Epsilon Undertakes a Two-Year Active Chapter Reset to Implement Strategic Plan
After several months of deliberation, the Directors of the Epsilon Association have decided to pause the active chapter for a period of two academic years, in response to behavioral and leadership issues which have come to our attention. We believe this is an ideal opportunity to implement our longstanding Strategic Plan, including both house renovations and programmatic elements.
We know this comes as a surprise to many of you, but the unfortunate reality is that the overall trend in behavior and house leadership among active brothers over the past decade or more has been persistently negative, making this outcome in some respects only a matter of time.
Contributing factors include nearly all seniors and juniors living out of the house (creating a leadership vacuum); an apparent lack of interest in leadership roles within the house (except social chair); indifference toward house scholarships, speaker’s events, and dinner traditions; and an overall lack of respect for Cornell administrators and even the Epsilon Association itself. These trends have not escaped notice, both by the Epsilon Association and the Cornell administration, making this turn of events all but inevitable. While we await formal University approval of our proposed approach, we have received informal concurrence with key elements described below.
We view this as a unique opportunity to reset the culture of the house, improve house leadership, reinstitute a variety of traditions, and finally implement a number of Strategic Plan elements, including major house renovations and programs centered on developing and fostering leadership on campus and in society.
What does this mean for the Epsilon Association?
We have received a variety of assurances from senior Cornell leadership regarding the Epsilon’s longstanding and ongoing relationship with our host institution. First, our 1932 agreement (as amended in 1958) with the University will be respected in toto. Second, the Sigma Phi Gift Accounts at Cornell (both Building Fund and Programmatic Fund) will be unaffected by the pause. Finally, we will control access to and use of One Forest Park Lane during the pause, including of course the scope, cost, and timing of the extensive refurbishment work we plan to accomplish, which would otherwise be difficult to complete while the house was fully occupied. We may retain some current brothers and may rent rooms during the pause to those members or to boarders of our choosing. We fully intend to emerge from the pause stronger than ever!
What’s the plan for the physical plant and the active brotherhood?
Moving forward, the pause will last two academic years, 2025-26 and 2026-27. New member recruitment will resume in academic year 2026-27 and the chapter will be fully up and running for the fall 2027 semester. The cessation of house operations (though we may rent out some rooms to boarders) will allow much-needed and unhindered refurbishment work on the chapter house at One Forest Park Lane, with a focus on the basement, second and third-floor spaces, especially including bedrooms and bathrooms.
Of critical importance, the pause will allow the Epsilon Association to reshape the active brotherhood into a model familiar to each of us:
Brothers will be required to live-in all three years, allowing seniors to provide leadership and serve as role models—elements which have been sorely lacking in recent years.
Leadership development will be a persistent theme, both within the house and on campus.
Key house officers will be seniors while other house officers will be juniors, with an emphasis on training, turnover of knowledge, and growing responsibility during one’s time in the house.
The Speakers Program will be reinvigorated and once again become a model on campus.
Brothers will be served dinner together, at a coordinated mealtime, with a variety of traditions revived to the degree practicable in the 21st Century.
New Members:
New members will be recruited during the 2026-27 academic year, especially during the formal rush process in January 2027. New member recruitment will be conducted by the Epsilon Association, assisted by the Sigma Phi national organization (the Standing and Advisory Committee) and professionals retained for this purpose (e.g., a company known as Phired Up, which has supported other Cornell fraternities in similar situations). Consistent with common practice, no current actives will be involved in recruitment of new members without explicit approval on a case basis by the Epsilon Association.
How can I help?
This chapter reset presents us with a unique opportunity. We will finally have the opportunity to perform the major house renovations we have long recognized as critical to the functionality and quality of our living-learning environment. While our public spaces have been maintained in sterling condition, our private spaces—especially bedrooms and bathrooms—have not been. We are also considering the financial feasibility of constructing a major house addition in a harmonic architectural style, which would make One Forest Park Lane the finest facility of its kind on campus. We will match this unique opportunity with a major capital campaign designed to meet our needs. In the coming months, we will seek your generous support for our Strategic Plan: a vision for a Society renewed both physically and programmatically. Please stay tuned for details!
Postscript:
Although we take this route reluctantly, and with some degree of trepidation, events beyond our control have led to this outcome. Much as the Phoenix of old rose from the ashes, the Epsilon chapter of the Sigma Phi Society will once again rise to new heights. Our focus throughout the process will be for the Thrice Illustrious to emerge as the paragon of excellence on the Cornell Campus that it has been since 1890.
If you have any questions, concerns or would like to reach out to offer your support, please feel free to contact any of our Epsilon Association Officers or Directors, including the following:
GLENN "RUSTY" GEORGE - President
ggeorge001@yahoo.com | 215.620.0355
STEPHEN MACGUFFIE - Vice-President
Stephen@macguffie.com | 917.816.5503
SCOTT MELBY - Secretary-Treasurer
scott.melbyjr@gmail.com | 240.595.0829
HANS HENKES - Director
hahenkes@yahoo.com | 646.238.8090
DEREK BURROWS - House Advisor
dlb56cu@gmail.com | 607.279.4542
GEOFF PERRY - Director / Alumni Engagement and Philanthropy
goperry2@comcast.net | 860.874.5743