Our History
Our chapter history begins on October 18th, 1929 in the basement of a house on Main Street here in Menomonie. On this day twelve gentlemen interested in the betterment of themselves and wanting to share with one another formed a social fraternity called Kappa Phi Sigma. The ¡°kay-phu¡¯s¡, as they were known around campus, were the second fraternity at Stout Technological Institute at the time. Along with most fraternities during WWII we were faced with a lack of members. At one point we only had two members. After the war we experienced a very prosperous time. The kay-phu¡¯s bought a house with some funds that were bequeathed to them. This is a three-story brick house and was on more than ten acres of land.
In the spring of 1950 Phi Sigma Epsilon National Fraternity approached our local fraternity to see if we would want to join and become a part of a national organization. The brothers of Kappa Phi Sigma chose to accept the offer, and at the national conclave of Phi Sigma Epsilon we became a colony. On May 17th, 1952 we received the unanimous vote by the conclave to become the 24th chapter and we were then Phi Sigma Epsilon Omega Chapter. For the next thirty-three years a lot changed. Stout State College became a member of the University of Wisconsin system, out numbers fluctuated, and times changed. Through thick and thin Phi Sigma Epsilon always was there keeping a good name and getting involved with the activities on campus.
In December, 1984 the first discussions between Phi Sigma Epsilon and Phi Sigma Kappa were initiated by James Whitfield to discuss the possibilities of a merging the two organizations. This topic became the subject of heated debates within Phi Sigma Epsilon, who eventually decided against the merger. This uncertainty was resolved at the national conclave on June 1st, 1985. After a roll call vote of all undergraduate chapters, alumni chapters, and the National Council, the result was a tie. It came down to the president of Phi Sigma Epsilon, who voted for the merger. Some chapters went Phi Sigma Kappa, and some would rather cease all operations.
Seven chapters decided to go on. These were very rough times for us, but like the phoenix that rose from the ashes, so did we. The seven founding chapters of Phi Sigma Phi were formed on July 30th, 1988. From this point on we have done nothing but prosper. The chapter house has moved, the members are different, and the school grown in size, but the brothers of the Omega Chapter have always held the value of true gentlemen, and will continue to do so, by actively participating on campus and in our community.
