leave Harding, Sigma Nu Epsilon would leave a permanent positive impression.
Beavers said his former Chi Sigma Alpha membership gave him a strong foundation to build the club upon. He said he owed everything to the sponsors and members of Chi Sigs who taught him how to work well in a club together.
“Dean Abston and I both prayed a lot about this,” Beavers said. “I am so glad we have this opportunity to start another club on campus to represent God.”
Sophomore athletics director Ryan Short said the club formation process has moved quickly since last semester. Beavers said that sophomore spiritual life director Kalap Gonzales and junior vice president Sean Surber recruited students while Beavers has handled the behind the scenes information including paperwork and constitution details.
“We didn’t have to go through a (club) week, but we are trying to push each other to get to know one another,” Short said.
The club’s verse is 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” (NIV)
To complement the theme found in their verse, the club symbol is a lion. Surber said the lion stands for bravery, courage and strength.
“I believe the lion symbolizes what we should stand for as men of God,” Surber said. “We should always try to encourage one another and build each other up.”
Sigma Nu Epsilon had its first official meeting on Feb. 11. Assistant Director of Admissions Marcus Thomas and Seth Simmons, Highway Church of Christ’s college minister, will serve as the club sponsors.
The club members wore their athletic T-shirts for the first time last Friday and Short said they should have jerseys within a few weeks.
Gonzales said he is looking forward to having a small club and said he hopes this close environment will promote a spiritual atmosphere.
“Even if this club doesn’t last forever, my overall goal is to impact people through what I say and how I act,” Gonzales said.
Surber said even though clubs change over time and he does not know how this one will be in the next 10 years, he said he is assured of the fact that this group is meant to be together.
“Honestly, God just led the right people to us,” Surber said.
