Triangle's beginnings at UWM stretch all the way back to 1939, when a local engineering group named Sigma Delta Omega (ΣΔΩ) formed at Milwaukee's UW downtown extension. It operated there until 1965 when science programs were moved to the new buildings on the Kenwood campus. Up until that time the sciences had only a two year program and most members transferred to Madison to finish their degrees.
It was decided in 1961 to expand ΣΔΩ to Madison, so Brothers who went on could retain their membership. Upon learning of this, the Triangle chapter in Madison offered a program to incorporate ΣΔΩ into Triangle. The Milwaukee group would operate as a branch of the Triangle chapter in Madison. It didn't take long for ΣΔΩ to warm to the idea of being part of a national organization.
Sigma Delta Omega became part of Triangle in 1961. Even with this new status, it was difficult to stabilize membership with only a 2 year program. A truly solid organization did not materialize until 1968. A major turnaround in the 1968-'69 school year came after very strong showing at the annual Campus Carnival. After not participating in the events for 6 years, Triangle took 2nd place in fraternities overall and received the awards for highest GPA and most improved fraternity. Membership increased, as did an interest in becoming independent from Madison. Triangle at UW-Milwaukee received its own charter on April 11, 1970, making it the 31st Chapter of Triangle Fraternity.
Miscellaneous Highlights
- March 17, 1972 saw the establishment of one of our Chapter's oldest traditions, the St. Patrick's Day celebration.
- UWM has hosted two of Triangle's National Conventions: the 59th (1979) and the 63rd (1987).
- In a bit of noteriety, the Alpha Pi pledge class 'aquired' the long established Tau Kappa Epsilon rock from it's resting place outside of Bolton Hall in the spring of 1987. Accomplished during the TKE's yearly Founder's Day festivities, the Pledges broke a winch and an axle of the flatbed used in the process.
- In January of 1992, the Chapter closed on a mortgage of their most recent fraternity house at 3431 N. Oakland.