Sigma Chi - Kansas State University

A NEW ERA DELTA UPSILON CHAPTER • SIGMA CHI FRATERNITY • KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY W hen I moved into the Sigma Chi house as a pledge in the fall of 1985, it was just three years old and the nicest on campus. We were in the second year of a string of 15 Peterson Awards over 20 years. We had a top facility and a very successful undergraduate chapter. As I became involved in the early stages of a capital campaign to raise money to renovate the house last summer, it was clear that neither was currently true. The active chapter had received one Peterson Award since 2006 and was mired in the bottom quarter in grades. The physical structure was dated as well. The sleeping dorm concept in which we lived is not a competitive arrangement with other fraternity and campus living options. Upgrades such as a sprinkler system, modernized kitchen, and a fire escape from the basement chapter room were long overdue. Chapter Transformation Through Alumni Involvement Before we could raise the money to renovate the house, the systemic problems within the chapter needed to be addressed. Several brothers embarked on Operation Vitalize last fall to set our chapter on a new course. This endeavor was embraced by the active chapter as we found that they were receptive to enhanced engagement and mentoring by the alumni. As a part of this effort, the active chapter adopted standards of conduct and performance with a detailed series of policies governing their implementation and enforcement. We have formed, for the first time, an Alumni Association for the Delta Upsilon Chapter of Sigma Chi that is a registered entity with the State of Kansas. As a part of this alumni effort, we are forming an alumni advisory board to replace the concept of a single chapter advisor. Additionally, we have engaged brothers from outside Manhattan on the House Corporation to spread the effort that had largely been performed solely by the local brothers. We have had some nice early successes. The active chapter improved to the middle of the third quarter in grades and had an overall GPA greater than 3.0 for the first time in five years. Recruitment has been successful, with 20 men pledged with an emphasis on recruiting successful students. The House Corporation hired a live-in housemother (first in over five years) and she began in February 2017. Overall, the actives tell us they feel a change in the culture in the house already. Announcing a New Era Capital Campaign What remains is to perform the much-needed renovation. The cost of the renovation will be $3.6 million. We have engaged BBN Architects for the design and are evaluating contractors for the project. We can comfortably finance $900,000, thus are looking to raise at least $2.7 million through A New Era capital campaign. We have quietly raised $1.8 million from the generous contributions of 45 brothers. As brothers in Sigma Chi, we have all taken lifelong vows to adhere to our ideals and virtues and they served us well after we left 1224 Fremont. As we go public with our campaign, we need your generous support as never before. I hope you can reflect on what your experience in Sigma Chi has meant to you. In the very near future you will receive more information regarding the renovation project, the progress of the active chapter, and how you can join this growing list of loyal Sigs who are committed to A New Era of our chapter. In Hoc, Doug Burton, M.D. '89 House Corporation President (913) 219-5468 dburton@kumc.edu DELTA UPSILON CHAPTER ANNOUNCES $2.7 MILLION CAMPAIGN TO RENOVATE 1224 FREMONT More Than $1.8 Million Raised from Generous Donors

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