Delta Sigma Phi to move into new house

The house will be renovated throughout the school year.

By Jimmy Hibsch

Published Aug. 24, 2010

Delta Sigma Phi will officially take ownership of the house formerly owned by Alpha Kappa Lambda before their expulsion from MU at the end of last semester on Sept. 15.

The property, located at 805 Richmond Ave., was occupied by the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity from 1930 to 1935. During the Great Depression, the chapter at MU was on hiatus until it reorganized in 1956. Bruce Loewenberg joined the fraternity in 1958 and will be purchasing the house for his fraternity.

During his time at MU, Loewenberg served as the chapter’s president for two years. A longtime financial supporter of the fraternity, Loewenberg said giving back is valued by the fraternity, as “paying the debt” is part of its creed.

“We always had to work very hard and very diligently to become who we are, and in doing so we developed a central loyalty – a deeper sense of loyalty, I think, than a lot of other chapters on campus,” Loewenberg said. “I think it’s because we always had to fight harder which made us have a greater love for both our fraternity and our university.”

As recognition for his dedication to the fraternity, Loewenberg was named “Mr. Delta Sigma Phi” in 2009. Brian Brooks, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies at the School of Journalism and the chapter's faculty adviser, received the same honor in 1995. Like Loewenberg, he is proud of his fraternity’s latest endeavor.

“We have a house now, but we think this house has more potential once it’s renovated,” Brooks said. “It’s a much nicer house. We weren’t sure if we wanted to put that kind of money to renovate the house that we have now. This one has much more curb appeal.”

The final contract has not yet been signed, and the brothers will not move into the house until the 2011 to 2012 school year, Brooks said. Renovations on the house will begin this semester.

Approximately 55 brothers will move into the house in August 2011.

“We’ve hired an architect and a contractor, and we’re going to gut the house,” Brooks said. “Basically, we’re going to tear it down to the studs, and we’re going to rebuild it. It’s in pretty bad shape, so it needs a complete renovation.”

The Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity recently underwent a loss of recognition from both MU and its national chapter. The MU chapter was disbanded on May 10.

Interfraternity Council President Brandon Green said the house's location is “coveted” on campus and acknowledged the possibility of Alpha Kappa Lambda’s departure from MU as providing a chance for Delta Sigma Phi to better itself.

“We don’t throw our hands up in the air and scream for help when we lose a chapter because we have so many other strong ones,” Green said. “You never know, a chapter losing its charter on campus may provide an opportunity for another fraternity to step up and thrive.”