Sigma Chi Fraternity - Project Lockwood Overview

• Eta Mu, installed as a Sigma Chi chapter in 1971, has leveraged the strength of its approach to brotherhood to be a leader on the Eastern Illinois University campus for over 50 years.
  
• The charter was revoked in 2017, but thanks to the hard work of both alumni and the next generation of campus leaders, Eta Mu was reinstalled as an active chapter in late 2023.
  
• Despite an overall decline in both enrollment at EIU and participation in the Greek system, there are encouraging trends on both fronts that make this a great time to invest in a new chapter house.
  
• Project Lockwood is named after one of our founders - William Lewis Lockwood. Known as the “businessman” of the group, he was      credited with a “remarkable organizing ability” and helped set up the      general plan for the Fraternity.

During the rechartering process, it became evident that having an "off-campus" house was essential for the ongoing success of the Eta Mu Chapter at Eastern Illinois University. The House Corporation, along with several alumni, participated in a comprehensive effort that included the acquisition of two properties in Charleston. However, due to the high costs associated with constructing a new home and our engagement with a new Greek-friendly EIU administration, we encountered a promising opportunity—the purchase of the current "East Hall," strategically located adjacent to campus and Greek Court at 2103 12th Street, Charleston, Illinois 61920. This building was originally designed as a fraternity house and encompasses the core elements necessary for the Eta Mu Chapter. Spanning 12,516 square feet on two acres, it offers ample space for 25+ brothers, a chapter study room, a library, and an apartment for a resident advisor.

Lambda Sigma Chi, a local fraternity on the campus of Eastern Illinois University, was founded in Fall of 1969 with the express purpose of achieving a Sigma Chi Charter. The Eta Mu Chapter of Sigma Chi was installed on December 11, 1971, and quickly became a leader in the Greek world at EIU, maintaining this status until the charter was revoked in 2017. Following the revocation, Eta Mu alumni were briefed by Sigma Chi Headquarters staff regarding their options: 1) Do nothing and allow the history of the Eta Mu Chapter to end in 2017; 2) Attempt to re-establish the Eta Mu Chapter through the creation of a Sigma Chi colony, relying solely on the efforts of Eta Mu alumni; or 3) Raise sufficient funds to hire a Sigma Chi HQ-appointed alumnus to live on campus for one year and recruit new actives to form a Sigma Chi colony quickly, known as Project Lockwood. In response, a concerted effort was launched to re-establish the Eta Mu Chapter through the most expedited means possible, involving a fundraising initiative of over $100K and significant in-person support from alumni. These dedicated efforts culminated in the successful re-installation of the Eta Mu Chapter on December 2, 2023.

When discussing higher education at Eastern Illinois University, the question of viability comes up. It has been said that Illinois is a good state to be from, yet many people agree with that opinion by leaving the state. So, how does that affect our efforts in Project Lockwood? When the Eta Mu Chapter of Sigma Chi was chartered in 1971, the City of Charleston was openly hostile to Greek organizations, but both the university and the Eta Mu Chapter were on the path to growth again. The question of viability needs to be addressed.

Eastern Illinois University has experienced significant changes since the arrival of the Eta Mu Chapter of Sigma Chi. Enrollment at EIU rose from 7,200 in 1971 to 13,000 by the late 1990s. It then saw a decline to around 7,000 but has now rebounded to over 8,500. The enrollment figures for Eastern Illinois University in 2020 and 2021 were approximately 8,600 each year, while a slight increase was noted for 2022 and 2023, bringing the total to about 8,800. Another positive indicator of EIU's viability is the number of degrees awarded; from 2020 to 2022, 1,900 degrees were conferred annually, and in 2023, this number rose to 2,400. Additionally, EIU reported a 70% student retention rate in 2023. In the “2023 Guide to America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News and World Report, Eastern Illinois University was ranked 14th among all public Midwestern universities with master’s degree programs. In another ranking of Illinois public universities, EIU secured 4th place, following the University of Illinois at Urbana, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. Overall, EIU seems to be on a steady path of slow but methodical growth, placing it in the middle among other Illinois public universities; while Northern Illinois and Western Illinois are facing challenges, Illinois State reported record enrollment this year.

Eastern Illinois University currently recognizes 24 fraternities and sororities, with a total membership of approximately 400 students. Just as Eastern Illinois University and other state universities in Illinois experienced a decline in enrollment starting in 2015, the Greek system also saw a sharp decrease in membership. From about 2018 to 2024, fraternities and sororities have struggled to boost their numbers. The average chapter size in the Inter-Fraternity Council has dropped to 21 men compared to 51 in 2013. Notably, the Eta Mu Chapter had 90 members back in 2013, while it has dwindled to over 25 today. Additionally, Pi Kappa Alpha left Eastern Illinois University in 2021, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon followed suit in 2023. The situation for sororities at Eastern Illinois University is quite similar. The university administration predicts that the average size of Greek chapters, including those involved in Project Lockwood, will steadily increase to about 40 members by 2030.

The objective of Project Lockwood is to provide housing for the members of the Eta Mu Chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity at Eastern Illinois University. First and foremost, the primary consideration, as with any real estate, was location, location, location. It was essential that the chapter house be situated within a relatively close proximity to Greek Court and the EIU campus. As the housing plan for the Eta Mu Chapter developed, the House Corporation determined several criteria should be considered essential for a chapter house: 1) Individual bedrooms for 12-14 residents; 2) Sufficient size to accommodate at least 40 active members for chapter activities; 3) A dedicated chapter study room; 4) A dedicated library; 5) Dedicated smaller study spaces within the house separate from the bedrooms; 6) A kitchen capable of feeding the residents on special occasions and, if feasible, on a routine basis; 7) Dining space capable of accommodating the residents; 8) A separate attached apartment to accommodate a facility manager.

As the House Corporation began to search for a housing solution for the newly re-chartered Eta Mu Chapter at Eastern Illinois University, three options became readily apparent: 1) Return to Greek Court; 2) Buy property with a suitable existing structure; and, 3) Buy property and build a new structure. Option #1 was immediately ruled out due to past experiences as a tenant of the University. Although Option #2 was researched, no suitable existing structure was found that met the needs of the Eta Mu Chapter. Consequently, the House Corporation decided to pursue Option #3 and purchased two properties near campus at 10th Street and Cleveland Avenue with the intent to demolish the existing structures and build a new chapter house as part of Project Lockwood. Working with an architect experienced in designing fraternity houses, the original plans for a 24-man house yielded an estimated cost of about $3.4M. A scaled-down version of those plans brought the cost down to about $2.4M. A full account of the housing initiative efforts preceding Project Lockwood is addressed in Appendix A: A Pre-Cursor to Project Lockwood (pp. 19-22).