Recolonized in the fall of 2013, the Theta chapter of Phi Sigma Sigma is back on campus, equipped with their renovated chapter house. The sorority purchased the house in which they currently reside, 902 S. Second Street, in the summer of 1964 from the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. 

902 S. Second Street was not always their home. When they first colonized at the University of Illinois in 1923, they lived at 1002 W. Illinois Street, which is no longer standing. Next they purchased 509 E. Chalmers Street in 1927, also no longer standing, then 1004 W. Nevada Street in 1929, which is still standing. In 1934 they purchased 306 E. Gregory Drive, which is currently Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. 

Over 50 Phi Sig sisters and House Mother, Doris reside in the house today. Spotless and absolutely gorgeous from top to bottom, the house, according to junior in Supply Chain Management and Marketing, Shannon Dolehide, has amenities like a Presidential Suite complete with its own bathroom, a “secret staircase” for use of initiated members only and elegant crown molding on the first floor, original to the house. 

In addition to these fantastic features, there is also an enormous, white, detailed crest that dwells above the fireplace in the front room on the north side of the house. Stunning and simple, it pulls the room together. Directly south of the front room, there is an entryway, foyer and a main staircase that leads upstairs. South of that, is a meeting room, dinning room and kitchen. 

902 S. Second Street, built around 1923 with bricks leftover from the construction of Memorial Stadium, has so far proved to be a great home for the women of Phi Sigma Sigma. Dolehide says that having the house allows her to see her sisters more than she would without the house. “There is always something going on,” she said. 

Dolehide gave me a tour of the house on Wednesday, October 1st. After showing me around, we went back to the basement to check out some old Phi Sig scrapbooks. They were filled with pictures of events, sisterhood and social, from decades past. Decorated with paddles as old as the 1960’s, the basement sports a foosball table, the chapter room and two different rooms to hang out in and watch television. 

One of the old paddles, etched with the names of “Pledge Class V,” who would have pledged the sorority around 1979, was the name “Sherri White.” White is the current chapter advisor for the house. Dolehide stated that once White learned the chapter was recolonizing, she came back to campus this summer to help the girls renovate the house.

While the chapter is in the process of making new traditions, White was able to teach the girls some traditions she participated in while an active member. One thing she told the girls was that a particular room in the house, which has windows on three sides, used to be called the fishbowl. The girls adapted the tradition and implemented the nickname as well. 

Founded in 1913, the Phi Sigma Sigma colors are king blue and gold, their symbol is a sphinx, their jewel is a sapphire and their motto is “Aim High.” 

Sources University of Illinois Archives http://www.phisigmasigmauiuc.org/about-us.html