(Correction: this house was built in the late '50s, not the '40s)
Phi Sigs relocate to original chapter house
After sharing a house, brothers look forward to new chapter beginning
By Maggie Bozich
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Published Wednesday, September 8, 2004
When alumni come back to visit IU, they often drive past an old dorm, apartment or greek house where they spent the best days of their lives. They may even knock on the door to see how much the place has changed over the past years.
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"From a structure standpoint, we had outgrown our old house. The structure of this house is what a fraternity should be."
Derrick Clark
Junior
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For Phi Sigma Kappa alumni, it will now be easier to visit their former home. The chapter has relocated to its original house on campus, 1100 N. Jordan Ave, built more than 60 years ago.
The chapter built the house in the 1940s and occupied it until they left campus in 1972. The chapter was re-chartered in the late 1990s.
For the last two years, Phi Sigma Kappa has been strengthening its chapter at 1500 N. Jordan.
Junior Derrick Clark, current president of Phi Sigs, said he believes the move was important to the fraternity for a number of reasons. The original house provides the extra space the brothers needed as well as an improved location, Clark said.
"From a numbers stand point, we had outgrown our old house," Clark said. "The structure of this house is what a fraternity should be. It has more room for dining and chapter (meetings). Whereas our other house didn't have that."
The house holds history and memories for many of the past brothers, said Clark, which is why the move was important to the brothers and the chapter as a whole.
Dr. David Olson, 1969 alumni of the chapter, is one brother who is thrilled the chapter has returned to its original location.
"It's great to see the chapter return home," Olson said in a statement. "It's phenomenal to return here. Everywhere I walk the memories are overwhelming."
Phi Sigma Kappa began discussions about moving into the house with Lynn Coyne of IU Real Estate and Dean of Students Richard McKaig in 2003. After getting the approval, the fraternity signed a lease with the University. Nick Lewis, chapter advisor and 1996 alumnus, said he was thankful Phi Sigma Kappa was given the chance move back.
"Everything worked out great in the end," Lewis said in a statement. "Coyne and McKaig really should be commended for giving us this opportunity."
With men's fall recruitment around the corner, Clark said he believes the relocation will help in a number of ways. The location and size of the house is better than it was in years past, which will be helpful in recruiting.
"We are one of the fastest growing fraternities on campus as far as numbers," Clark said. "It will be the things that we stand for and our values that will help us with rush, though. The house will help, but it will all come down to the guys that live in the house."
-- Contact staff writer Maggie Bozich at
mboizich@indiana.edu.
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