Texas State
Emerald of Sigma Pi Fraternity
16
Theta-Upsilon Charters at Texas State University by Jim DiVita
Founding Fathers
Michael Abola Brian Anderson Marcus Callis Eduardo Castillo-Gomez Daniel Conner Ross DeLomel Jason Doyle Jonathan Galan Reynaldo Gonzalez Jeffrey Gordon Adolph Guel Bran Hall Brian Hawthorne Ryan Hiner Scott Hook Jonathan Loo Ruben Lopez Sergio Lozano Dury Lucas Marcus Mondragon Rene Morales Michael Morris Julian Nunn Nicholas Patetta Michael Perez Alexis Perez Charles Perryman Nicholas Pocknoll Andrew Pomarantz Jose Ramos John Richmond Thomas Richter Michael Roche Robert Selden Aaron Spielvogel William Stewart Maxwell Strickler Nathaniel Thompson Ivan Veda David Villela Marshall Wesson Ross Yaussy Nicholas York
Stats on campus:
On April 8th, 2006, 42 men were initiated into Sigma Pi as the newest chapter of the Fraternity: ThetaUpsilon Chapter. Theta-Upsilon is the second quickest group to gain their charter in the history of Sigma Pi, behind Theta-Delta Chapter at The College of New Jersey which currently holds the record. The initiation ceremony took place in Old Main on the campus of Texas State in San Marcos, TX. In attendance for the chartering were brothers from Theta-Kappa Chapter at Texas Tech University and Gamma-Theta Chapter at the University of Texas. Theta-Upsilon Chapter’s roots go back to David Villela (’06) and his friend Amador Juarez (ΘΚ, Texas Tech ’06) talking to him about starting his own fraternity. David and his friends would later form ‘Interest Group 1897’ and eventually meet Blake York (’09) and his friends on the intramural fields during a flag football game. They, too, were looking to start their own fraternity and would come together for a common cause: to establish a brotherhood unlike any previously existing at Texas State. On September 23, 2005, the group was colonized by Senior Expansion Consultant
22,986 undergraduates 5% of men join fraternities 20 fraternities / 13 sororities
CHARTERING TEAM:
Location: 30 miles from Austin, Texas Type of school: public, four-year, coed
Grand Second Counselor: Larry Rovira (ΕΝ, Cal State – Fullerton ’85)
Grand Sage: John Kitch (Η, Purdue ’73) Grand Third Counselor: John Yevick (ΓΔ, Slippery Rock ’85) Grand Fourth Counselor: Tim Love (ΒΧ, Loyola – Chicago ’03) Grand First Counselor: Noah Kaplan (ΓΘ, Texas ’07) Grand Herald: Jonathan Frost (ΔΖ, Missouri – St. Louis ‘02)
Jeremy Boyd (ΘΛ, Radford ’04) and then West Region ELC Jim DiVita (ΖΜ, Michigan State ’04). The road to chartering was a difficult one, filled with both extreme highs and lows. The colony was gifted in recruitment, as almost 60 men were pulled together before the end of the fall 2005 semester. Unfortunately, 22 were lost due to grades. The colony would soon recover with the recruitment of more members and maintain an active role on campus. In the fall, the colony raised more money than any other fraternity for Delta Gamma’s Anchor Splash, thus winning the fundraising competition. In early April the colony conducted an ACE Project by hosting a distinguished faculty appreciation banquet. Most importantly, the colony became well respected as gentlemen on campus, in addition to being a diverse group of individuals, and promoting a positive image in the name of Greek life; something that had not existed prior to the arrival of Sigma Pi. Although many people helped make this chapter what it is today, there are a few that stand out: Tim Love (ΒΧ, Loyola – Chicago ’03) with his guidance as a Sigma Pi alumnus and one of the newest Theta-Upsilon alumni and Founding Father Mike Roche (’06) who was instrumental in helping compose the chapter’s petition. Theta-Upsilon Chapter becomes the fourth chapter in the state of Texas.