In 1985 Pi Kappa Phi begun an effort to colonize the University of North Dakota.  The most recent expansion at UND had been in 1968 and Mike O’Donnell, Pi Kappa Phi’s national expansion director, thought that the University of North Dakota was ready for Pi Kappa Phi.

Eight national fraternities were trying to expand to UND during the fall of 1985.  During the spring of 1985 each presented itself to the Interfraternity council and Pi Kappa Phi was the only fraternity chosen to create a colony.

On October 8, 1985 a meeting was held in the Red River room at the Memorial Union to learn about Pi Kappa Phi.  The meeting was lead by Mike O’Donnell and about forty-five men showed up.  Of these forty-five men, twelve would see the fraternity through to chartering the next fall.  These twelve men have been dubbed the October Boys and are considered the most honorable members of our Chapter.  These men are: Patrick Dinkins, Phil Markwart, Chris Johnson, Parry Schmeichel, John Lerma, Brad Emerson, Steve Rowland, Bill Leraas, Jeff Demunck, Wade Olson, John Leppo and Blaine Soderberg.

After the meeting, the new members went to the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority house and signed a petition to become an associate chapter of Pi Kappa Phi.  This was soon granted and the Kappa Phi Associate Chapter at the University of North Dakota was formed.

The first Chapter meeting was held on October 21, 1985.  A proposal to rent the old Delta Zeta Sorority house was made by Mike O’Donnell.  Elections were also held and Mike Walker was elected Archon, Mark Dickerson Vice Archon, David Engelbrecht Treasurer, John Lerma Secretary, Phil Markwart Warden, Steve Rowland Historian, and Bill Leraas Chaplain.

The UND housing office decided to use the Delta Zeta house for “other long term goals” and in turn we were homeless until the summer of 1986.  Many other housing options were looked at and finally we were able to lease the John Penn Property located at 2610 University Avenue.  This house became known as “Beta West” due to the close proximity to the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity house.