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Sigma Pi colony seeks charter
If the Sigma Pi becomes official at the end of April, it will be the first fraternity chartered in 10 years
by Tess McBride | News reporter
More than 30 members of the University Sigma Pi colony have spent the past year getting their name out on campus, organizing community service activities and preparing for this May, when they will officially be the first chartered fraternity at the University in 10 years.
Sigma Pi, which has existed at Oregon State University since 1924, has never been chartered on this campus.
"How many chances do you get to say you've started a fraternity?" said Christopher Diamond, a sophomore and the recruitment chair for Sigma Pi. "There's a bunch of pressure to make sure we do this. Once we do charter, we have to make sure we keep it up and remain strong."
Last spring, a group of nine students decided to create a fraternity that represented something different from what they found on campus. University sophomore Nick Wiley, vice president of the colony, was searching for something more.
"I had done some research on the fraternity scene since I was a freshman," Wiley said. "I got to see how the fraternities worked; how the brothers interacted with each other."
Wiley said most of what he saw within the existing fraternities didn't offer the leadership opportunities and internal respect between the brothers that he wanted. Because of this, the members of Sigma Pi are working to make their fraternity stand out with higher grade point averages, more community service responsibilities and a larger membership quota.
While Wiley said there are two other colonies on campus and a third dismantled in the fall, he and the other founders are working quickly and efficiently to make sure the fraternity gets off the ground.
"The reason why the colonies don't last is it takes so long to develop, usually two to four years on this campus," Wiley said.
Currently at 34 members, with at least eight spots yet to be filled, the group has created executive seats and is finalizing the details on a house on 18th and Onyx, something University sophomore and Sigma Pi president Sam Kratz said is difficult to receive at colony status.
Sigma Pi, which has existed at Oregon State University since 1924, has never been chartered on this campus.
"How many chances do you get to say you've started a fraternity?" said Christopher Diamond, a sophomore and the recruitment chair for Sigma Pi. "There's a bunch of pressure to make sure we do this. Once we do charter, we have to make sure we keep it up and remain strong."
Last spring, a group of nine students decided to create a fraternity that represented something different from what they found on campus. University sophomore Nick Wiley, vice president of the colony, was searching for something more.
"I had done some research on the fraternity scene since I was a freshman," Wiley said. "I got to see how the fraternities worked; how the brothers interacted with each other."
Wiley said most of what he saw within the existing fraternities didn't offer the leadership opportunities and internal respect between the brothers that he wanted. Because of this, the members of Sigma Pi are working to make their fraternity stand out with higher grade point averages, more community service responsibilities and a larger membership quota.
While Wiley said there are two other colonies on campus and a third dismantled in the fall, he and the other founders are working quickly and efficiently to make sure the fraternity gets off the ground.
"The reason why the colonies don't last is it takes so long to develop, usually two to four years on this campus," Wiley said.
Currently at 34 members, with at least eight spots yet to be filled, the group has created executive seats and is finalizing the details on a house on 18th and Onyx, something University sophomore and Sigma Pi president Sam Kratz said is difficult to receive at colony status.
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