Virginia Mu Returns to JMU With 108 Founding Brothers

From raising nearly $32,000 for Relay for Life to building one of SAE’s largest recent rechartering classes, Virginia Mu wasted no time making its presence known at James Madison University.

Rechartered on April 25, 2026, Virginia Mu’s return was powered by determination, strong leadership, and a group of men committed to building something meaningful that would last far beyond their time on campus.

For Eminent Archon Mason Vacca, the experience was both challenging and rewarding.

“Bringing Virginia Mu back honestly took a ton of work, but it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever been part of,” shared Vacca. “We had to stay consistent, hold each other accountable, and actually believe we could rebuild something great.”

That belief became the foundation of the chapter’s success. Through recruitment, campus involvement, and a shared commitment to brotherhood, Virginia Mu quickly established itself as a growing force within the JMU community.

“The biggest SAE values I saw were perseverance and brotherhood,” Vacca said. “Everyone showed up, bought in, and pushed through the tough parts together.”

For many of the brothers, the chartering ceremony itself became the emotional high point of the journey. “The ceremony had this mix of excitement and pride, you could really feel how much it meant to everyone,” Vacca shared.

His favorite moment came immediately after the ceremony concluded.

“My favorite moment was right after the ceremony when we were all standing together as an official chapter again,” he said. “Seeing everyone in the room after we actually did it was great.”

The ceremony also carried special meaning for SAE alumni connected to the chapter’s earlier history at JMU. One of those alumni was Andrew Monsour. He shared, “What a great experience this past weekend was!” Monsour shared. “I pledged SAE in the spring of 1992 at James Madison University when I was a sophomore. At the time we were a Colony and going through a similar process as the current JMU group.”

Monsour was unable to attend his original initiation decades ago. This time, though, he had the opportunity to experience initiation alongside his son, Jesse, a current senior and member of the rechartering class.

“What made it extra special was getting to do it with my son, Jesse,” he said. “All the current guys had to vote on it and I was grateful that they would allow me to participate. It truly is an outstanding group of gentlemen.”

He also reflected on the many alumni who helped originally establish Virginia Mu in the early 1990s and the excitement surrounding the chapter’s return. “I know all the past JMU alumni are excited that Virginia Mu is back at JMU!”

Now officially rechartered, Virginia Mu is focused on building long-term success both on and off campus.

“Now that we’re officially back, we’re focused on building something that lasts,” Vacca said. “We want to keep strengthening the brotherhood, grow our presence on campus, and make sure we’re setting the standard for what a top chapter looks like.”