This time last year, 12 guys were living at the Sigma Nu fraternity house, and they all shared one shower.

This week, Sigma Nu is hosting its first Rush Week in a $1.3 million house paid for by alumni.

The dramatically improved house, which has eight showers, opened in January.

Louisville senior Riad Otoum, president of Sigma Nu, said everything about the new house is an improvement over their old one.

“We had no insulation, no internet access and no cable,” he said. “It was not fit for a college student. In the new house, every single room has internet, cable, the option of high def, and all rooms came with nice desks and bed frames. It’s been really neat.”

Owensboro sophomore Chad McGarvie, Rush chair for Sigma Nu, said the new house helps bring more of the brothers together.

“With the old house, the brothers knew they could come whenever they wanted, but this house is able to incorporate more men, so there’s able to be more guys around to talk to,” he said.

McGarvie said it has especially helped during Rush rotation nights, when potential new members come to look at the houses.

“Our old house was built in the late 19th century, and it was in disrepair,” he said. “Now we have the newest house on campus.”

Otoum, who has been at WKU since 2005, said he has been waiting for the new house ever since he got here.

“I never thought I’d see it,” he said. He said he thought the new house gave him and the other men who are active now an amazing opportunity to build new traditions for their fraternity. He said it is also important to those who become the first pledge class to live in the new house.

The new house is quite a bit larger than Sigma Nu’s old house and is laid out more like a typical fraternity house, said Taylor Rousey, a Liberty sophomore and vice president for Sigma Nu.

Rousey said in some ways, the size of the house has made the Rush process more difficult.

“The house is so big, so it takes a little bit longer to get men through seeing the house than it did in the old one,” he said. “But overall it helps a lot.”

Rousey said although they aren’t using the newness of the house as a main selling point to their potential new members, they are proud of it.

Otoum said he had heard several people across campus are placing bets to see how long the Sigma Nu members could keep their house nice.

“I want those people to know we are very proud of it,” he said. “We will take care of it.”