Fraternity has new $6M house

When Kappa Sigma opened the doors Aug. 22 to its new chapter house at 1411 N. Jordan Ave., it became one of the largest and most expensive fraternity houses on campus, boasting four floors covering 40,000 square feet and a price tag of more than $6 million. \nKappa Sigma came to IU in 1903 and since then, has been located in three different houses. The first, located on Third Street, was torn down this summer, though the fraternity hadn't lived in it since the 1940s. The second house was located at the same spot as the new one. The fraternity decided to build the new house on the same location rather than attempt to renovate. \nSince the decision was made, the Kappa Sigma brothers have lived in four different places: the old house, a dorm, the old Sigma Epsilon house and, finally, their new house. \nNow the brothers are enjoying having a permanent place to stay. \n"You can have everyone in the same spot," senior Devin Harrington said. "Everyone's always around, so you always have something to do."\nBuilt in the shape of the letter "J," the house includes an open basement with a variety of couches that create an informal atmosphere. On the first floor is a cafeteria, a formal sitting room, the kitchen and many other rooms shared by fraternity members. \nThe top two floors consist of 24 rooms in which the members live. The house can accommodate up to 88 people, though currently only 66 live there. \nBuilt mostly from cinder blocks, the structure is designed to last a long time and withstand significant wear and tear. Kappa Sigma's IU Chapter President Rhett Tanselle said the fraternity favored the cinder blocks over drywall because it is much more difficult to break cinder blocks -- and it isn't hard to plunge an arm through plaster.\n"It's fraternity-proof," Tanselle said.\nTanselle said the $6 million price tag was mostly paid for by IU alumnus Todd Wagner, though donations were made by other alumni. The kitchen alone cost more than $110,000. \nThe amenities include three lounges located on the dorm floors and wireless Internet throughout the house. The house includes light-fixtures modeled after the original fixtures from the house on Third Street and two fireplaces on the first floor. The bathrooms are equipped with motion sensors so lights are not left on when the room is empty. \nThe fraternity is environmentally friendly with double-paned, ultraviolet-tinted windows and individual heating and air-conditioning controls in each room. \nCarbon dioxide levels are monitored within the house, so fresh air is always flowing.\nThe house is not totally completed, though. Decorations still have to be added to the interior. Tanselle said he believes the fraternity brothers will be allowed to paint some walls and decorate the house for special events. \nWhile the house is considered an important part of being a fraternity, it's not the most important thing, Tanselle said.. \n"The house is not what makes us," he said. "The people in the house make us"