The Original Founding Fathers
Our honorable fraternity was founded on May 5, 1992 by eighteen remarkable gentlemen in San José, California. They envisioned a Latino-based organization that would focus on helping its members get through college while engaging them in community service and cultural enrichment projects.
Original Founding Fathers
Back Row Left-to-Right: Luis Medina, José "Pepe" Cortez, Víctor Ramírez, Ramiro Rocha, José Trujillo, José "El Chepo" Villarreal, Ralph Covarrubias, Rafael Moya, Francisco Huerta, Francisco Bustamante, Rudy Márquez, Cesar Estrada
Front Row Left-to-Right: Cesar Martínez, Héctor Gutiérrez, Claudio Pérez, Rogelio Bolaños, Miguel Orejel, Sóstenes González
Pre-Founding Period
An obrero monument at San Jose State University.
Rogelio Bolaños and Francisco Huerta met and became good friends at Alisal High School in Salinas, California. However, they parted ways when Francisco graduated in the fall of 1988 and enrolled in San José State University (SJSU). In college, Francisco joined a Latino student organization dedicated to promoting cultural awareness, organizing political activism, and demanding equal educational rights for all students.
Francisco was later elected president of the organization's chapter at SJSU. Although he had the opportunity to lead the fight for equality, he felt something very important was missing. He witnessed firsthand the loss of several of the group's members due to dropouts and other issues, and felt the need to make critical changes to the organization's structure.
His proposed solution for retaining members and keeping them active was to create an environment that would embrace the spirit of true brotherhood; a group whose members would focus on supporting each other academically, socially, and personally first, and then handle the larger issues that affected their community. Unfortunately the majority of his peers were resistant to change and rejected the idea completely.
Meanwhile, in the summer of 1991, several teenagers met through the Summer Bridge Program right before their freshman year at SJSU. These students included Ramiro Rocha, José Villarreal, Francisco Bustamante, and Ralph Covarrubias. The program, designed to help students transition from high school to college, influenced Francisco Huerta's opinion on what the ideal student organization should emphasize: to ensure that its members graduate from college.
Rogelio Bolaños and Francisco Huerta were reunited again in the fall of 1991 when Rogelio, now a sophomore at SJSU, visited the university's EOP office (Educational Opportunity Program) where Francisco, now a senior, worked as a student helper. The EOP is an undergraduate program in California that helps financially and socially disadvantaged students gain access to college.
From that point on, the two carnales were inseparable. Both political science majors with an absolute passion for education, Rogelio and Francisco would eagerly discuss issues pertaining to their university campus and community. When their perspectives would conflict, which was often, the heated arguments could last till late at night at one of their apartments or local Denny's.
Francisco was later elected president of the organization's chapter at SJSU. Although he had the opportunity to lead the fight for equality, he felt something very important was missing. He witnessed firsthand the loss of several of the group's members due to dropouts and other issues, and felt the need to make critical changes to the organization's structure.
His proposed solution for retaining members and keeping them active was to create an environment that would embrace the spirit of true brotherhood; a group whose members would focus on supporting each other academically, socially, and personally first, and then handle the larger issues that affected their community. Unfortunately the majority of his peers were resistant to change and rejected the idea completely.
Meanwhile, in the summer of 1991, several teenagers met through the Summer Bridge Program right before their freshman year at SJSU. These students included Ramiro Rocha, José Villarreal, Francisco Bustamante, and Ralph Covarrubias. The program, designed to help students transition from high school to college, influenced Francisco Huerta's opinion on what the ideal student organization should emphasize: to ensure that its members graduate from college.
Rogelio Bolaños and Francisco Huerta were reunited again in the fall of 1991 when Rogelio, now a sophomore at SJSU, visited the university's EOP office (Educational Opportunity Program) where Francisco, now a senior, worked as a student helper. The EOP is an undergraduate program in California that helps financially and socially disadvantaged students gain access to college.
From that point on, the two carnales were inseparable. Both political science majors with an absolute passion for education, Rogelio and Francisco would eagerly discuss issues pertaining to their university campus and community. When their perspectives would conflict, which was often, the heated arguments could last till late at night at one of their apartments or local Denny's.
Founding Period - Recruitment Stage
Before long, these gentlemen started discussing an issue they strongly agreed on: the widening educational attainment gap between Latinos and non-Latinos and the inability of existing organizations to resolve the crisis. They envisioned a strong support group, a new Latino-based fraternity, one that would dramatically increase college enrollment and retention among Latinos and other minority groups at SJSU.
The two carnales were anything but procrastinators. They immediately set out to create such an organization. The first order of business was to recruit more gentlemen interested in making the dream into reality. Rogelio and Francisco began their search by contacting their circle of friends, reeling in Claudio Pérez and Cesar Estrada, who in turn recruited some of their own friends.
In addition to the "chain" of friends that grew larger with each new member, the interest group recruited students who visited the EOP office and others who they met on campus and through mutual friends. By the end of the recruitment stage, the group had grown to around twenty-two students, although only eighteen committed to founding the organization and carrying out its mission.
The two carnales were anything but procrastinators. They immediately set out to create such an organization. The first order of business was to recruit more gentlemen interested in making the dream into reality. Rogelio and Francisco began their search by contacting their circle of friends, reeling in Claudio Pérez and Cesar Estrada, who in turn recruited some of their own friends.
In addition to the "chain" of friends that grew larger with each new member, the interest group recruited students who visited the EOP office and others who they met on campus and through mutual friends. By the end of the recruitment stage, the group had grown to around twenty-two students, although only eighteen committed to founding the organization and carrying out its mission.
Founding Period - Fundamental Principles
"ΣΔΑ was a reaction against hazing and the put-downs of other fraternities. We wanted to distance ourselves from the mainstream process where you had to prove nonsense." Rogelio Bolaños
"There was a focus on academics. Brothers would show up for the pledges' study hours and see if they needed help. We wanted to show them they had a support group to make sure they succeeded and made it through college." Miguel Orejel
"There was a focus on academics. Brothers would show up for the pledges' study hours and see if they needed help. We wanted to show them they had a support group to make sure they succeeded and made it through college." Miguel Orejel
From the start, the founders were very clear about one thing: there was to be zero tolerance for hazing. Hazing is the degradation or endangerment of a person as a condition of association with a particular group or organization. At the time, there were two other Latino-based fraternities on campus. The founders observed how badly these organizations treated their potential new members (commonly referred to as "pledges") and believed a fraternity should create trust, not resentment, between its initiated members and potential new members.
Left-to-Right: Claudio Pérez (with back to camera), Cesar
Martínez, Francisco Huerta, José 'Pepe' Cortez and Miguel
Orejel at Clark Library, SJSU. The founders agreed that
the ultimate goal of Sigma Delta Alpha would be for its
members to graduate from college.
The deep sense of belonging among members and soon-to-be members was great in itself, but more than just friendship the founders wanted to provide academic support. According to them, other organizations on campus were either so busy partying or recruiting new members that they left academics for last. It was agreed, however, that the ultimate goal of Sigma Delta Alpha would be for its members to graduate from college. In order to fulfill this goal, brothers would organize study groups and tutoring sessions, which would make college life a lot easier.
Two other important principles the founders wanted to exemplify was community service and pride in one's culture. They ran a successful mentoring program at a local middle school and conducted presentations at high schools where they shared their college experiences, taught students what to expect, and awakened in them the idea that they could go to college. All of the founders were Latinos with strong cultural ties and many were foreign born, first-generation college students. They worked with other Latino-based organizations in their community and participated in many culture-related projects.
Founding Period - Constitution and Bylaws
"The constitution was mostly based on our Latino heritage but we didn't want to create any boundaries. We wanted to welcome all and bring them under one organization." Ramiro Rocha
"We set deadlines. If we were running off schedule we wouldn't leave [the meeting room] until we had completed the pre-determined tasks." Luis Medina
"We set deadlines. If we were running off schedule we wouldn't leave [the meeting room] until we had completed the pre-determined tasks." Luis Medina
The founders wanted to develop a steadfast framework that would endure far beyond their stay at SJSU. Meetings were conducted using Robert's Rules of Order and were held at least twice per week from November of 1991 through May of 1992. Everyone was expected to attend on a regular basis and actively participate in the proceedings. Francisco Huerta, who was already experienced in running meetings, was the first to take charge. When formal elections were held soon after, José Villarreal was elected to serve as chairman of the interest group.
The SJSU Student Union was our fraternity's founders'
main meeting place. They would stay hours after closing
time thanks to Cesar M. and José T., who were university
employees and had access to the building.
The founders divided themselves into separate committees, making the task of developing ideas much more manageable. These ideas were then discussed with the group as a whole during their semiweekly meetings. Among the various topics discussed was the organization's name and its objectives, goals, colors, and membership eligibility requirements. Also devised was the fraternity handshake.
Rudy Márquez and José Trujillo, both English majors with an incredible aptitude for writing, were largely responsible for translating the group's ideas into words. With the help of their superb writing skills and the group's unwavering determination to succeed, these eighteen gentlemen were able to finalize the constitution and its bylaws on May 5, 1992; just in time for the Cinco de Mayo celebration.
Rudy Márquez and José Trujillo, both English majors with an incredible aptitude for writing, were largely responsible for translating the group's ideas into words. With the help of their superb writing skills and the group's unwavering determination to succeed, these eighteen gentlemen were able to finalize the constitution and its bylaws on May 5, 1992; just in time for the Cinco de Mayo celebration.
Written by Josue Bustillos - Gamma Chapter - Iota Class
Epsilon Chapter History
University of California, Irvine
Epsilon Chapter Founding Fathers
In the Winter semester of 2002, students from the University of California, Irvine decided that although their campus was diverse they saw the need for an organization that portrays their self-image and displays their values and ethics. People came from far and wide to help start "La Union" the official interest group of Sigma Delta Alpha, which comprised of over 40 interested young men. From there on 27 brave young men began the journey that would change their lives forever. They began to see themselves fusing together, different cultures, different ideologies, and different backgrounds all focused on one goal. In the end 17 strong men accomplished the monumental feat. Through the trails and tribulation these young men worked together to form a common bond amongst each other, "Excellence and Loyalty Amongst Brothers." On September 21, 2002 the Epsilon chapter was founded at the University of California, Irvine. 17 founding fathers left a legacy at one of the finest institutions of higher learning and set the foundation for brothers to come
