The University of California at Los Angeles Chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity was founded at the Westwood campus in 1947 by a group of Sigma Chi transfers from other campuses. Most of these men were returning veterans of World War II. They were led by Bob Cuyler, Jr. who was voted the most outstanding delegate of the first ever Sigma Chi Workshops in 1948.
Led by Craig Nason, Alpha Upsilon 1926, and Sam Bullock, alumni in the area were able to purchase an apartment house at 605 Landfair Avenue in 1949. This 4 unit apartment house was converted into a temporary chapter house. Although the unit gave temporary housing for the chapter it was well known that a more modern up to date structure would be necessary in order for the chapter to compete with the other nationally known fraternities on campus.
Three lots were purchased on Gayley Avenue and the property on Landfair Avenue was sold in 1955 with the plans to have the new chapter house constructed by Fall, 1957. Due to various building and financing problems, the property at 459 Gayley Avenue was not ready for occupancy until Fall, 1959. Craig Nason loaned money to the Daniel William Cooper Scholastic Foundation to complete the pledge dorm, the living room floor, trophy case, pave the parking lot and other items that totaled about $15,000 from various loans. These loans were combined into one $18,000 loan, including interest. It took well over 20 years to pay this loan. The chapter house was still basically a shell. The rooms did not have desks or wardrobes and the chapter survived by using cardboard wardrobes from Beverly Hills Transfer and Storage from 1959-1963. This company was owned by Craig’s brother, Fred, who also was an Alpha Upsilon Sigma Chi. Funds were not available for bathroom fixtures. Brother Fred Keenan, Alpha Upsilon 1937 owned Keenan Pipe and Supply and donated the fixtures.
It is to be noted that the purchase and sale of the Landfair
property and the purchase of the 3 lots(one donated by Shirley Parker and the
other two purchased for less than market value from Brother Parker) on Gayley
was an act of genius by Brother Nason.
The chapter was led in 1960-61 by a graduate student Sigma
Chi from the University
of Texas, Ed Blackwell. The
chapter grew in numbers and during 1962-63, Gary Wiese, a transfer from Utah,
led the chapter as Consul, bringing the total membership to over 60 and need for additional housing
for the chapter. At this time, Craig Nason AGAIN worked to obtain financing to
provide additional living space over the living room and provide the entire
structure with wardrobes and dresser drawers.
Strong leadership in the mid 60’s was under the guidance of
Consul Vaughn Hoffman, a member of the first UCLA National Basketball Championship
team in 1964. The chapter grew in membership to nearly 100 in 1967-68. It
appeared that the political tenor of the late 60’s would not affect Delta Eta.
However, from 1968-71 the chapter suffered a tremendous
decline in membership from which many lessons can be learned. The house split
into factions (drug users vs. non drug users) and could not resolve their
conflict. Fewer and fewer young men were rushing and the chapter membership
fell to only 18 men returning for Fall, 1971. At this time about 12 of the 32
fraternities had closed their doors due to the declining interest in ALL social
organizations. It was not feasible during Spring, 1971 to expect that the
chapter could obtain enough pledges during Fall, 1971 to sustain the chapter and
EVEN CRAIG NASON believed that Delta Eta could not survive.
Youth and their vigor could not be quelled and Rick
Pittenger, a new active(instilled by guidance from high school teacher, Lou
Ramierez from Alpha Upsilon-USC) and
Martin Cohen asked the alumni to give them one more chance to save the chapter.
CRAIG NASON again came forward and obtained a $2,000 loan in his name to get
the chapter into the Fall, 1971 School Year. The unbelieving efforts of
brothers Pittenger, Cohen and others succeeded in saving Delta Eta from
extinction. The feeling is that Brother Pittenger’s grades suffered due to his
untiring work for Delta Eta and probably prevented him from getting into a Law School
of his choice. Such was the dedication and commitment to Sigma Chi by Rick
Pittenger.
The chapter steadily increased in membership and was fortunate to have pledged a series of excellent leaders with names of Cuyler (Yes, the son of founder Cuyler) McNamara, Wulff, Harmon Brown, Ben Key, Scott Simon and John Phillips. Harmon and Ben were the architects of the present chapter. They set high standards and made the chapter achieve their goals and in a blaze of enthusiasm, sacrifice and hard work the chapter achieved national recognition from 1973-76 by winning several awards and in 1975 the prestigious Peterson Award.
Swiftly after 1976
the quality of the chapter reached new levels. The chapter obtained a
new and superior status among other fraternal organizations at U.C.L.A. and
this continued into the 80’s. During the early 80’s the chapter maintained a
membership of about 125 with 50-56 living in the chapter house and in one year
housed 56 men.
During Fall, 1984 the first mortgage was paid in full. A group of about 300 brothers and guests gathered for a mortgage burning ceremony at the chapter house followed by a dinner on campus at U.C.L.A. In attendance were Grand Consul, “Swede” Johnson , Craig Nason(son of great brother and friend Craig, both Alpha Upsilon Sigs), Jim Geary, the architect of the chapter house as it was to be built, but not the house that we ended up with, and the chapter advisor during the late 50’s and early 60’s. It was a great moment for all brothers of Delta Eta. The struggling early years to build the chapter membership, the almost disastrous time of the early 70’s and then the rebirth brings great memories. It was something that all could be proud, “The Spirit of Sigma Chi”. The White Cross had gained new luster by Delta Eta. IT WAS VERY UNFORTUNATE that the great Craig Nason had gone to the Chapter Eternal in 1982.
Time will tell, but there certainly is optimism among alumni and hopefully, the active chapter that the goals of the chapter are now even more challenging, but the rewards will far exceed the wildest expectations of those earlier, struggling Delta Eta Sigma Chi’s to whom each new brother is indebted. Such are the bonds that tie us together as Delta Eta Sigma Chi’s.
Most recently, the house at 459 Gayley has begun a series of renovations. Each room has been gutted, rebuilt and repainted. All improvements are scheduled to be completed in the winter of 2007.