Kappa Sigma fraternity became fully recognized by NIU’s InterFraternity Council when the organization received its charter from the national chapter at its Installation Banquet Saturday.

Kappa Sigma President Mike Benson said the fraternity began as an interest group during the spring semester 1987. Former President Bill Scheidhauer said he was a member of the Kappa Sigma chapter at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.

When he transferred to NIU there was interest on his residence hall floor to join the Greek system and the interested men decided to begin a chapter of Kappa Sigma at NIU, he said.

After one semester as an interest group, the fraternity advanced to colony status on Nov. 4, 1988. Scheidhauer said the fraternity remained in colony status through the spring 1989 semester while they worked to meet requirements to become an IFC-recognized fraternity.

Benson said, “I think it’s (the charter) going to bond the people in the house together. It’s going to unify the house.”

Twenty-six members will be activated at the banquet. Benson said the fraternity had to wait until it received its charter to activate members. The fraternity has a pledge class of 12 men this semester.

Kappa Sigma is “trying to come up with a large philanthropy. It’s going to be a surprise for the campus,” he said.

Benson said the fraternity is trying to maintain its 2.7 all-house grade point average. He said the fraternity has the highest GPA among NIU fraternities.