Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity's history in the United States goes as far back as 1909. Its traditions are deep and for the most part have not changed, yet its breadth has increased by its many chapters around the country, one of which is Delta Zeta Chapter at Florida International University. To trace the history of Delta Zeta, one must return to the early eighties and first recognize the evolution of the Greek system on campus.

EARLY GREEK LIFE @ FIU

Greek life was a new concept to FIU in the early eighties. The Board of Regents, the governing body of the State University System, had just accredited the school into a four year institution. Whereas before it was a two year school, attracting mostly older students, the first class of Freshman, after two weeks of media attention, were suddenly left to their own devices on a campus where the average age was about to go over the hill. There was no social activity to speak of and the students, all of commuter status, had nothing to stay on campus for.

In time, a group of eleven men began to meet at the Rathskellar regularly after class. The Rathskeller was the only hangout on campus, serving food and drinks, and began to be the meeting place for many groups, female and male who began the bond in their own ways. After many months of pondering the possibility of fraternal organizations on campus, regulations were formed by the University, and the first fraternity, Alpha Gamma Omega was recognized on May 10, 1982. Soon after, the creation of the Greek Council, the Greek Room, Game Room, and Thursdays at the RAT followed. This left the door wide open for the future of other organizations.

Their was no doubt that the brothers of Alpha Gamma Omega were receiving their direction from the film, "Animal House." No more than twenty in size, and recognized only as a local fraternity, it was clear that this group of men were infamously known on campus by students and faculty alike. Their image was that of their humiliating behavior and their obnoxious personalities. One tale speaks of a tradition in which they would have their pledges walk around the Graham Center Fountain as if they were ducks. It can be figured that to be taken seriously was not a simple task. The image issue was only one that would in time see the dissolution of this fraternity. Many of the brothers were finding a hard time trying to recruit new members and there were certain power struggles to be dealt with. Most of the hard core members were beginning to graduate and lose contact with the chapter, so much that those members that remained began to look elsewhere.

WALLY COMES TO CAMPUS

By the fall of 1988, a man by the name of Waldo Ellison had found himself on the University Park campus of FIU. Ellison had just been appointed regional governor of Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity for the South Florida region but, it only had one chapter at the University Of Miami. So Ellison decided to seek elsewhere to branch out. That fall, after Formal Rush, Wally, as he is fraternally called, along with the help of a couple of brothers from UM began scoping out for prospective members.

Many of the members of Alpha Gamma Omega found the chance to be affiliated with a nationally recognized fraternity exciting. This was their opportunity to become legitimate. Yet, it was natural that not all the brothers of Alpha Gamma Omega would remain together, considering their demise. Many wondered what this fraternity that went by the name of "Sammy" was all about. At around the same time, Phi Delta Theta Fraternity was in the beginning stage of its history on campus as well, and those that did not go with Sigma Alpha Mu, found themselves as affiliates with Phi Delta Theta.

Recruitment was not a simple task for Ellison, considering the difficulty in trying to sell something that was not in effect yet, and considering the stability of other fraternities on campus, such as Sigma Phi Epsilon, who were known pretty much as the pretty boys on campus. However, after a few weeks time, Wally had pinned 11 gentlemen and on November 9, 1988, Sigma Alpha Mu added FIU to its roster as an interest group.

THE COLONIAL EXPERIENCE

Although they were official in respects to the school, to the national organization, they were known as a colony and had to prove worthy for a charter. The direction of the fraternity for the next two years following the inception of a colony status was a dual one. Not only did this group of gentlemen have to make an impression on the national organization of Sigma Alpha Mu, but had to beat the stigma that remained from Alpha Gamma Omega. They had to make a name for themselves and wipe that impression off peoples minds. In as many ways, this was just as challenging as earning a charter.

The first obstacle this colony of six soon began to encounter were the challenges and complexities of the recruitment period known as "RUSH." Not only was manpower an issue, but there was no doubt that the association with Alpha Gamma Omega still existed. Although, their first rush garnered 4 pledges, all of which dropped during that semester, this group was determined to see a chapter evolve. Although it may have thought that a charter was unimaginable, this result seemed to only fuel the members to move on. The next two classes were a sign of hope of what was yet to come, and sure enough soon after, class after class began increasing in size until an average pledge class reached near 30 by the year 1993.

AS SIMPLE AS BROTHERHOOD

Although for the most part of this period as a colony, numbers were small, brotherhood was definitely tight. Most of the activities and events the gentlemen participated in were inexpensive, simple and fun. Tales have been told of the Midnight Football Games in the parking lot following meetings. A complex game of Hide and Go Seek even evolved from a simple dare one day and became an activity to look forward to on Thursday nights. No matter how small their roster, in comparison to other fraternities on campus, the Sammies were sure to live out the true meaning of brotherhood, which has remained the strongest selling point of the Sammies at FIU.

Considering its small size, back then the organization was a very simple one. Dues were rather inexpensive, considering there was not really much to pay for and Nationals were not collecting much as a colony status. Meetings were held on Thursdays as they always have been, but the business side of them were usually short and to the point, leaving room for male bonding and the like. Originally, the founding members so the colony had no choice than to assign each other their nicknames, before there was a big/little brother program. Yet above it all, the monkey was still on everyone's back. To outsiders, and especially other Greeks, these were a bunch of fools who lacked credibility on campus and didn't get much respect.

Planning mixers was like pulling teeth. Usually held in the University House, now Graham Center, mixers were a bit odd. One of the first was with Phi Mu Fraternity and was billed as a Foam Party. Usually sororities would outnumber the number of Sammies present. At another occasion with Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority, "The Purple People Party," the guys all showed up in Bermuda shorts, in order to make a statement. That they surely did and in the minds of Delta Phi Epsilon, they were definitely not mixer material.

In the athletic spectrum, the group of Sammies were known as the misfits and were definitely competitive to no one. In the Greek week competitions of 1989, the organization was kicked out on charges of bad sportsmanship. The following year Delta Chi Fraternity got Sammy kicked out of the Basketball league for registering and playing with illegal players. The role of the jocks on campus were definitely not for these Sammies.

THE CHARTER

It is important to understand that as much as they tried, the National Office would not even consider a charter until a minimum of 25 active participants were established. This definitely did not happen overnight. As seen with the first few classes, Rush would only garner a good 10 or so guys, in a good fall class. Consider into that equation, the yearly turnover of graduating seniors and those leaving campus, and it was surely a game of catch up. Yet, little by little fall rushes began to prosper and the numbers began arriving.

It was not until January 20, 1991 that the Delta Zeta Chapter of Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity was chartered on the campus of Florida International University. In an initiation ceremony led by the Supreme Prior at the time, Mike Posnick and Wally Ellison himself, it was at this time when twenty some gentlemen became official brothers and caught their first glimpse of the fraternity's sacred ritual, alive and unchanged since its inception in 1909.

Along with this charter, certain growing pains would be encountered. Initially, those that had become brothers were ecstatic at the fact they were a chapter, yet a few changes came along with the glory. Dues immediately saw a drastic change considering national dues now had to be paid and a certain number of brothers seemed to disappear, including its original prior, who had financed much of the chapter initiation fees himself in what some say was an effort to be known as the "first prior." Accounting was now of the utmost importance considering their size would soon be growing and the Octagon, would require detailed records. These questions in leadership led many brothers to ponder where their young chapter was heading, and luckily with the creation of local bylaws many questions were resolved an many had confidence in the chapter that was evolving.

A new leaf had turned in the history of this organization. In the eyes of the Sammies nationwide, they were legitimate. Now it was time to show the school exactly that. Just as their charter had not appeared overnight, neither was this challenge going to be met. Within a few years time and the subsequent initiation of new brothers, the fraternity was to branch out in various areas of the school and shed some positive light on the letters of Sigma Alpha Mu.

Many brothers seem to point to the Theta Class as the turning point in the last few years of the fraternity. This was the first class following the charter, and one of the largest as well, near twenty in size. These initiates not only represented various areas that would soon show improvement such as athletics, politics and academics, but went through the official pledge program and were all the better for it. It was this class that also showed much direction in the leadership of the fraternity as well as recruiting the next milestone class Nu, in the Fall of 1993 with approximately 40 in number.

Undoubtedly, the largest niche that has been created since the inception of its charter, Sammy has held the presidency for 9 consecutive years, the comptroller's position for four and over 10 representative positions, not to mention the number of appointees and offices given as a result of the previous positions. Similarly, Sammy would soon start to dominate the majority of positions in the Inter-Fraternity Council.

Similarly, as the fraternity's size grew, both in quantity and quality of membership, so did its social status. With approximately 50 members, Sammy would soon have mixers with every sorority on campus. To facilitate this, for several years, the fraternity rented a warehouse which it converted to a suite for having social functions such as mixers and general parties . In the area of athletics, Sammy has improved incredibly since its former days, participating in intramural flag football, soccer, basketball, softball and volleyball. Soon, its athletic teams started making it to the play-offs of every sport. And recently, the fraternity has won three consecutive Intramural Sports Cups.

Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity at Delta Zeta Chapter has come a long way. From a small organization, it has grown to be one of the largest and most successful organizations on campus. It continues to excel in the areas of athletics, leadership, community service, socially and, most importantly, brotherhood. Indeed, regardless of its change in size, Sammy still prides itself on maintaining the tightest brotherhood on campus.