The Phi Sigma Epsilon Pavilion is open for student use and available to reserve for events or small gatherings.

“It has all-season potential,” Chief Administrative Officer Rich Péwé said. “Students can study, recreate, hold meetings, have fellowship, share meals, classes, concerts, receptions, BBQs, and fire pit gatherings.”

Reservations for both indoor and outdoor amenities can be made through the college’s internal events booking page, according to Associate Director of Student and Young Alumni Relations Braden VanDyke. 

“Groups may make use of the wood burning fire pit and grill areas outdoors,” VanDyke said.

Both large and small groups of students can reserve the areas for events, Péwé said, as the college continues with plans to install security cameras and card readers.

Whether it be through sports, honorary meetings, or the new faculty picnic, Péwé said the space will serve as a meeting place for all.

 “Multiple groups could use it at once or one group at a time. Or individuals can just hang out and study in the various spaces,” Péwé said.

With its many features, the pavilion is capable of accommodating more than 70 people for a meal or up to 150 people for a theater-style presentation. 

Péwé said there is a sound system in the pavilion where theater style presentations can happen.

“The inside space is plenty big for a seminar class or a leadership gathering of 20 or more,” he said.

The project began when Phi Sig Epsilon fraternity alumni approached the college with the piece of property. The fraternity brothers wanted a pavilion to be built on the land, and so the college and the fraternity partnered to create a space that fosters friendship for all students, Péwé said.

“They had the idea of a pavilion and property that could unite all the students and the Greek houses,” Péwé said. 

Ross Anderson ’79, a member of the Phi Sig fraternity encouraged students to use the new gathering space.

“Show up, talk to people, invest yourself,” Anderson said.“You won’t be disappointed. It’ll probably change your life, and probably in a very positive way.”

Phi Sig alumni Phillip “Trip” Banks ’76 said his fraternity remained in contact with the college after the chapter disbanded in 1990. The fraternity still owned the piece of land until recently, but ownership transferred over to the college because of the generosity of the Phi Sig fraternity in a unanimous vote. Even after the land changed possession, Hillsdale’s leadership kept the brothers involved in the process of creating this new space.

“They could’ve just said ‘see you,’ but Rich just kept us in the loop,” Banks said. “It’s very flattering and of course, it’s very Hillsdale: first class all the way.”

Anderson and Banks both said the process of making a donation on the part of the fraternity included getting input from students on what they would like to see on campus. 

Banks and Anderson said they have a lot of hope for the property. Anderson said he wants this piece of property to be as special as it was for him while he attended the college.

“That wonderful piece of property brought all of us fraternity brothers together in a really positive way that really enhanced our education at Hillsdale,” Anderson said. “I just want to see it continue to do it for others on that campus the way it did it for us, whether it’s fraternity, sorority related or not. To me, it’s a magical piece of property, and I’m really pleased that it’s got a really important and useful feature now.”