OU Sigma Nu chapter building new house, physical presence on campus

The OU chapter of the Sigma Nu fraternity’s $7 million house will be open at the start of the spring 2017 semester for the first time since the old Sigma Nu house closed and the fraternity left campus in 2010.

Information studies senior and Sigma Nu president Austin Buonasera said the chapter voted to leave campus in 2010 until the alumni were prepared to build the new house. The chapter decided to leave because the house was old and membership was low.

“The chapter actually decided itself to leave campus,” Buonasera said. “Just give it some time to knock the house down and rebuild, come back strong.”

Buonasera said that the new 28,051-square-foot house was designed by an alumnus of the fraternity and that it was already designed when the fraternity came back to campus in 2012. The plans for the house were approved in 2012, but construction did not begin until the fall of 2015.

It will have 46 single occupancy bedrooms, two digital presentation and study rooms, a game room, front and rear patios with TV and speakers, and a basketball court outside. The second and third floors of the house both have laundry rooms with four washers and dryers each, Buonasera said. 

“The second and third floors will be done in November, and the first floor will be done in December," Buonasera said. "They prioritized the construction of the top two floors so we could obtain a temporary housing permit if we wanted to move in before some of the stuff on the first floor (is finished)."

Buonasera said the house will also have a large parking lot that will go around the house and up the front to where the circle driveway will be.

"I think it's going to be great to be on campus again, to be seen and to be there in a big way," said Chalmer McWilliams, marketing junior and member of the fraternity.

Buonasera said some officers will move into the house over winter break in December; the rest of the chapter members who will be living in the house will move in in January. Many of the members are staying at The Avenue apartment complex while they wait for the house to be finished since they were able to sign short-term leases there. The members are not paying any in-house dues while they live at The Avenue, Buonasera said.

Buonasera also said the chapter holds its meetings at Dale Hall. The fraternity also conducted fall recruitment from its unfinished house with air conditioned tents set up inside, he said. 

“(I am) very excited. It’s been a long time coming, and however excited I am is just a fraction of what the older guys feel,” said Andrew Fraser, chemical engineering sophomore and member of the fraternity.

Fraser said Sigma Nu is already active on campus, but having a house will help validate its presence. Fraser said the fraternity already does the things a Greek organization should do, like participate in philanthropy events, Dad's Day and Mom's Day.

"How we make our presence felt is by actually having a physical building — a physical house — that people can see and drive by and know that our letters are there," McWilliams said.