After decades of absence on the UW-Madison campus, Sigma Pi is looking to return.
As the Daily Cardinal reported May 21, 1922, \Alif Mim local fraternity was installed as Tau chapter of Sigma Pi Saturday afternoon. ... Telegrams of congratulations from all of the chapters and from various Sigma Pi clubs and officers were received during the day.""
This celebration is one that current UW-Madison students may be able to experience in the near future.
Eric Blackwell, director of expansion for Sigma Pi, explained the Tau chapter was the 19th chapter of Sigma Pi. However on Nov. 11, 1932 the chapter closed due to the Great Depression.
Now, UW-Madison sophomore Dave Chesson is leading a group to bring back the Tau chapter of Sigma Pi.
""I didn't know anyone here,"" said Chesson, who joined Sigma Pi at the University of Miami (OH) before transferring to UW-Madison.
He decided to help solve this problem by bringing Sigma Pi back to Wisconsin.
Since contacting the national headquarters, Chesson has been working hard to find others interested in joining and going through the process of starting a chapter.
In October, the UW-Madison Inter-Fraternity Council gave its approval of the chapter, whose principles include chivalry, scholarship, service, brotherhood and diffusing culture. Next Wednesday, Chesson will be rewarded for his work as the colonization will occur.
The members of the colony must go through 16 components before the colony can become a chapter.
Blackwell said it usually takes anywhere from one to two years to achieve charter status. When the colony does receive charter status, a larger weekend celebration will be held for parents and
national officers.
National officers and various Sigma Pi alumni have been aiding the process of starting the colony. Chesson said they have already participated in events with other fraternities on campus and are currently planning their own activities including a philanthropy event for the Red Cross and a trip to the University of Miami (OH) to visit Chesson's original chapter.
Chesson said they have also kept in contact with the two other chapters located in Wisconsin--UW-Platteville and UW-Oshkosh.
This summer, the colony will move to 16 Langdon St. The group currently meets in the Union South Copper Hearth Room Sundays at 8 p.m.
Chesson said the people currently involved will not go through the typical pledge process that most who join a fraternity endure, but will have the honor of being a founding father in the chapter.
Blackwell said his goals for the chapter are to ""develop a group that live by principles ... and then going on as an alumni to give back to the university and Sigma Pi.""
Chesson said his goals were to ""establish a good presence in the community,"" and that members will say ""joining Sigma Pi changed my life"" and being involved ""helped them better in life.\
