Delta Omega Epsilon

The Delta Omega Epsilon Organization () is a professional and honor-based fraternity. The organization was founded by civic-minded men dedicated to academic progress and civics. Delta Omega Epsilon was founded on April 15, 1985, by Richard Pelestri and Sal Leone along with an inaugural class of 25 members at The College of Staten Island in New York City.

Delta Omega Epsilon was the first organization to be chartered at the university and was created to spread knowledge of the civics and its various professions to enhance its local communities. The organization is one of the organizations founded in the United States and has more than 356 members who are civic-minded.

Being primarily a professional organization, Delta Omega Epsilon does not operate nor maintain an organization house as lodging quarters for members nor for any other persons. However, a chapter may maintain rooms for meetings at the discretion of its members. Membership is open to any man who meets the requirements, regardless of religion, race, or nationality.

The current Executive Board President and CEO is Aaron Calderon of the ''Eta chapter''. Aaron Calderon was elected on a campaign to make the organization national by the end of 2023 and international by 2024.

History

Creation

On April 15, 1985 at 12:38pm, the Delta Omega Epsilon Organization was founded by Richard Pelestri, Sal Leone, and an inaugural class of 25 members at The College of Staten Island, thus constituting the ''Alpha chapter''.

On September 7, 1995, Seth Meyerson, Joseph Congedo, and an inaugural class of 12 members formed the ''Beta chapter'' of Delta Omega Epsilon at the State University of New York at Delhi.

On September 8, 1996, Chris Delgado and an inaugural class of 6 members formed the ''Gamma chapter'' of Delta Omega Epsilon at the State University of New York at Oneonta.

On November 15, 1998, Ralph Torres and an inaugural class of 7 members formed the ''Delta chapter'' of Delta Omega Epsilon at the State University of New York at Cobleskill.

On February 28, 2002, Mike Mansky, George Mawyin, and an inaugural class of 15 members formed the ''Epsilon chapter'' of Delta Omega Epsilon at the State University of New York at Morrisville.

On November 1, 2002, Dibar Gamboa and an inaugural class of 4 members formed the at-large ''Zeta chapter'' of Delta Omega Epsilon in Central New York.

Andre Lynch and an inaugural class of 4 members formed the ''Theta chapter'' of Delta Omega Epsilon at the State University of New York at Canton during the spring of 2011.

On February 10, 2011, the organization's ''Phoenix chapter'' was nationally incorporated by Dibar Gamboa, Ariel Pichardo, and Teru King.

Programs

The programs of the organization are centered around its mission statement: "To spread knowledge of civic and its various professions to enhance its local communities. Civics for all!"

The chapters plan several local service projects throughout the year, including civic awareness drives, immigration tutoring/test preparation, charity fundraising events for politicians, and housing construction/rehabilitation.

Many of the operations of individual chapters are left to their own discretion, though most chapters have membership requirements which require a certain number of hours of service each year.

AIDS Walk Week

Delta Omega Epsilon internally organizes the AIDS Walk Week, a yearly project collaboration encompassing all chapters. AIDS Walk Week began in 2011 as a ''Beta chapter'' initiative, and later expanded to the entire organization to allow for greater flexibility and increased participation while retaining a sense of continuity with the original concept. Chapters compete against each other in fundraising efforts. AIDS Walk Week is always held in May and culminates in Delta Omega Epsilon's participation in the AIDS Walk New York.

Leadership

Symbols

The official symbols of the organization are the Phoenix representing rebirth and the bottlenose dolphin representing the organization's roots at The College of Staten Island. Delta Omega Epsilon's colors are sterling silver and black.

Goals

*To encourage and assist the civic awareness and duty of members and community.
*To provide free tutorial and consoling about civics to members and the community.
*To provide members with opportunities and internships.
*To encourage members and community to run for public office.
*To fundraiser for local civic minded candidates.
*To enhance the local community and aid misinformed youth.

Chapters

These are the chapters of Delta Omega Epsilon. Chapters at colleges do not require enrollment at the school. College centered chapters noted in are listed normally, at large chapters in ''italics''.

Controversies

Iota Chapter Theft Allegations

On , Monroe, Connecticut police arrested a founder and the ''Iota chapter'' President for allegedly stealing a laptop and personal items from the Fairfield University Library.

The arrests were in connection to an incident that occurred on Captains Hill Road in Monroe, Connecticut, on August 4, 2015, according to the police report.

A Monroe resident had filed a complaint that someone had entered his unlocked vehicle sometime during the night and stole a work laptop and related items worth more than $1,400. A surveillance camera set up on the victim's home showed the car was entered by an unknown subject shortly after midnight.

Police had investigated the theft of a laptop and personal items from the Fairfield University library in January, and detectives got a search warrant for the home of one of the suspects, the Iota Chapter President.

Among the items recovered was the laptop bag belonging to the Captains Hill Road victim. Police learned the ''Iota chapter'' President and ''Iota chapter'' Founder were together when driving through the Captains Hill Road neighborhood checking if people locked their cars.

The ''Iota chapter'' President and Iota Chapter Founder turned themselves in after learning of the warrant for their arrest.

The ''Iota chapter'' President, 22, of Bridgeport, was arrested for third-degree burglary and fourth-degree larceny.

The ''Iota chapter'' Founder, 28, also of Bridgeport, was arrested for fourth-degree conspiracy to commit larceny, third-degree conspiracy to commit burglary, criminal liability burglary and criminal liability larceny.

They were released after posting a $20,000 court-set bond each and were arraigned in Connecticut Superior Court on April 6, 2016.

The ''Iota chapter'' became inactive indefinitely following the incident.

References

{{Reflist, 2

Lists_of_organizations_based_in_the_United_States
Student organizations established in 1985
1985 establishments in New York City