About
During the fall of 1983, Jorge Parra, an alumnus from Maryland Beta, enrolled at UMBC and began to see potential for the establishment of an SAE chapter. During the summer of 1984, Jorge Parra met Michael O’Keefe and Neil Maria in a jogging class. As their friendship progressed, so did their plans for forming a new fraternity on the campus. In August of 1984, Jorge received a firm commitment from Mike O’Keefe in forming the new fraternity.
From the very beginning, Jorge and Mike wanted to form a chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and they named their new fraternity Sigma Alpha Local, in hopes of one day being able to call themselves a chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. After having met with Jim Sakers (Md. Beta), Craig Button (Md. Beta), and Carl Treat (Md. Beta), Sigma Alpha Local held its first official meeting on October 28, 1984.
The spring of 1985 saw the first rush of the local, and when the dust settled, the membership of the group had increased to twenty five. The local continued to meet with other chapters and alumni in regards to gaining colony status. On April 13, 1985, four brothers of the local attended the Pi Province Nu Leadership School, and this interest group was given a unanimous vote of approval by the province.
On September 29, 1985, Sigma Alpha Local became an official colony of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Not letting their newly found colony status lull them into a false sense of security, the Colony dedicated itself to the goal of obtaining a Charter.
The fall rush saw eight fine young men join the colony, as members of the Pledge Class Alpha. Pledge Class Alpha led the way by raising more money than any other organization on campus for the Mexican Relief Fund. During the next three semesters, the Colony saw the establishment of three more pledge classes, and an increase of twenty-four brothers.
On December 1, 1986, the colony sent its petition to National for a Charter. In March of 1987, Mr. Bradley Cohen, the Extension Director for the fraternity, visited the Colony. After careful consideration, he gave his approval for the Colony’s petition request to continue.
On April 3, 1987, eight brothers traveled to Syracuse, New York, not only to attend the installation of New York Delta, but to formally present themselves before an in-province investigation, Province Nu unanimously approved the Colony’s petition and the Colony members prepared themselves for the weeks to come.
The weekend of April 10 saw the SAE Out-of-Province Investigation Team visit UMBC. Three men, Mike Sophir, Larry Schott, and Scott Ward, spent three fun filled days with the colony. They too whole heartedly endorsed the Colony’s petition for a Charter.
The next two months were spent planning and practicing for a trip to Portland. On June 18, eleven brothers of the colony flew to Portland, Oregon to attend the 131st National Convention of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. The colony spent the first two days manning the information booth passing out Maryland crab stickers. The name tags of many conventioneers were quickly covered by the red crabs.
On June 19, UMBC colony formally appeared before the Extension Advisory Committee. On the morning of June 20, 1987, the brothers of UMBC colony were brought before the convention floor. The brothers listened to ESA J. Clarke Houston III inform them that the convention had unanimously granted the Colony its Charter. EA Matt Tormollen graciously accepted and thanked the convention for their trust in granting a charter to UMBC. On October 10, 1987, the charter was installed by Eminent Supreme Archon, Ben L. Allen and the Old Otterbein Church in downtown Baltimore.