Rising from the Ashes.
After the Sigma Chi house on South Seventh Street was gutted by fire in April 2004, alumni rallied to help build the university’s first from-the-ground-up fraternity house. Scheduled to welcome occupants this month, the new house accommodates twenty members in ten two-man bedrooms. Complete with a living area, game area, chapter room, computer lab, and four separate restrooms, the structure is wired for cable, phone, and Internet access.
According to Ed Rammrath ’79, president of the Sigma Chi House Corporation, the nucleus of the effort was “eleven dedicated IUP Sigma Chi alumni” who formed the house board. They were augmented by an additional six volunteers, who assisted with many aspects of the project.
Rammrath paid special tribute to local Sigma Chi alumnus Richard Clawson ’74. “Dick is the executive officer of the Indiana-Armstrong Builders Association,” Rammrath said, “and he was on site just about every day to ensure all aspects of the construction were handled properly.”
Funds for construction came from insurance, borrowing, and a fund-raising campaign. Before Thanksgiving, Rammrath said they had “raised $85,000 of our $100,000 target, primarily through letters, one-on-one solicitations, and a calling blitz last summer. It’s also interesting to note that we’ve received $8,500 from non-IUP Sigma Chi members and $5,500 from local business people.”