Contractually, Sigma Chi was supposed to gradually increase its membership on the board until Sigma Chi obtained full control of the board—and ownership of the house—in 2026.
In return, Sigma Chi would pay Pi Eta $200,000 in addition to making improvements to the house and performing general maintenance work.
But in 2001, Pi Eta decided to sell the house against the wishes of Sigma Chi.
On April 18, 2001 Pi Eta began procedures to amend their bylaws in order to remove Sigma Chi members from the board.
On April 19, 2001 Sigma Chi filed suit claiming that were entitled to ownership interest in the house since they had fulfilled their part of the contract. Pi Eta immediately filed countersuit.
The recent settlement concludes the two groups’ six-year contractual relationship.
“Personally, I have not had any relationship with the Pi Eta organization and harbor no negative feelings towards them. I have no inclination as to whether our paths will cross in the future,” Slade said.
—Staff Writer Katherine M. Dimengo can be reached at dimengo@fas.harvard.edu