Our History

Delta Pi, as it exists on Bloomsburg University's campus today, actually started as Phi Sigma Pi, an educational fraternity of which our founding brothers were members. They were all that was left of that organization after 40 or so brothers left to be part of the fledgling social fraternity movement that was taking place at Bloomsburg State College. The founders left the educational group, kept the letters Phi Sigma Pi, reorganized as a local social fraternity and took its first pledge class during the spring semester of the 1966-1967 school year.

The Founding Brotherhood consisted of Sage Robert Hinkle, First Counselor Bob Niccol, Second Counselor Ken Mattfield, Ace Faust, Third Counselor, Herald Bud Rogers; other founders included Al Brunner, Dave Waltman, Chuck Ranck, Jim Rupert, and Gary Cassell. The first pledge class included Don Beuler, Frank “Red” Callahan, John Frey, Bernie Gavlick, Bill Hitchings, George Hopkins, Bill Kelley, Richard Leahy, Steve Messner, Lin Nester, Joe O’Neill, Len Pawlowski, Jim Poechmann, Tom Pratico, Fred Richards, Jim Shaughnessey, Wade Stackhouse, Paul Walters and John Zubeck.

This new social fraternity was now the center of intense change on BSC's Greek landscape. The administration was concerned with the organization's use of "Phi Sigma Pi," an established national fraternity. After an intense debate and vote, the name "Delta Pi" was chosen and deemed acceptable. With a name intact, a governing branch established, and a new brotherhood, Delta Pi became an officially recognized social fraternity on April 30, 1967, which we consider to be our "Founders' Day."

In Spring 1970, we became the Delta Pi chapter of the Sigma Pi national fraternity, an affiliation which lasted until November 1972, when we resumed local status and the Delta Pi name. During Spring 1976, the brotherhood purchased The Crag Mansion, located on West First Street. The Crag immediately became the symbol Delta Pi's success and vitality. It was also the crowning achievement of BSC's Greek system, as no other organization at Bloomsburg actually owned its own house. No account of Delta Pi would be complete without mentioning the generosity of the Hergan family, whose faith in the brotherhood and financial support made it possible for a bunch of college kids to purchase The Crag.

For multiple reasons, the fraternity lost ownership of the house in 1999. Although a severe blow to the brotherhood, we managed to survive this hardship. In the spring of 2000, we resumed our affiliation with Sigma Pi, which lasted until 2003. From that point, we were Delta Pi again and remain so to this day. Delta Pi has suffered several hardships during our existence, but we remain resilient. The true measure of any fraternity lies in the quality of the people associated with it and the bond that is fostered by brotherhood, which has always been our strongest trait. With an ever growing Alumni Association and the tightest active brotherhood, Delta Pi is proud to be one of the oldest Greek organizations at Bloomsburg University.