There are two stone layers who appear to be in their mid-40’s working on a major construction site in the middle of summer.  You go up to the first one and ask, “How do you like your job?”  They put down their trowel and wipe the sweat off their forehead while taking a drink of water before looking up at you and replying; “Well…the work is back-breaking. It’s long hours in the scorching sun all day.  The work is arduous, and I probably won’t see the end of building this wall in my lifetime.  But it pays the bills and I’m able to support my family.  It’s fine.”  You go up to the second stone layer and ask him the exact same question.  But his time without any delay the stone layer says “I love my job!  Sure, the work is arduous and back-breaking.  I stand in the scorching sun all day and I may never get this wall done in my lifetime. But I’m building a Cathedral.  A Cathedral where generations will come to pray, find a sense of community, and find within themselves their purpose.  Generations of my family will be able to come to this place and have a connection with me.  They will see with admiration and amazement the work we accomplished together.  There is no place I’d rather be.”  In both cases, the work the stone layers do is exactly the same…. But only one knows Why they do it.

I will venture to guess that you didn’t join SigEp just to build a wall.  Rather, you joined because you wanted to build a Cathedral.  A Cathedral that will never be finished; but with blood, sweat, and maybe even a few tears, you would give of yourself to keep advancing its cause.  With grit, determination, and sacrifice to realize that mission for which we exist knowing full well, we can never fully achieve it:

  Gentlemen united unconditionally in the pursuit of realizing each other’s greatest personal potential.

Three years ago, we came to the realization that our housing model was not sustainable. Having paid out over $425,000 in rent over 10 years, we knew we could do better.  We knew our undergraduate Brothers deserved better.  As we like to say, “Just good enough never is.”  In response, we charted out a course, developed a business plan, and began its implementation which brings us to today. 

It is the intention of the Alumni and Volunteer Corporation to build a brand-new Chapter Home.  A new Chapter Home that will be the embodiment of what we believe and stand for.  A new Chapter Home that will offer a safe, convenient, and central hub to our Brother’s undergraduate experience.  A new Chapter Home that will allow us to offer affordable housing to our Brothers as the cost of higher education continues to skyrocket.  A new Chapter Home that will, once paid off, provide us a stable revenue stream to invest right back into the chapter endowments.  Endowments that will provide scholarships, keep dues affordable and maintain the property.  To ensure that money is never the limitation for any undergraduate willing to commit to our cause, or experience any of the phenomenal leadership opportunities SigEp provides like CLA, Ruck, and Conclave.  A new Chapter Home where Alumni and their families are welcomed back and able to bond with our undergraduate Brothers and each other.

Building a new Chapter Home is obviously a serious investment into our future at UW-Platteville but we feel the time is right to do this now.  We have more volunteers than at any time in our Chapter’s history.  The undergraduate chapter is setting GPA records and continues to have strong recruitment classes focusing on quality and retention.  We are going after our second Buch Cup in a row.  A new Chapter Home is the next logical step in advancing our cause at UWP and ensuring we continue to dominate for decades to come.  We have proven time and time again over the years that there is nothing WI-Theta can’t do when we set our minds to it.  This is our next big hairy audacious goal.  This is Thinking Big!

Your Brothers now call upon you.  To help us realize this vision.  A vision we want to make happen in the next 5 years.  A re-commitment to the cause for which we stand for and continue to push forward.  To show that little ‘ol Platteville and WI-Theta is a force to be reckoned with.  To be the example of what Fraternity can and should be when done right.  We stand here today asking for your support.  For your generosity.  To give back. To join and reconnect with your fellow alumni in supporting this endeavor.  To be a part of something special.  To be a part of changing young men’s lives.  Recalling that not for mere pleasure are we banded together…but for the earnest pursuit of lofty ideals, higher culture, and mutual benefit.  For leaving a positive imprint on one individual, leaves your mark on the world in time.  We do this and more as it serves as justification that we actually believe in our cause.  And so….

with the altar of virtue…

with the columns and walls of diligence…

and the mortar of brotherly love…

We Rise Up… we stand together…. for we… are building a Cathedral!

Your commitment is our commitment. 

We thank you for your consideration of becoming a stakeholder by contributing a gift to the

WI-Theta Rising Housing Campaign

SigEp WI-Theta Rising Committee:

Chris Yerges, Willie Kuehni, Jeff Benson, Michael Brunner, Greg Bielak, Austin Dye, Dan Determan

For More information, please reach out or visit SigEpRising.com