DELTA OMICRON
Illinois State University

FOUNDED ON
4.9.1988

LOCATION
Normal, IL

HISTORY
Illinois State was founded in 1857 and it banned Greek letter societies until 1968. By that date, there were a number of local groups filling the social role of fraternities and sororities without standards or national organizational support. Between 1969 and 1979, 13 fraternities and eight sororities were established, and one fraternity had entered and became inactive. From 1974 to 1979, new organizations were forbidden but two more fraternity chapters closed. In 1980, growth was once again authorized and three fraternities established colonies. In 1981, four new colonies and one chapter restoration came on campus.

In November of 1986, an interest group of 12 men was formed as the Evin Varner Society through the efforts of Bob Cabello, Eastern Michigan ‘70, and John Kim, Illinois ‘86. Membership in the interest group grew to over 20 men in the first six weeks. The initial Pledge Ceremony took place at Eta Chapter at the University of Illinois on November 14, 1986. The group increased to 24 men and was formally recognized as Phi Eta Colony of Alpha Sigma Phi in ceremonies on April 4, 1987. Grand Senior President Robert Sandercox, Bethany ‘51, presented the colonization certificate. John Kim, Illinois ‘86, served as President of the Colony.  

The first chapter house was obtained for fall 1987 at 9 Delainey Street in Normal, Illinois. On April 9, 1988, the group chartered and became the Delta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi.

By 1994, Bob Cabello, Eastern Michigan ‘70, had relocated from Illinois to Florida. John Kim, Illinois ‘86, had also relocated away from campus. During this time, membership had dropped from 40 undergraduates to five, and the Chapter was unable to retain its house for the 1994-95 academic year.  University enrollment was declining, and the Chapter felt unable to operate a successful program. On February 3, 1994, the membership voted to cease operations and surrender their charter. “Alpha Sig Sentinel” was the chapter newsletter.

Initial efforts to re-start the Delta Omicron Chapter began in the fall of 2011. The efforts of Enzo Pivirotto, Chico State ‘11, yielded 17 new members and the group would become recognized as a colony on February 25, 2012. These men were officially added to the Delta Omicron roster after their Initiation on April 28, 2012. The group was motivated to grow and become the premiere organization on campus; they got involved in service projects and with other organizations on campus. In the fall of 2012, the colony nearly doubled in size as they welcomed a new member class of 16 men.

Delta Omicron was approved to re-charter and were officially re-installed as the Delta Omicron Chapter on April 20, 2013. Danny Miller, Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity, represented Fraternity Staff. Steve Latour, Central Michigan ‘04, represented the Alpha Sigma Phi Foundation. Kevin Andreoni, Illinois State ‘12, was the Re-Founding President. General Counselor Steven Gnewkowski, Michigan ‘67, gave the Keynote Address and presented the charter. 

After chartering in the spring of 2013, Delta Omicron moved into its first house of the rechartering located at 603 Broadway. Growth efforts culminated with the recruitment of Zeta class in the fall of 2014, a 32 man new member class that almost doubled the size of the chapter. With continued growth in the following semester, the chapter reached a size allowing them to move into a much larger house at 711 Kingsley Street.

In the years following, Delta Omicron established itself as a campus leader in involvement. Robert Picha, Illinois State ‘14, Ryley Krausen, Illinois State ‘15, and Cody Jesswein, Illinois State ‘16 all served as back to back to back Presidents of the Association of Residence Halls. Kyle Walsh, Illinois State ‘15, and Beau Grzanich, Illinois State ‘15, both served as back to back Presidents of the Student Body. During this two year period, 11 other Alpha Sig’s served on Illinois State’s Student Government Association including Adam Kinross, Illinois State ‘14, Daniel Heylin, Illinois State ‘13, Febin Chirayath, Illinois State ‘16, Idan Rafalovitz, Illinois State ‘15, Jack Whitsitt, Illinois State ‘16, Joe Standridge, Illinois State ‘16, John Geary, Illinois State ‘14, Kyle Falson Illinois State ‘14, Matt Porter, Illinois State ‘13, Mike Carlo, Illinois State ‘13, and Robert Thurman, Illinois State ‘13.

Since 2015, Illinois State has recruited on average over 40 men a year, pushing their roster book from under 100 before the rechartering to over 400 into 2020. This amount of systematic growth is one of the best in the nation. In this time, Illinois State’s GPA has consistently maintained it’s spot in the top 10 of fraternities at Illinois State.

Eight different Illinois State alumni have served on Fraternity Staff, Including Joe Nelson, Illinois State ‘12, Mike Carlo, Illinois State ‘13, Nick Miller, Illinois State ‘15, Brett Carlson, Illinois State ‘14, Scott McKay, Illinois State ‘15, Kyle Postal, Illinois State ‘15, Beau Grzanich Illinois State ‘15, and Jack Whitsitt, Illinois State ‘16. With their focus primarily on recruitment efforts across the country, Illinois State staff members have led expansion efforts on 26 different campuses, and directly accounted for over 1000 new members recruited into Alpha Sigma Phi. Their efforts directly produced over 15% of active Alpha Sigma Phi chapters today.

CHAPTER AWARDS
Records show award name and year(s) received.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Records show brother's name, initiation year, and award received.