NIU has seen a new breed of fraternity members roaming the streets of DeKalb since one man started a new chapter of the Kappa Sigma fraternity house this semester.

Kappa Sigma President Bill Scheidhauer said, “I was an initiated member at the University of Illinois-Champaign/Urbana.” He said he wanted to start a chapter at NIU because the house was “good” to him at U of I.

He said he could not join a different fraternity at NIU because once initiated into Kappa Sigma, one cannot join another fraternity.

Developing their own program appealed to the men on Scheidhauer’s residence hall floor whom he talked to about starting a new house, he said.

Ed Hayes, public relations adviser for the house, said he was interested in the fraternity because the chapter did not exist on campus. He said, “It was the best opportunity to develop it ourselves (and) be the founding fathers.”

The easiest part of starting the house was talking to the international chapter because Scheidhauer said he had ties with some of the staff members.

Stewart Hoffman, Kappa Sigma director of chapter operations, said members must complete two phases before becoming a recognized house.

The first phase includes building up the foundation, Hoffman said. The second phase includes completion of those steps needed to build the foundation, he said.

Several requirements need to be completed while in the colonization period—the time before they are recognized by the international chapter, Hoffman said.

The colonization period lasts about 120 days. After the colonization period, a national chapter member will visit the house to make sure all the requirements have been met, he said.

Members must elect officers, establish bylaws and establish a pledge program, Hoffman said. The members must be published in the national chapter’s magazine, begin fund raising efforts and have more than 30 members, he said.

Hayes said there are 35 pledges who were initiated Nov. 11 at the Newman Center, 512 Normal Road.

The house has started community projects, another requirement, such as cleaning the West Lagoon, Hayes said. On Oct. 9, members directed their efforts to clean up Lincoln Highway from Second Street to the residential areas, he said.

Officers were elected last week, Hayes said. The Interfraternity Council also voted unanimously to recognize the house at its last meeting Nov. 1.

Hayes said he does not know how the greek community has accepted the house. However, he said the house has held a few mixers that went well.