Student-led efforts are underway to start a new fraternity chapter on the campus, Greek life officials confirmed.

A group of university students, led by junior letters and sciences major Justin Turcotte, is working with the Department of Greek Life to establish a chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity.

When Turcotte looked into joining a fraternity on the campus last spring, he did not find one that suited him. Instead of forgetting about joining Greek life, Turcotte was inspired to start his own chapter of a nationally-recognized fraternity.

“Sigma Pi’s presence is huge in other campuses such as Towson,” Turcotte said. “We want to establish a chapter here to add to the already thriving Greek system.”

Before they are locally and nationally recognized as a chapter, they must meet certain criteria to prove to the Interfraternity Council they posses strong enough leadership to sustain a chapter.

The interest group, currently made up of about 15 members, is closely working with Sigma Pi’s expansion consultants to develop strategies for the chapter’s initial acceptance into IFC as a “colony”.

“The process of applying for recognition is not easy,” said Matt Supple, assistant director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, who added the process takes about a year.

The process requires any group interested in becoming a recognized fraternity to meet minimum size, academic requirements and financial obligations, and to do a certain number of community service hours. After a prospective chapter functions successfully as a “colony” for a year and meets every requirement, the IFC will vote again to decide if the group merits official recognition.

“We’re a highly motivated group,” said Turcotte, who is not daunted by the work ahead. “We just want to contribute to the campus community and represent all the ideals Sigma Pi expects of its members.”

Although the vast majority of students interested in joining the Greek system join already-established chapters, a few have undergone the recognition process.

Tau Kappa Epsilon’s Beta-Delta chapter was started in the spring semester of 2005. This chapter’s start-up process was different from Sigma Pi’s effort in that it was not student-led. Instead, TKE’s expansion consultants visited the campus to garner student interest in efforts to revive a chapter that had been previously active on the campus.

“The initial response from the Greek community was a quizzical one, from the fraternities especially,” said former TKE president and founding member Erik Ramseth.

“I do not think they understood how two men from outside the university could come in a few weeks after the recruitment period and find so many guys who were interested in the fraternity system,” Ramseth said.

In November, the Beta-Delta chapter was granted a full charter by Tau Kappa Epsilon National Fraternity and was voted eligible to receive full chapter status by IFC.

“Being a founding father, rather than a typical member of a chapter, is an extremely rewarding experience,” said Ramseth, adding that the biggest obstacle the Sigma Pi hopefuls will have to overcome is feeling overwhelmed with the process.

Contact reporter Salome Eguizabal at newsdesk@dbk.umd.edu.