Delta Omega Epsilon
Delta Omega Epsilon Fraternity, Incorporated (ΔΩΕ) is a professional and honor-based fraternity. The organization was founded by college educated men dedicated to academic progress and civics. Delta Omega Epsilon was founded on April 15, 1985, by Richard Pelestri and Sal Leone along with an inaugural class of 25 members at The College of Staten Island in New York City.
| Delta Omega Epsilon | |
|---|---|
| ΔΩΕ | |
 | |
| Founded | April 15, 1985
40°36′00″N 74°09′00″W College of Staten Island |
| Type | Professional & Honor |
| Affiliation | Independent |
| Scope | Tri-State area |
| Mission statement | To encourage and assist the academic progress of fraternity members, enhance its local communities, and aid disadvantaged youth. |
| Object | Treasure Chest & Key |
| Motto | Academic Delta Men of Excellence |
| Slogan | Smooth Souls of Delta |
| Colors | Black Silver |
| Symbol | Phoenix and Bottlenose Dolphin |
| Flower | Black Petunia |
| Tree | California redwood |
| Jewel | Diamond |
| Mascot | Bottlenose Dolphin |
| Patron Greek divinity | Ares |
| Patron Roman divinity | Mars |
| Publication | The Phoenix Quarterly |
| Philanthropy | Aiding and Lifting Disadvantaged Youth |
| Chapters | 6 active, 3 inactive |
| Members | 556+ lifetime |
| Nicknames | Smooth Souls |
| Headquarters | New York, New York USA |
| Website | deltaomegaepsilon.org |
Delta Omega Epsilon was the first fraternity to be chartered at the university and was organized to acknowledge academic excellence, enhance its local communities, and aid disadvantaged youth. The organization is one of the fraternities founded in the United States and has more than 556 initiated members who are college-educated.
Being primarily a professional organization, Delta Omega Epsilon does not operate nor maintain a fraternity house as lodging quarters for members nor for any other persons. However, a chapter may maintain rooms for meetings at the discretion of its members. Membership is open to any man who meets the requirements, regardless of religion, race, or nationality.
The current Executive Board President and CEO is Aaron Calderon of the Eta Chapter.
History
Creation: 1985–2011
On April 15, 1985, Delta Omega Epsilon Fraternity, Incorporated was founded by Richard Pelestri, Sal Leone, and an inaugural class of 25 members at The College of Staten Island.
On September 7, 1995, Seth Meyerson, Joseph Congedo, and an inaugural class of 12 members formed the Beta Chapter of Delta Omega Epsilon at the State University of New York at Delhi.
On September 8, 1996, Chris Delgado and an inaugural class of 6 members formed the Gamma Chapter of Delta Omega Epsilon at the State University of New York at Oneonta.
On November 15, 1998, Ralph Torres and an inaugural class of 7 members formed the Delta Chapter of Delta Omega Epsilon at the State University of New York at Cobleskill.
On February 28, 2002, Mike Mansky, George Mawyin, and an inaugural class of 15 members formed the Epsilon Chapter of Delta Omega Epsilon at the State University of New York at Morrisville.
On November 1, 2002, Dibar Gamboa and an inaugural class of 4 members formed the Zeta Chapter of Delta Omega Epsilon at the State University of New York Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome.
Andre Lynch and an inaugural class of 4 members formed the Theta Chapter of Delta Omega Epsilon at the State University of New York at Canton during the spring of 2011.
On February 10, 2011, the organization's Phoenix Chapter was nationally incorporated by Dibar Gamboa, Ariel Pichardo, and Teru King.
Programs
The programs of the fraternity are centered around its mission statement: To encourage and assist the academic progress of fraternity members, enhance its local communities, and aid disadvantaged youth.
The chapters plan several local service projects throughout the year, including blood drives, tutoring/test preparation, charity fundraising events, and housing construction/rehabilitation.
Many of the operations of individual chapters are left to their own discretion, though most chapters have membership requirements which require a certain number of hours of service each year.
AIDS Walk Week
Delta Omega Epsilon internally organizes the AIDS Walk Week, a yearly project collaboration encompassing all chapters. AIDS Walk Week began in 2011 as a Beta Chapter initiative, and later expanded to the entire fraternity to allow for greater flexibility and increased participation while retaining a sense of continuity with the original concept. Chapters compete against each other in fundraising efforts. AIDS Walk Week is always held in May and culminates in Delta Omega Epsilon’s participation in the AIDS Walk New York.
Leadership
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| President | Aaron Calderon |
| Vice President | Tyreek King |
| Sergeant of Arms | Unique Hodge |
| Secretary | Jahlil Robinson |
| Treasurer | Arturo Martinez |
| Chapter Coordinator | Jefferson Houedjissi |
| Alumni Coordinator | Justin Williams |
| Event Coordinator | Kaliff Amritt |
Symbols
The official symbols of the organization are the Phoenix representing rebirth and the Bottlenose Dolphin representing the organization's roots at The College of Staten Island. Delta Omega Epsilon's colors are black and silver.
Goals
- To encourage and assist the academic progress of members.
- To provide free tutorial and counseling to members.
- To provide members with opportunities and internships.
- To enhance the local community and aid disadvantaged youth.
Chapters
These are the chapters of Delta Omega Epsilon. Active chapters noted in bold, inactive chapters in italics.
| Chapter | School | Year established |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha | The College of Staten Island | 1985 |
| Beta | State University of New York at Delhi | 1995 |
| Gamma | State University of New York at Oneonta | 1996 |
| Delta | State University of New York at Cobleskill | 1998 |
| Epsilon | State University of New York at Morrisville | 2002 |
| Zeta | State University of New York Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome | 2002 |
| Eta | York College | 2011 |
| Theta | State University of New York at Canton | 2012 |
| Iota | Housatonic Community College | 2015 |
Controversies
Iota Chapter Theft Allegations
On March 28, 2016, Monroe, Connecticut police arrested the Iota Chapter Founder and the Iota Chapter President for allegedly stealing a laptop and personal items from the Fairfield University Library.
The arrests were in connection to an incident that occurred on Captains Hill Road in Monroe, Connecticut, on August 4, 2015, according to the police report.
A Monroe resident had filed a complaint that someone had entered his unlocked vehicle sometime during the night and stole a work laptop and related items worth more than $1,400. A surveillance camera set up on the victim’s home showed the car was entered by an unknown subject shortly after midnight.
Police had investigated the theft of a laptop and personal items from the Fairfield University library in January, and detectives got a search warrant for the home of one of the suspects, the Iota Chapter President.
Among the items recovered was the laptop bag belonging to the Captains Hill Road victim. Police learned the Iota Chapter President and Iota Chapter Founder were together when driving through the Captains Hill Road neighborhood checking if people locked their cars.
The Iota Chapter President and Iota Chapter Founder turned themselves in after learning of the warrant for their arrest.
The Iota Chapter President, 22, of Bridgeport, was arrested for third-degree burglary and fourth-degree larceny.
The Iota Chapter Founder, 28, also of Bridgeport, was arrested for fourth-degree conspiracy to commit larceny, third-degree conspiracy to commit burglary, criminal liability burglary and criminal liability larceny.
They were released after posting a $20,000 court-set bond each and were arraigned in Connecticut Superior Court on April 6, 2016.[1][2]
The Iota Chapter became inactive indefinitely following the incident.
References
- Juliano, Frank (March 30, 2016). "Two Bridgeport men charged in computer thefts". Connecticut Post. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
- Mitchell, Wendy Ann (March 29, 2016). "Men Charged with Stealing Laptop from Fairfield University Library: Police". Patch Media. Retrieved 2023-04-04.