As a sign of growth at West Virginia University, two fraternity houses have been remodeled and relocated.
Though both the Phi Sigma Kappa and Tau Kappa Epsilon houses were condemned within the past two years, the fraternities have still been active in the Greek world, according to Sam Whalen, Phi Sigma Kappa rush chair and Jeff Upson, Tau Kappa Epilson president.
For Phi Sigma Kappa, alumni support was key. After collecting around $2 million in donations, the fraternity was able to remodel its house on North High Street, also known as frat row.
“Most of our donations came from alumni that graduated in the ’60s and the ’70s,” Whalen said. “Even though we are a completely different generation than them, we are still in contact and are able to help each other.”
The Tau Kappa Epsilon house was condemned two summers ago after it did not pass fire marshal inspections.
After raising enough money, with most coming from Tau Kappa Epsilon’s landlord and owner of de Lazy Lizard Justin Byers, he was relocated to North High Street.
“(Byers) was able to get approved for a $1 million loan and put a half a million dollars on a payment. He actually put a lot of his savings down for the restoration of the house,” Upson said.
A new house “is exciting” and “a privilege,” Whalen and Upson said. Whalen added having a house better incorporates each fraternity’s identity in the Greek world.
Prospective brothers and community members will take in the new sights of the house, encouraging more membership, according to Upson.
“People kind of turned away from us because of the depleted look of the house. It wasn’t the best looking house inside or out,” he said. “Now that we have a brand new house, we are trying to be more involved.”
The house has encouraged Phi Sigma Kappa to plan for the future, and Whalen believes the future is limitless.
“Half of us don’t know what it’s like to be in a fraternity with a house,” he said. “Our goals are to get more members that are interested in Greek life and get back to the top.”
Tau Kppa Epsilon will also use its new house as leverage to better its fraternity. Upson said community service is important to the fraternity, and the brothers will participate in events in the Morgantown community, not just within the Greek community.
Tau Kappa Epsilon brothers will move into their house Sept. 26. And the Phi Sigma Kappa house will be active starting Sept. 2.
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