To the Editor,
On behalf of the Mu Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity at Cornell University, I write to express our deepest gratitude to the Cornell community for its extraordinary support during a challenging chapter in our history.
Following the discovery of mold damage in the fall, our undergraduate brothers were displaced from our chapter house as critical repairs and renovations were undertaken. In the midst of uncertainty, it was the strength of our partnership with Cornell that made all the difference.
We are especially grateful to Jenny Loeffelman from Student and Campus Life for her guidance and support in coordinating temporary housing and food service for our brothers. We also extend our sincere thanks to Stephanie Baldwin and Kathleen Wilhite from the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life for their constant communication and encouragement throughout the process.
We owe special recognition to the Cornell Housing and Dining offices, who worked swiftly and compassionately to find housing and arrange meal plans for all 38 of our displaced brothers — an incredible feat accomplished in less than 24 hours. Their tireless efforts ensured that our students remained supported and connected during a very difficult transition.
The Alumni Affairs and Development office played a vital role in helping us launch and coordinate the Sigma Pi House Recovery Campaign — an effort that has been both humbling and inspiring, as our alumni came together to raise the funds necessary to restore and improve our home.
We were honored to welcome Dean Marla Love and President Michael Kotlikoff to our spring open house, which marked the reopening of our fully updated chapter house. Their presence was a meaningful affirmation of the importance of fraternity and sorority life at Cornell.
Incredibly, despite not having access to our house during the spring, our undergraduate brothers welcomed 18 new members into the chapter, proof that true brotherhood extends far beyond the walls of any building.
This experience has shown us that partnership, resilience and community can carry us through even the most difficult circumstances. Thank you, Cornell, for standing by us and helping us emerge stronger than ever.
With gratitude,
Jarett Wait ’80
President, Mu Chapter of Sigma Pi Alumni Association
Jarret Wait ’80 is the President of Mu Chapter of Sigma Pi Alumni Association. He is currently managing principal of JF Wait Advisors, a consulting firm based in New York City and senior advisor and board member at CoVenture. He can be reached at jwait@jfwaitadv.com.
