After the First World War, colleges across the country received a large influx of returning service men. One such veteran enrolling at Oregon in the fall of 1919 was George F. Shirley, who had three previous years of college. Dissatisfied with available housing, he gathered other war veterans and talked of forming a fraternity. On 12 October 1919, they formed S-Maralda local fraternity. They secured a house and began organizing their fraternity. After initial success, the S-Maralda organizers decided to seek affiliation with a national fraternity. They investigated numerous ones not at Oregon, chose Chi Psi, and sent their petition to Chi Psi alumni in Portland. They in turn forwarded it to the 79th Convention meeting in Chicago that summer, and Convention approved an initial investigation. Portland Alumni looked more in-depth, they were satisfied with S-Maralda and the University, and called it a promising place for Fraternity extension. The Oregon Association of Chi Psi, though, thought a new Alpha with 24 members was too big, and declared S-Maralda would have to reduce its size by a third. With the promise that each man would be judged on individual merits, all members agreed to accept the decision. 

With help from the Oregon Chi Psi Association, S-Maralda prepared a final petition, which was sent for consideration on 15 November 1920. The Executive Council hastened its usual voting process, and a telegram notified the Oregon Chi Psi Association on 14 December that the decision was favorable (17-2).