After a 129-year legacy at Vanderbilt was discontinued with a suspension in 2006, Kappa Sigma has returned to their house on the corner ready to make a renewed impact on the Greek community.

Kappa Sigma colony's return to campus has a complex history that starts in 2001 when Sigma Nu was placed on probation after a hazing violation. The national fraternity, local alumni and Vanderbilt administration later decided it was best to suspend and remove the Sigma Nu chapter from campus. Upon leaving, several brothers formed the Nu Society, a community service organization registered in Tennessee, known for its annual Sun Rise party.

When a member's father, who had been a Kappa Sigma at Vanderbilt, offered the Nu Society members a chance to join Kappa Sigma, they accepted. Kappa Sigma's strong legacy at Vanderbilt and the similarity in principles between the national fraternity and the Nu Society's made the transition mutually beneficial for members of Nu Society and Kappa Sigma alumni.

President Paul Sutton, a senior, notes Kappa Sigma's strong commitment to community service aligns with the projects Nu Society has worked on in the past, which includes working with Somalian refugees in Nashville.

"We're just going to carry (our philanthropy) over into Kappa Sigma and obviously help actively participate in the Kappa Sigma's national philanthropy events," Sutton said. "We're working really hard this semester to come up with a great community service philanthropy event that we can hopefully integrate campus wide to really get our name out there as a community service fraternity."

According to a May 2008 Kappa Sigma News article that boasted "record breaking pledge and colony growth" for the year, Kappa Sigma fraternity is the most preferred men's fraternity in North America and prides itself on choosing men of quality character.

Director of Greek Life Kristin Torrey commends the new members of Kappa Sigma for wanting to be involved in all aspects of Greek life after almost seven years of discussion between the administration and Nu Society about how they could become more integrated into the community.

"They made the decision to be a part of the Greek community and they wanted to be involved on campus and in the community service and philanthropy - all of the parts of being in the Greek community," Torrey said. "I think that they made a conscious choice in doing that and (made sure) that it was in everyone's best interest to do that. I'm excited about what the year will hold. It's a new opportunity."

Sutton's and former Nu Society brothers' efforts in recolonizing Kappa Sigma have been a worthwhile process for everyone involved. The brothers plan to integrate themselves back into the Greek scene and let everyone know who they are and what they plan to do in the future. At no point in time were new members of Kappa Sigma colony initiated members of Sigma Nu.

"We are Kappa Sigma now," Sutton said. "Inevitably, it will take time to make that full transition but outwardly to the Greek community and to the rest of Vanderbilt, especially the freshmen, we are Kappa Sigma."