A colony has no formal standing with the host fraternity, so we called ourselves "Status Pending" - a clever take on "SP" and with literal meaning. "Colonies" - in the traditional fraternal sense are quite common. However, our story is unique. A group of young men, in the spirit of freedom & independence - for which this great country stands - enthusiastically, and without bias, started their own
fraternal chapter to a rapid and resounding success, within a short term of months. However sweet and swift that it was - the victory of Colonization occurred without the consent or blessing of certain "self proclaimed" pertinent third parties. This group - combined but not wholly joined with the University - could and would sway Sigma Pi Fraternity International against awarding a coveted "Charter". This opposing force was called 'Status Quo'. Our "Charter" (to define it for those in the Greeley SigPi IOTA class - Ha!) is the 'end all, be all' piece of paper that certifies a satellite fraternal organization as an OFFICIAL and RECOGNIZED Member, duly entitled to all rights and privileges (and secret handshakes). The "Status Quo" (SQ) was comprised of many University and Intra-Fraternity Organizations, very well established before our arrival in 1985 - and for about a decade preceding. The SQ thought it was arrogant for a "national fraternity" to simply plant its figurative flag on their societal and figurative property. Surely and swiftly, they drew their plans against us. There was, in fact, some "arrogance" and personal agenda from the SP Colony leadership, chiefly in Bill Greene, the founder - who arrived to UNC from CU - where he was one of many Founding Fathers of the Delta Zeta Chapter there in Boulder. The National Sigma Pi Fraternity, from Vincennes, Indiana recognized Greene as a Founder of this highly prospective chapter, but he had put them in a very difficult position. Upon hearing that this unlikely and officially unrecognized Sigma Pi Colony had amassed some 15 new members, the Sigma Pi National leadership dispatched a Representative to talk with the UNC Admin Faculty and Intra-Fraternity Council. With respect to our efforts, the National Sigma Pi Representative plainly stated to us that he had met with the SQ and suggested that we call him back when we "get more members". His insinuation was that we had no power until we had more ammo in numbers - but we had a "chance". We had won a victory in getting the "National's" attention - as well as the University's attention! Incidentally, the existing status quo at UNC - as per the fraternal organizations - was comprised of exactly 6 fraternities and 6 sororities. This is a very convenient number for anxious young men who populated the Intra-fraternity Council. Yet, while this statement might sound cynical, we were very cognizant of this fact. Along came ALPHA DELTA PI and ALPHA PHI. As our membership grew, and before we had a Fraternity House or Charter, we simply extended our friendship to two lovable sororities. Our President's girlfriend happened to be a new member of ADP - which helped in a hugely significant way. They became a solid part in influencing the University powers to accept us. (To this day, many of us are still good friends with the girls of ADP and APHI - in fact, there are a few marriages out of this union!)
By 1986, in May, we had achieved 55 bright young men in brotherhood. A call was made to the Sigma Pi National office in Indiana. The representatives were astonished! Irrespectively - and to their credit - they somewhat ignored the University and came down to charter us, officially, in May. While a small percentage of our "brothers" joined simply for selfish reasons to embellish their resumes - and have since disappeared - we still enjoy a strong core of brotherhood and friendship. Maybe not so surprisingly, we also enjoy the sisterhood of the incredible young women whom have grown with us and have become true friends - and, in some cases, wives and mothers of future Sigma Pi Legacies! As all of us know, who read this here, there were many other aspects to our early history which both grew us - and almost destroyed us. Like life, we ALL, individually, have and will go through many "injustices". It's how we arrive on the other end that make us who we really are. Nearly 30 years later, we must always consider & learn from our actions and impact on others (good and bad), and embrace the memories and relationships we've created - as well as forgive the transgressions of our past - and, as Sigma P*s, with love and respect, remember the first two words of our oath:
“I BELIEVE”.
