[ Thursday, Sept. 8, 2005 ]

Building complete for PSU fraternity

By Kate Faxon-St. Georges
Collegian Staff Writer

John Giblin (junior-journalism) enjoys dinner with his Sigma Tau Gamma brothers in their new house on S. Allen St. His shirt says, “New House, Old Traditions” to commemorate the national fraternity's new home.

For 17 years, no new fraternity houses have been built in State College -- until now.

Sigma Tau Gamma, a national fraternity at Penn State since 1956, had always leased properties around State College until the beginning of this year, when active members moved into a brand new house at 500 S. Allen St.

After 48 years of paying rent to landlords, the fraternity's members are paying their own rent, which allows brothers and alumni to invest in the property, said Former Alumni Association President of Sigma Tau Gamma Robb Meinen.

Construction at the new address began in October 2004, Meinen said.

"The new fraternity house gives me a sense of pride every time I see it," Brian Agreen (sophomore-division of undergraduate studies) said. "When I turn off the road to come here, other houses do not compare at all."

The new house was built on the property of the old Phi Mu Delta house, which was severely damaged by two fires in 1997. Sigma Tau Gamma alumni purchased the property so they could build the new fraternity house.

The Sigma Tau Gamma house has a large living room with six leather couches, 17 bedrooms and central air conditioning.

Meinen said the house will help fraternity members prosper educationally while living in the new residence.

"Our house offers opportunity for social interaction while providing large bedrooms that promote a great study environment," Meinen said. "The house adheres to the strictest of standards not only for structural integrity, but in fire prevention and safety -- we thought of everything that a fraternity house really needs and found a way to provide it."

Several of the fraternity members said modern architecture and numerous rooms will provide a good studying environment where they can get work done with little distraction.

"At previous addresses our fraternity often saw senior members move out of the house because the house did not mix well with study demands," Meinen said. "In the new house, the fraternity will thrive and its young men will succeed."

With the help of two alumni organizations, the Sigma Tau Gamma brothers are working to keep old traditions alive in a brand new house and location.

John Giblin (sophomore-journalism) said the strong bond between the alumni and current members was one reason he joined Sigma Tau Gamma.

"The alumni are always coming by when they're in the area," Giblin said. "They are the sole reason we were able to get this amazing house."