Campus is welcoming back their oldest fraternity after three and a half years of inactivity.
Phi Sigma, ΦΣ, a local fraternity was founded in 1866 but went inactive at the end of spring 2011 before the Greek Achievement Report. The fraternity had low numbers and were unable to meet service hour requirements. They could not send proper representation to the Greek councils.
They were given five years to reactivate their chapter. Last semester the alumni went to Val Wetzel, the Greek life advisor, to come up with a plan to reactivate. Wetzel was concerned for the chapter’s future concerning reactivating, because a lot of members graduated. The alumni wanted Phi Sigma to be present on campus when UW-Platteville celebrates 150 years.
Phi Sigma was given a plan with benchmarks they had to meet to become an active chapter again.
The alumni hosted a number of rush events during the fall including volleyball, flag football and dinners. At the end of the fall semester Phi Sigma had 10 members.
“They bring tradition and history to campus,” Brian Yingst, the Interfraternity Council advisor said.
The fraternity is able to maintain a strong alumni connection that helps the men of Phi Sigma after graduation.
Phi Sigma helped establish and maintain the library on campus. They plan on continuing their work with the library but Lee said right now they are tutoring at the middle school four times a week. The fraternity is also involved with the Lutheran Campus Ministries, located by Hartig.
Thomas Lee, President of Phi Sigma, said that he became interested in the fraternity while living with members of the chapter when it was previously active.
“We are excited to be back,” Lee said. “Looking to bring brotherhood into the Greek community.”
Phi Sigma has started their spring rush. Anyone interested can look for posters or talk to Thomas Lee for more information. The fraternity is looking for a younger group of men to continue their legacy on campus. Since it is a local fraternity, the cost is more affordable for men looking to join.