Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Alabama

ΣΦΕ R ed dooR the Alabama B e t a s t he Uni ver s i t y of Alabam a S igma Phi Ep s i lon Kappa Alpha Order (left) and SigEp (right) will trade houses in August 2016. T Fall 2013 Undergraduates will live in the old Sigma Chi house starting August 2014. Alabama Beta AVC Announces Chapter Back on University Boulevard in 2016 he Alumni Volunteer Corporation of Alabama Beta and Sigma Phi Epsilon Housing Corporation want to share with you some great news regarding our housing situation at the University of Alabama. University Boulevard and the land swap allows us to accomplish this. The second goal was to have a facility with increased space that has been updated in recent years. The Kappa Alpha Order house meets both of these desires. You may be aware that the undergraduate Chapter has not been physically residing in our Chapter House on University Boulevard for several years. Since our return to the University as a SigEp Colony, progress has been made to recharter the undergraduate Chapter. As a part of the process, our young men look forward to moving into an on-campus house. University administration authorized an appraisal on both houses. Our house was appraised at $1.4 million (13,070 SF house, 4,200 SF parking) and the Kappa Alpha Order house was appraised at $2.4 million (16,549 SF house, 8,500 SF parking). In September 2013, the University of Alabama Board of Trustees approved the land swap along with low-interest loans to each fraternity. Our National Housing Corporation will obtain a loan with the university for $1 million and Kappa Alpha Order will obtain a $5.8 million loan for their construction. A Return to University Boulevard Beginning in late 2012 and early 2013, SigEp National Housing Corporation has been working with the University of Alabama to resolve our housing situation. In the course of performing due diligence on our existing house, it was determined that to move into the house, we would have to improve the structure to bring it up to code. The cost of the building code upgrades would be between $1 million and $1.5 million before any real improvements can be made. UA secures house trade in 2016 If you have been on campus lately, you have undoubtedly noticed the $7 to $13 million homes being erected on campus. While having discussions with the university administration, it was shared that Kappa Alpha Order was looking for a space to build a new house and increase their square footage. The SigEp National Housing Corporation met with university administration and Kappa Alpha Order officials to discuss a swap. Our intent was to maintain a presence on Actives Prepare for Campus Living The land swap will be official in May 2014. In August 2014, our undergraduate members will have an opportunity to move into the old Sigma Chi house, pending approval from the university. The 2014 and 2015 academic years will allow our young men to prepare for living in a house and adjust to the management of running a house. If everything goes according to plan, the Chapter will move into the Kappa Alpha Order house in August 2016. Several fraternities have lived in the Sigma Chi house as their new facilities have been built. Kappa Alpha Order will live in their house until their new structure is complete around May 2016. Best Decision for Alabama Beta's Future Many alumni have wonderful memories of our times in the Sigma Phi Epsilon house located on University Boulevard. It was not an easy decision for the SigEp National Housing Corporation to make in agreeing to this change. However, it is in our best interest to keep our costs low, improve facilities for our undergraduate Chapter, and maintain a presence on University Boulevard. The young men in the undergraduate Chapter are thankful to the alumni for giving them an opportunity to have a structure to continue building a successful organization. Stay informed online We wanted to get this information to you as quickly as we could. There have been numerous rumors floating among our alumni regarding housing from information obtained by unofficial resources. We plan to utilize the undergraduates' webpage for communicating with our alumni, so begin checking www.alabamasigep.com for future information. Once we get this section updated, we plan to post pictures and layout of the Kappa Alpha Order house for your review. We hope you are as excited as the AVC is about getting back on campus in a permanent structure to further develop friendship and brotherhood in a manner expected. We will once again see the Red Door prominently displayed at the University of Alabama. Fraternally, AVC President Mark Salmon '87 Treasurer Bob Holman '69 Vice President of Relations Sam Sparks '71 Chapter Counselor Jimmy Hubbard, Tennessee Zeta '91 Secretary Steve Mace '71

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