In November 1984, Markham Kopang, one of our four founders, became interested in starting the Greek system at Cal State San Bernardino. He sent away to many of the national fraternities for information, but he only received a great response from Sigma Chi, who sent a large box. This was set aside however, as he pledged Delta Sigma Phi in the spring of the following year. The other three founders, Ashraf Massoud, Steve Cline and Curtis Bayer were his pledge brothers.
In the next few weeks they and others became increasingly dissatisfied with what they saw in Delta Sigma Phi. In the words of Massoud, We were looking for TRUE brotherhood, and an opportunity to offer social benefits to Cal State.� They found neither. �Ethics were nonexistent, and this led us to depledge Delta Sig.� Soon after, Kopang and the other founders met in Joshua #109, which became known as the birthplace of our chapter. This meeting lasted late into the evening, and here it was decided that they would start another fraternity. Others had been involved with this idea from the beginning, but the four that made a trip to visit the Sigma Chi colony at Cal Poly, Pomona are known as our chapter�s founders. Impressed with what they had seen, on the trip that day it was decided they would start a colony of Sigma Chi, which they named Sigma Chi Omicron. The founding of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and that of our own chapter have paralleled with odd coincidence.
Markham Kopang served as the founding Consul, and in this capacity he prepared and sent the declaration of intent to Sigma Chi�s international headquarters on June 6, 1985, the date of our founding. Massoud became the first Pro-Consul, Cline the first Quaestor, Bayer the first Rush Chairman, Anthony Jones the first Magister and Richard Mercado, Annotator. On August 16, 1985 Sigma Chi Omicron was officially accepted by National as a colony. Just two weeks after the Cal Poly visitation and the decision to become a local chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, the Founding Fathers found themselves out recruiting membership. Many of the new members were friends that were still involved with DSF. These new members were known as the Alpha class, although they were never pledges. The Alpha class consisted of the members who signed their name to the declaration of intent, along with the founders.
Finding themselves with pledges and no model to follow except DSF and the movie Animal House, the active brothers found themselves taking part in some minor hazing activities. This was brought to a halt upon the chapter�s first visitation by an Assistant Executive Secretary from National. Lucas Flemming (A.E.S.) instructed the actives as to what activities were productive and what activities were not. From this point forward, the chapter adopted an anti-hazing attitude.
During the winter quarter of 1985, Markham Kopang stepped down from office and Ash Massoud took his place as acting consul. During this time a date was set for all the actives to take a test (this was the final exam pledges were required to take) in order to continue as active members. As the quarter drew to a close brother Massoud found himself increasingly involved in activities outside the Fraternity. The chapter decided to hold in-term elections in which Richard Mercado was elected Consul. A few weeks into the spring quarter, Founder Massoud was expelled for not taking the mandatory exam.
Upon the initiation of the Delta class in the spring, fraternity elections were held. The following officers were elected and are known as our charter officers, with the exception of Anthony Jones: Richard Mercado, Consul; Paul DeDianous, Pro Consul; Chip Mayer, Quaestor; Tim Tyler, Annotator and Rush Chairman; Anthony Jones, Magister. Also during the spring, Southern California Province was split into two provinces, one being South Central California, with our founding Grand Praetor Robert Bash continuing, and Southern California Province with our charter Grand Praetor, Bob Cuyler presiding. Brother Cuyler played a significant role in the preparation of the colonies petition.
During the summer of 1986, brothers Mecado, Klemroth, Tyler, Jones, and Mayer attended the International Leadership Training Workshop. These brothers brought back the energy and information that got the chapter rolling.
During the fall of the 1986-87 school year, our pledge program underwent further changes as Chris Ross took over the Magister position. At this time the fraternity switched to having two pledge classes per year, and the Epsilon and Zeta pledge classes of Sigma Chi Omicron were initiated. During the pledge period of the Epsilon class, Brother Massoud sought to be readmitted into the fraternity. It was ruled that if Ashraf took and passed the pledge exam, he would be initiated. Brother Massoud passed the test and was initiated an hour before the Epsilon class. This initiation has even greater significance as it was videotaped for our historical records. During the following years elections, Massoud was elected Kustos.
During the Christmas break of the 1986-87 year, a committee met on Sunday nights to write the petition to the national fraternity to accept Sigma Chi Omicron as chapter of Sigma Chi. The petition was reviewed by the executive committee of the General Fraternity at its January meeting in Palm Springs. The Undergraduate Southern California Province representative on the behalf of Sigma Chi Omicron was Tom Bolich, Consul of the Delta Xi Chapter at San Diego State University.
Sigma Chi Omicron was installed as the Iota Alpha Chapter on June 6th, 1987, making it the 200th Chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. The installing chapter was Theta Sigma at Cal Poly Pomona, whom itself was a relatively young chapter. The installation banquet was held at the Ontario Hilton, where many honored guests were present, including: Grand Consul Keith B. Sorenson, Grand Trustee Bruce Casner, Significant and Constantine Sig �Doc� Ruhle, and past International Sweetheart Julie Curtain.
At the banquet, Charter Consul Richard Mercado and Grand Consul Kieth Sorenson pinned Iota Alpha�s first chapter sweetheart, Lori Castro. Several Grand Consul citations were given out by Sorenson. The recipients were: Larry Kramer, Chapter Advisor; Carlie Dees, Pledge Advisor; John Ahearn, Financial Advisor. Brothers Nick Anderson and Dr. Lance Masters (who were faculty at CSUSB) also received citations for their support of Sigma Chi Omicron.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the chapter�s first Spirit of Sigma Chi award, presented to brother Steve Klemroth. At the conclusion of the banquet, partying went on late into the evening and the Cal Poly brothers taught our new chapter the Sigma Chi Shuffle.
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Faithfully submitted and researched by Brother Christopher J. Farr in 1988 and revised by Brother Christopher B. Ahearn. |
