Our History

Chartering of the Beta Omicron Chapter

After the Latauma Society petitioned Sigma Chi for a charter at Iowa State in late 1913 and failed; they withdrew their petition in 1915. This opened up an opportunity for the men of Rho Sigma Gamma, who had gained the support of a group of Sigma Chi's on the Ames campus, who were either faculty members or transfer students from other institutions. Two members of Rho Sigma Gamma attended Sigma Chi’s 32nd Grand Chapter in 1915, and were welcomed warmly. Upon returning they formally petitioned Sigma Chi Fraternity for a charter in October, 1915.

Founding Members

Consideration and a vote on Rho Sigma Gamma’s petition to join Sigma Chi stretched out over twelve months, but ended in a favorable vote, the Beta Omicron Chapter of Sigma Chi at Iowa State was chartered on October 16, 1916.

Founding Members: Leo M. Ford, 1913, Harvey Armour, 1913, Hugh A. Dunlap, 1917, Charles E. Harris, 1917, Nathan Bovee, 1918, John Hufford, 1916, Ralph Crane, 1918, Harold Nichols, 1918, William Overholt, 1917, Milo Deming, 1919, Howard Hosford, 1918, Henry Russel, 1919

1916-1919

In April 1917, America entered the World War I some of the Sigs volunteered for military service or were drafted. The war ended in November 1917, and some of the brothers were able to return to Ames. Two were not so fortunate.

- Henry H. Russell, was killed in action on October 14, 1918.
- John F. Hufford, was killed in action on March 7, 1919.
- Both were lieutenants in the United States Army.

In its early years, Beta Omicron made its home in downtown Ames, at 502 Douglas Avenue. In the decade of the 1920's, the Chapter had a membership of 10 to 12 men.

502 Douglas Avenue

Sigs Eugene Boeke and Albert Weiss, as trustees, purchased the Greeley home from Captain Greeley’s estate in July 1919. The Greeley house served as the Chapter’s home through the spring of 1923, after which it was sold to M. Jay Adams, who began to use the Greeley house as the Adams Funeral Home.

502 Douglas Aveneue - First Chapter House

1923-1927

125 North Hyland

After selling the Greeley house, the chapter rented rooms in a house at 2728 Boone Street. (Now Lincoln Way). Beta Omicron bought a large empty lot along Hyland Avenue. Construction began in 1926, at 125 North Hyland. Construction was completed and the chapter moved in at at the start of the 1927-1928 academic year. The location was chosen based on the palnned growth on the west side of the campus during the 1920's.

1933-1945

1938 Sigma Chi Iowa State Bomb Chapter Photo

1938 Sigma Chi Chapter Members

After the December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, some of the brothers withdrew from school and enlisted. During World War II, Beta Omicron Chapter was one of only 3 fraternities at Iowa State that was not forced to suspend operations. During this time all the fraternity houses, including Beta Omicron’s, were used to house female naval recruits, while male recruits were housed in the dormitories. During this time, the chapter rented a house at 223 Welch Avenue, but still had access to the Hyland house to conduct initiations.

1946-1960

By the late 1950's, Iowa State’s enrollment had climbed to around 10,000 students. The college was renamed Iowa State University of Science and Technology. Beta Omicron had outgrown the house on 125 North Hyland, which only had a capacity of 34 members and started to formulate plans for a move.

In the early 1960's Sigma Chi acquired land at the southeast corner of Lincoln Way and Gray Avenue located in the heart of the Greek neighborhood. The chapter continued to occupy the Hyland house until the end of the 1963-1964 academic year, after which it was sold to the newly-founded Iowa State chapter of Triangle Fraternity.

125 North Hyland (late 50's)

1960-1993

2136 Lincoln Way

Construction began in 1963 on a House at 2136 Lincoln Way to accommodate 72 men located in the heart of the new Greek neighborhood and close to the new entrance of Iowa State.

This period of time was the peak of membership for the Greek System at Iowa State and this is the house a majority of Sigma Chi alumni associate with their Sigma Chi experience. Construction was completed in time for the chapter to move in at the beginning of the 1964/65 academic year.

1994-2014

After years of use and many years of fundraising, the chapter house was renovated in 1993. The 1993 renovation focused on reducing capacity due to shrinking Iowa State enrollment to around 42 members, updating the external look, and adding important safety systems such as Fire Alarms and Sprinkler systems.

2014-2018

In 2014, Beta Omicron made the deicision to demolish the house built in 1963 to build a new modern Fraternity House on the 2136 Lincoln Way property. The new facility opened in the Fall of 2016 which coincided to the 100 year anniversary of Beta Omicron.

Due to repeated violations by members and multiple attempts to address accountability, the Sigma Chi Executive Committee suspended the Beta Omicron Chapter's charter on June 29th, 2018, for at least 3 years. To protect alumni donations, the Beta Omicron Corporation Board sold the facility to the newly re-chartered Triangle Fraternity in the summer of 2018.

2018 - 2023

Beta Omicron entered a dark period in 2018 which lasted much longer than expected. With the pandemic hitting in 2020 the original plans to re-charter Beta Omicron were put on hold due to lack of resources from Sigma Chi and Iowa State University. Beta Omicron alumni repeatedly pettitioned for permission to return to Iowa State.

2023 - current

Beta Omicron Charter Signing - April 5th, 2025

Re-Chartering

In the Spring of 2023 Sigma Chi's request to return to Iowa State was finally approved, and recruitment began during the August 2023 Formal Recruitment week at Iowa State University. Founding brothers were recruited in the Alpha and Beta pledge classes forming the Sigma Omicron Associate chapter of Sigma Chi. From August 2023 through February 2025 the chapter worked diligently to recruit and meet the expected requirements of the Sigma Chi Fraternity to become a recognized chapter.

Re-Installation

On Saturday, April 5th, 2024 thirty-four members of the Sigma Omicron Chapter were initiated into the Sigma Chi Fraternity and Sigma Chi's 73rd Grand Consul, Bob Wilson, Fort Hayes 1981, formally recognized the Beta Omicron Chapter back into the Sigma Chi Fraternity.

138 Gray Avenue

In the winter of 2024 as Sigma Omicron prepared for the re-installation of Beta Omicron at Iowa State, the corporation board entered into and agreement to purchased a new Chapter House at 138 Gray Avenue to serve as the chapter's new home and support of the future growth of the chapter.

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