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By Sherry F. Pruitt

JONESBORO — Construction of a new house for the Sigma Pi fraternity is under way on the Arkansas State University campus.

Rick Marshall, chapter director for the Alpha Pi chapter of Sigma Pi, said Tate Construction employees are working on the 5,925-square-foot facility at the southwest corner of the Danner Drive and University Loop East intersection.

Ken Stacks of Jonesboro is the architect for the single-story structure to be built in a U-shape. It will feature a courtyard in the back, Marshall said.

The facility will have 15 single bedrooms, an office, study hall, meeting room and a game room.

The building is being financed by alumni support through the Beck Foundation and the Sigma Pi Educational Foundation, he said. A crew from Sign-Mart was busy Friday putting up a sign marking the construction site, while Tate employees worked on foundation preparation. It has been projected for completion in late fall.

“It’s going to be a new, modern facility that our students feel comfortable with, can relax in and hopefully will help with their studies,” Marshall said. “It will be a a place for our alumni to visit.”

Sigma Pi alumnus Raymond Whiteside, who graduated from Arkansas State in May, said he is eager to see the construction project completed.

“It means the end to a lot of hard work that a lot of members and alumni have done,” he said. “This house has been years in the making, and I’m glad I’m still around to see it built.”

Sigma Pi has a lengthy history on the Arkansas State campus, Marshall said. The fraternity has 40 active members and more than 1,000 alumni.

“Sigma Pi was the first national fraternity on campus, and we plan to be here for a while,” he said.

Reasons for being

The organization, which focuses on scholarship, leadership and service, has as its primary philanthropy the Sam Spady Foundation, which is designed to help prevent alcohol overconsumption.

The Sam Spady Foundation honors the memory of Samantha Spady, a 19-year-old student at Colorado State University who died of alcohol poisoning in 2004, according to Internet research.

The current Sigma Pi house is at 2504 Aggie Road. Although the fraternity has moved around the campus, it has been on Aggie Road for 19 years.

“The way the university is moving out, we’re the last property owner within the university grounds,” he said.

In addition, the house is more than 80 years old, and does not suit the needs of members and alumni.

“We needed a place to expand,” he added. “Plus, the university is expanding out that way. We’re moving onto university property.”

sherry@jonesborosun.com