Phi Sigma Kappa to lease ex-Theta house

The recently recolonized frat has been unable to regain use of its old 3615 Locust home. After an unsuccessful attempt to win back its former house, the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity may finally have a new home. Today, Phi Sig plans to sign a lease with Campus Apartments for the former Kappa Alpha Theta house at 4039 Walnut Street. "The deal is final," College sophomore and Phi Sig rush chairman Dan Matisoff said. "We're going to sign it. That should really help us for rush and for the upcoming year." Phi Sig lost its charter and its house from its Indianapolis-based national in the spring of 1998 after repeated alcohol and risk-management violations. The fraternity recolonized on campus last spring and received IFC recognition in September. The fraternity has been trying for the past semester to regain its former home at 3615 Locust Walk, which has since been converted into the Veranda, an alcohol-free student center. But University officials made it clear in September that the house would remain a University facility when they said the Veranda was a valuable student resource. So the fraternity recently turned its attention to the former Theta house -- which the sorority decided to leave last spring, when the 10-year lease expired. "When the lease was up, we decided we wanted something a little smaller and closer to campus," College senior and Theta Rush Chairwoman Cecilia Rothenberger said. "We don't really see it as our house anymore." Phi Sig lost its charter because the brothers put a pornography link on the Phi Sig website and because they violated their national regulations by bringing kegs into the house. The Phi Sig brothers say they would still like to return to 3615 Locust at some point in the future, but they need to find a home in the meantime. "Our alumni are still continuing to pursue the Veranda for use in the future," College senior and outgoing Phi Sig Vice President Dan Grabell said. "But it would need a lot of work. It hasn't been taken care of for years." In the meantime, the Phi Sig brothers say they are enthusiastic about their prospective new home. The lease will give them the option of staying in the house for up to 10 years. "I'm really happy for my future brothers who are going to be living there," Grabell said. "It's one thing to meet every week, it's another thing to actually live together." The fraternity is still striving to regain its charter from their national organization, which they hope to obtain by this spring in time for the chapter's 100th anniversary. In order to do so, they must meet several criteria, including a high academic standing, community service initiatives and recognition from the IFC. Scott Reikofski, the director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, was unavailable for comment on Phi Sig's plan.

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