“410” – Our Next 100 Years

First, I would like to apologize for this “late” edition of our coveted Illinois Sig that so many of you enjoy reading to stay informed of our grand fraternity here at “410”. Your Board continues to work tirelessly on your behalf, and we have some exciting news to share with you.

BUT first let us walk together down “410” East John Street. Our Chapter is the oldest chartered fraternity here on the U of I campus. We have been here since 1881. In the fall of 1889, the members rented a house located at 410 East John. Finally, in 1904 the house at “410” was purchased for $7,000 from Professor Tomkins and Charlie Kiler ’92 was named treasurer of the “Kappa Kappa Building Co.” Yes, the same Charlie Kiler who donated the table that now resides in our library. Our original Chapter house was built in 1909 for $20,000. The formal dedication was on October 30, 1909. There was an annex in the back of the original Chapter house, and we owned the property where the ATT building now stands. My father “Ruck” Steger lived in the annex and his roommate was Merrill “Boz” Prichard ’48 both of whom went on to become Constantine Sigs. In 1959 the Chapter house was renovated for $253,000 as it stands today and was dedicated on Ocotber1, 1960. In the early 60’s the Kappa Kappa Corporation established their initial scholarship awards, among the first on campus. There have been three setbacks for our chapter due to fire with the last one in the early 70’s which many of you may remember. Our alumni rose to the occasion once again to help sustain our Chapter house.

“410” was, for many of us, our first home away from home and from that location and within those walls we all became the MEN we are today. How lucky are we…the gratitude we must all feel to have experienced the different “talents, temperament, and convictions” of all the brothers that crossed our paths over our years at “410”.

“410” OUR HOME…… Now, for the news we want to share which some of you are aware. Since the

beginning of the 2024-2025 school year your Kappa Kappa Board has been planning a campaign to raise funds for several purposes. The purposes include the following: physical plant improvements, HELOC and mortgage reduction, maintenance fund, scholarships, and leadership programming. Our last renovation in the late 90’s called Restore, Unite, Renew, was made possible with a bequest from the estate of Jeanne and Edwin C. Fisher of $1.1M. Steve Sarovich ’75 headed up an additional raise of $700,000 for the planned renovation. YES – the same Steve Sarovich who is on our Board and a Constantine Sig! He has made a tremendous contribution over his lifetime of his talent and treasure to our Kappa Kappa Chapter, and I want to personally say thank you, my brother – Proud to be a Sig.

We are in need of capital to support our next 100 years and the many facets of “life” that exist at 410.

Not only our physical structure but leadership programming through the Bell Chapter Endowment, scholarships to support our brothers with the rising cost of education, debt reduction accumulated through some needed renovations and maintenance issues over the last few years, long term

maintenance funding, and most of all, our illustrious history as not only being a leader on campus but within our own worldwide EX community. We have been blessed with 42 Significant Sig awards and 26 Order of Constantine Awards – I believe the most of any Chapter. We have 3 Constantine Sigs on our Board in Mark Anderson, Steve Saraovich, and as of 2025, I was inducted into the Order – this is quite rare in the annuals of Sigma Chi.

Recently, we hired Pennington & Co. for a feasibility study and based on the tremendous response from our alumni, your Board has asked Pennington to delay moving forward so that we can reassess our project scope and options. We have been overwhelmed with your feedback and desire to support our chapter and prudence dictates we take the necessary steps internally to ensure that the next 100 years are our best.

More information will be forthcoming as we progress in our evaluation of our options dictated by your support in the feasibility study for the future of our order at the University of Illinois.

We are thankful and grateful for your commitment to our Chapter.

In hoc,
Peter Steger ’79
President of your House Corporation