In late December 1984, at the Great Lakes Invitational Hockey Tournament in Detroit, a very special meeting took place. Two strangers met, and an idea was formed. That idea was to create a chapter of a national fraternity on the campus of Oakland University, a small relatively unknown university.
The two strangers were Dave DeWolf and Vince Chrisman, both alumni of Lambda Chi Alpha. Dave was a transfer student from Michigan Tech who attended Oakland, and Vince was a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University. Both men were very fond of their memories from their fraternity days, and wanted to somehow make new memories for new people at the young university.
Vince Chrisman
Dave DeWolf
Vince and Dave talked extensively and become determined to form a chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha at Oakland. They went to work at once. While Vince researched the prospect of colonization, Dave began a small-scale recruitment campaign at Oakland. A few enthusiastic friends helped him post signs throughout the university that advertised the formation of the new group.
By March 1985, Dave had gathered a small but highly motivated group of men who were ready for the challenge of beginning a new fraternity chapter at Oakland. The group’s efforts culminated in their first, nervous on March 7, 1985. The nervousness was replaced with great excitement as Vince introduced himself and his fraternity. He was confident and reassuring with his knowledge of the fraternity as well as his desire to assist in any way possible. The members knew they would be guided ably in their quest.
Laying the Foundation
More meetings took place to recruit more members, elect officers, and plan events and meetings for the Summer.
By the time the school year ended, the group had a Summer schedule drawn up. The first true social event was to be a BBQ. Softball, hot dogs, and good times were planned. Since the group was already well-known in the campus’ Greek community, members from two of the three sororities attended. It was a smashing success. The brotherhood grew many times closer at that first party.
Indeed, the brotherhood continued to prosper with a road trip to King’s Island amusement park and a summer at a member’s home.
The group also took up philanthropic work. On April 23, 1985, several members walked in a 20 mile Walk-a-thon for the March of Dimes, raising almost $400 to fight birth defects. Also, a few of the members began working at a bingo hall that was operated by the American Diabetes Association.
The young fraternity’s officers worked hard over the summer, and on July 7, 1985, a comprehensive set of by-laws was passed to help the group operate in a more organized manner. All indications were given by Lambda Chi Alpha that the group was making tremendous progress toward colonization.
However, one day in late July 1985, the officers received a letter from the fraternity stating that it had decided not to accept further colonization from any chapter at that time. The members were only momentarily stunned, but were more determined than ever in their quest for a national fraternity.
Founding Omega Nu Pi and Finding Sigma Pi
The opening of the 85-86 school year saw an exciting new beginning for the group. Since it was disassociated with Lambda Chi Alpha, it changed its name to Omega Nu Pi, which stood for “Oakland’s New Pioneers” (in honor of the school’s mascot, the Pioneers, at the time).
Also, Dave DeWolf had since graduated, and a few former members dropped out, so the remaining members rushed aggressively and soon made up for more than the drop in membership.
With its newfound strength, Omega Nu Pi began its search for a national fraternity. Since Vince’s wife had been a Sigma Pi Little Sister during her college days, she suggested that the group look into that fraternity. As a result, the group’s first contact with Sigma Pi came on Sept. 12, 1985, when the area’s Chapter Consultant Patrick Stumpf visited Oakland.
His knowledge and willingness to help was very encouraging to the group, and they were very impressed with Sigma Pi as a whole. They made contact with several other fraternities to make sure they were making the right choice, and then Omega Nu Pi voted on October 19, 1985 to accept Sigma Pi as its national fraternity. Ten days later, the 20 members of Omega Nu Pi became pledges in the Oakland University Colony of Sigma Pi Fraternity.
Needless to say, there was much celebration that evening and at the colony’s Halloween party. It was truly a great moment. However, there was much work to be done to meet the colony’s goal of being chartered in Spring 1986.
Becoming the Zeta-Pi Chapter
Quickly the group began to grow. It held its first chapter retreat in November 1985 and planned social and fundraising events, prepared fraternity education tests, and laid out its plans for a small informal rush in early December followed by a formal rush in January 1986. The small informal rush was a learning experience as the group increased its size by 20%.
Those original 19 Founding Fathers would join with the first two Founding pledge classes to become our first 28 recognized members of the Sigma Pi Fraternity at Oakland University when it was chartered on March 15, 1986. And one of the men who originally came up with the idea for this to happen, Vince Chrisman, became the founding Chapter Director.
It all began with an idea: Two strangers with a dream, a goal. They helped build a group with solid, steady leadership that guided them through many uncertain moments. Now, the group is part of a fraternity that shares many of the ideals that those two strangers, Vince and Dave, held themselves. It is truly the story of a worthy quest. A quest that does not end with chartering and initiation, but lives eternally as a drive for excellence, chivalry, pride and (above all) brotherly love.
– Written in the original Founding Documents of Zeta-Pi Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity, maintained by C. Surinck. Images added by M. Hoskins
