A huge thanks to Bro. Leigh Cole, currently President of Lambda Iota Sigma chapter (San Diego) and founder of Omicron Pi chapter, for providing the chapter’s history as well as Bro. Alex Soto for the photos. I came through O-Pi some 15+ years ago and am proud to be linked with such great examples of True Brotherhood. Happy 25th O-Pi. Looking forward to your return!
A Brief History Omicron Pi Chapter Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
In 1983 there were three “Pre-dominantly Black Fraternities??? on the Cal Poly campus: Alpha Phi Alpha, which was well established and active on campus, Kappa Alpha Psi, which had two active members and two pledges at the time and Omega Psi Phi, which had several members active on campus. The idea of bringing Phi Beta Sigma to Cal Poly was brought forth by Leigh Cole. Brother Oscar Morgan, (Omega Chapter) President of the Phi Beta Sigma Chapter in Los Angeles was contacted regarding starting a new chapter of Phi Beta Sigma. In order to become a chapter, at least 6 young men were needed to pledge together and become a “Charter Line???. Bros. Morgan, Jeffrey Whitmore, Greg Brandon, Bruce Palmore, and Robert Bonds worked together to organize and schedule an informational meeting. The founders of Omicron Pi Chapter: #1 Leland Hardiman, #2 Alexis Boissiere, #3 Victor Torres, #4 Greg Thompson, #5 Leigh Cole, and #6 Travis Hawkins were all in attendance that day at Chase Hall. They were delighted to find that there was a Sigma on campus, Brother Robert Bonds (San Jose State University, Mu Lambda Chapter – and yes, brother to MLB’s Bobby Bonds and uncle to HR King Barry Bonds), who would become the chapter adviser and mentor. There were other “potentials??? at that first meeting, but no others were able to meet the criteria required to become brothers in Sigma. By April of 1984 the “potentials??? were ready to undergo the “pledging process??? and began their journey towards Sigma. They went through the Crescent ceremony on April 14, 1984. The new “line??? would be pledged by the Kappa Alpha chapter from Cal State Northridge and their “Dean of Pledges??? was Brother Bruce Palmore. After nine weeks of travel to several Los Angeles area chapters, countless nights of “vigorous??? pledging throughout Southern California and spending “probate??? week in Northridge after the Spring session at Cal Poly had concluded, the “Charter Line crossed on June 16, 1984 at 2:22.05 a.m. at the Sigma House on Crenshaw Boulevard, in Los Angeles, California.
The first line of the Omicron Pi Chapter chose the name “Chapter One???. They chose this name to represent the “Beginning of a new book in the history of Phi Beta Sigma??? and they were also to be “the first of many to follow???. The new brothers of Omicron Pi spent their neophyte year planning and getting their charter on the Cal Poly campus. The chapter founders were meticulous in their efforts to get established correctly. They wrote the local By-laws, chapter rules, held dances, performed “Step Shows??? in the quad and planned extensively for their first line of pledges. “Blue Edition??? would be the first line to get pledged by Omicron Pi and cross in San Luis Obispo. By the spring of 1988, Omicron Pi had the size and experience it needed to become a force on the Cal Poly campus and over the next 6 years Omicron Pi had 8 “lines??? and added 23 brothers to its legacy through to the latest (13th) line “Blue Umoja??? (Spring 1998).
The 25th anniversary of the Omicron Pi Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma inspires us to celebrate our brotherhood, honor those before us, create new friendships and rekindle old ones. It also challenges us to re-establish our presence at Cal Poly and continue the legacy that “Chapter One??? started by providing the students of Cal Poly an opportunity and a vessel in which, they can continue the tenets of our Founders: A. Langston Taylor, Charles I. Brown and I. L. Scruggs: “Brotherhood, Scholarship and Service.???