This year marks the twentieth year of being a chapter at Rutgers. Check back soon for lots of exciting new changes!

Pre-colonization

The original founders conceptualized how the fraternity was to be even before colonization with Phi Kappa Sigma. The fraternity would be founded on the ideals of respect for the members, love of one's fellow man, brotherhood in its truest form, and responsibility for one's own actions. These founding ideals could best be summed up as Love, Respect, and Honor, which are the goals thea the fraternity pursues today.

The idea of founding a new chapter of a national fraternity that was not at Rutgers, was conceived by Brother Frederick Steven Donatucci on February 12, 1989. It was two days after the end of the Spring Formal Rush at Rutgers, and Brother Donatucci on felt dissatisfied and unimpressed by the Greek System. He then researched the names of several national fraternities in The Bayard's Manuel of Fraternities and Sororities and composed a list of the fraternities that were not at Rutgers University.

Later that Sunday evening, Brother Donatucci contacted Brother Anthony Joseph DeLuca on the idea of forming a new fraternity. Brother DeLuca expressed a lot of interest in the idea of a new fraternity. He then contacted several friends who were not Greek and found varying degrees of interest.

On Sunday February 12, 1989, Brother Donatucci designed the Crest and Name of the new fraternity. He thought that in order to give the group an identity, they would be called Kappa Sigma Omega. The group would keep the name of Kappa Sigma Omega until they had affiliated with a national fraternity.

On Frisay February 19, 1989, the first meeting was held at 203 Silvers Apartments. During this meeting, they decided that they would strive to form a new chapter at Rutgers. The meeting was brief and included the discussion of nationals and the ideals. The men present were excited about the challenge that was before them.

The group continued to meet and correspond with the national offices of Phi Kappa Sigma, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Sigma Nu fraternities. The two fraternities that clearly stood apart from the rest were Phi Kappa Sigma and Sigma Nu. The ideals, goals, and reputations of these two fraternities seemed to reflect those of Kappa Sigma Omega. The group continued to expand, and now included Brothers Dennis Kim, Patrick Vaughan, Steven Northrup, Peter Valesi, Eric Betz, Thomas Runge, Frederick Donatucci, and Anthony DeLuca. These members met with Assistant Director of Phi Kappa Sigma, Michael Short, to discuss the expansion of the group, the colonization process of Phi Kappa Sigma, and group unity.

The group then met on March 20, 1989, which was the first day of spring, and decided to colonize with Phi Kappa Sigma. The group then met with Assistant Director Short again to discuss the recruitment process and recognition by Rutgers University. The interest group then decided with Assistant Director Short on the rectuirment process and the date of the first pinning of the members.

The new colony

The group then expanded to 21 members for the initial pledge ceremony and colonization on April 26, 1989. The ceremony immediately followed the Probationary Recognition of the group by the Rutgers University Alumni Interfraternity Council's Joint Committee. These Original Founders of the Colony were Eric Betz, Paul Brion, Thomas Cinque, Andrejs Delle, Anthony DeLuca, Fred Donatucci, Robert Hanold, Dennis Kim, Ashim Mehra, Dean Nora, Steven Northrup, Eduardo Roman, David Skorka, Deepak Taneja, Peter Valesi, and Patrick Vaughan. This group then expanded and continued to pledge new members through the end of the semester.

The summer was a trying time for the new colony. The colony established some rules and ideals that the members were expected to follow. Some of the new members did not meet the requirements needed to be an officer and there were some sudden changes during the summer. The officers met informally during the summer months and dicussed the next semester. The colony managed to send three representatives to the Grand Chapter in Washington D.C. which proved to be enjoyable and educational.

The following fall held many new challenges for the colony. The group had to select new officers because of the changes over the summer. Frederick Donatucci was re-elected as the president, but the office of Beta was filled by two members, Steven Craig and Jon Ellenberg, because of the need to organize the Fall Rush in two weeks. The colony realized that they needed to complete their own pledge program, familiarize themselves with each other, and get organized, all befor ethe end of the month.

Through the dedication of the colony members, seven new members were pledged into the Alpha Plesge Class. The Iota, Patrick Vaughan, designed and executed our first pledge program during this semster. Of the seven men pledged, four followed through with the pledge program. These new colony actives were Brothers Alex Wellen, Preston Lawyer, Dana Larson, and David Kim. The four members of the Alpha pledge class were a dedicated, welcomed addition to the colony, whose membership already consisted of Brothers Andrews, Ayers, Bayne, Bensema, Betz, Bhatia, Brion, Cinque, Craig, Delle, DeLuca, Donatucci, Ellenberg, Greenberg, Hanold, Hernandez, Kim, Leone, Mehra, Miller, Nora, Northrup, Panzera, Prior, Roman, Runge, Skorka, Smith, Taneja, Valesi, Vaughan, and Wujek.

During the Fall semester of 1989, the Rutgers University at New Brunswick Colony managed to successfully achieve the majority of the challenege we swore to complete at our pinning. The colony managed to solely raise over $4,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The colony also received recognition for the Rutgers Fraternity Council (RFC), the interfraternity council at Rutgers. Some other accomplishments included Second Place in the Rutgers University Homecoming Parade for the Greek float contest, co-hosting a Haunted House for the Big Buddy Program of the Rutgers Community Outreach, collecting food with Alpha Chi Omega Sorority for a food bank, and working weekly in a soup kitchen.

The Spring Semester of 1990 provided an outstanding start for the decade. The colony obtained liability insurance coverage, conducted a well thought-out and executed Spring Rush, and sent a Phi Kap as a delegate from Rutgers University to the Northeast Interfraternity Conference in Stamford, Connecticut.

The colony pledged 13 new members to form the Beta Pledge Class, whose enthusiasm and energy continuously reminds the members of the ideals and excitement that Phi Kappa Sigma possesses. These men are Sam Arabiat, Jason Caldavera, Jeffrey Canavan, Joseph Cione, James Hroback, Brandon Larson, Kevin Melvin, Martin Mischna, Justin Powell, Robert Schiller, Gabor Sorad, Phil Sumanpow, and Todd Walton. With the addition of these 13 new members, the colony now has 49 members and is still growing in leaps and bounds.

to be continued...