Every year the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity dedicates a week to celebrate “Paddy Murphy.” The legend of Paddy Murphy is important to the fraternity. The Indiana Gamma Chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon will be holding a celebratory funeral procession on April 9^th 2010 to honor a fallen brother. But who is Paddy Murphy?

In 1920, the Eighteenth Amendment effectively put an end to the importing, exporting, transporting, selling, and manufacturing of liquor and alcohol. This was the beginning of bootlegging, which rapidly swept across America in the early 20th century.

Paddy Murphy, according to SAE legend, was a bootlegger who was doing deals with Al Capone, one of America's best-known gangsters. During one of the arrangements, a man named Elliot Ness and his company of crime fighters stormed in on the affair to apprehend Murphy. When Ness signaled for Murphy to surrender, he instead reached for a gun, and Ness shot him down.

As Murphy fell to the ground, dying of a wound inflicted by Ness, he gave Ness the secret handshake that only the brothers of SAE know. Ness, an SAE himself, realized that he had killed a brother of his fraternity and ordered that Paddy Murphy have an honorary burial, in recognition of his fallen brother.

The parade is schedule to begin at 4pm starting at the Beck Chapel heading towards Jordan Ave, then up Jordan Ave and through the extension and finally ending at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon lot located next to Evans Scholars.

But this ceremony is not just for Paddy Murphy. The event builds brotherhood and friendship as the chapter of 61 members and their dates, parade through IU with “shoulder firm to shoulder.” This unforgettable ceremony is a tradition to the Indiana Gamma chapter and almost all SAE chapters across the country.

If you would like to know more about the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity please contact SAE President Alex Garrison at apgarris@umail.iu.edu. If you are interest in the story of Paddy Murphy or would like to attend the ceremony, contact Brother Ronak Desai rsdesai@indiana.edu for additional information

Recap of Paddy Murphy 2010

The SAE chapter at Indiana University expanded to 48 members after the addition of 16 pledges and.  SAE has accomplished quite a bit throughout the short time this year already.  Intramurals have improved exponentially, brotherhood events have been a success, and we competed in Greek Week.  The basketball team which was paired with Alpha Omicrom Pi and Gamma Phi Beta won first place in the tournament.  Multiple brothers also met up with the Eminent Supreme Archon in Evanston the week of October 24th.  During homecoming on the 17th of October, there was an alumni tailgate which seemed to be quite a successful event.  The brothers of Indiana Gamma are striving to receive the best grades they can this semester hoping to place within the top 5 of the fraternity average.  Preparation for IU sing has also begun with the two song leaders being Lee Catalano and Mike Hlavacek.  Erick Walts, Ryan Quinlan, Steve Turchi and Steven Phillips all participated in Big Man on Campus and was a very successful event in which Sigma Alpha Epsilon was recognized as a fraternity on IU campus.  Many more things are coming up as the year goes on including Dad's weekend, SAE Rock n Bowl, and Little 500 events next semester.  Phi Alpha to all alumni who are participating online through the website.

Erick Walts and Ryan Quinlan perform at Buffalouis to raise money for B.M.O.C.

Indiana University Website