This week’s House of the Week receives the award for the most different greek house on campus. Today’s feature house is Triangle, NIU’s social engineering and science fraternity.

The national fraternity began in 1907 at University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana.

However, NIU’s chapter is relatively new, founded in 1990 by

2 engineering students.

After only three years there are 40 members in Triangle and 10 alumni.

The name of the fraternity comes from the symbol of strength of the shape.

“The triangle is the strongest structure as far as engineering,” said Dan Domanus, one of the Triangle founders and members.

Although the fraternity takes part in activities like other greek houses, it has not received its charter as a full-fledged fraternity at NIU.

“We have been working very hard for our charter and we will be receiving it in the fall,” Domanus said.

Once the fraternity receives its charter, it will be able to participate in more greek events.

“As soon as we get our charter, we will be able to see about having representatives on IFC (Interfraternity Council),” Domanus said.

One of the things Triangle has been doing to work for its charter is philanthropy work.

The fraternity members have donated time and money to organizations such as the Starlight Foundation for terminally ill children and Hope Haven homeless shelter.

The fraternity is collecting aluminum cans and turning them in for money to give to the Leukodystrophy fund based in Sycamore.

Leukodystrophy is a disease which affects the brain, impairing a person’s ability to move.

According to Domanus, there are several privileges that come along with being a Triangle member.

“You always get support from the other members,” Domanus said. “However, there is not only brotherhood. We are different people working toward a common goal.”

Another advantage is the connections members of the fraternity have across the country.

“There are alumni who help promote you in your growth and your career,” Domanus said.

One famous alumnus of the fraternity was Challenger astronaut Ellison Onizuka.

“That is just on example of how far past members have gone,” Domanus said.

The main goal the members of Triangle strive for is to help the reputation of NIU’s engineering department.

“When the engineering school got accredited, Triangle helped promote it,” Domanus said. “Everyone in Triangle is proud to be engineering students at NIU.”

However, Triangle is open to students with other majors in the mathematics and science fields.

“It is open to chemist majors, physics majors—those majors that are strongly math and science based,” Domanus said.

When it comes to looking for new members, the fraternity looks for several characteristics in a person.

“Our strongest point is academics,” Domanus said. “So he must have a good GPA.”

Domanus also said the new members must have leadership skills, confidence and should be interested in getting involved early on in his initiation as a member.

“Another good thing about the house is that everyone helps out,” Domanus said.