![]() ![]() The chapter is the only house on campus that works with alumni and national-level chapter advisors on a daily basis. Ottilie also attributes the chapter’s lasting presence to its active alumni support. Sigma Chi remains the only privately-owned student residence. “If you’re going to succeed at anything, you have to have solid relationships, and Stanford has consistently been our partner in everything we do, not withstanding,” said Ottilie. Ottilie attributes the success of this endeavor to the chapter’s close collaborative relationship with the university. They reached this goal through alumni donations and also received an additional $1 million contribution in the form of construction from John Arrillaga, whose son had lived in the house. The chapter also worked with the University to obtain a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that made donations toward the renovation tax deductible due to the location of the house on Stanford property. This new Housing Corporation worked closely with Roger Whitney, Stanford’s Chief Housing Officer, to set a campaign goal of $3 million for independent renovations. The chapter worked out an agreement to sell its house to the University to finance the renovations because monetary gifts to fraternity houses are not considered tax deductible.Ī group of alumni, including Ottilie, came out in opposition to the agreement. In 2002, the University mandated that the chapter conduct at least $600,000 of seismic improvements to the house. Once all chapters revised its policies, the Stanford chapter became rechartered with Sigma Chi in 1974. National Sigma Chi alumni vetoed the pledge, and in response, the Stanford chapter was the first to withdraw from the international Sigma Chi organization. In the 1960s, Stanford Sigma Chi pledged its first African-American student. The 125th celebration highlights some of the most notable examples of Sigma Chi leadership in its history. “There is a tremendous amount of opportunity for our organization to be a leader on the campus, and we are responsible to provide and perpetuate leadership through an active alumni organization,” Ottilie added. “I’m honored to be the president of the house at this time.” “A lot of the values that I’ve learned in Sigma Chi have been really applicable to my day-to-day life, and since Sigma Chi has given so much to me, I wanted to give back,” Wallach said. ![]() They recognize the chapter as the only continuous fraternity on campus for 125 years, chartered at the University in 1891. ![]() The festivities are co-hosted by the chapter, headed by president and former Daily staffer Jordan Wallach ’17 and its Housing Corporation, headed by Bob Ottilie ’77. Festivities for the 125th anniversary began with a kickoff dinner for active members and 200 to 300 alumni at the Faculty Club on Thursday night. Stanford Sigma Chi, Alpha Omega chapter, is celebrating its 125th anniversary this weekend, marking it as the only fraternity continuously residing on Stanford’s campus since the University’s founding. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |