Colgate University's response to Greek problems - force fraternities to sell their houses to the school and run them as university housing.
A federal judge on Thursday refused to halt Colgate University's plans to buy fraternity and sorority houses near campus.
Colgate spokesman Jim Leach said the ruling lets Colgate move forward with its residential life plan, which includes running the fraternity and sorority houses as university housing.
DKE had asked the court for a temporary restraining order because Colgate has set a Tuesday deadline for the sale of all Greek houses to be approved. Any fraternity or sorority that hasn't sold by then won't be recognized by the college next fall, meaning students won't be able to live in those houses.
In addition to buying the DKE house, Colgate has insisted it must have access to the DKE temple, or library, next door to the fraternity. DKE leaders say fraternity members should be allowed to meet in the building without interference from Colgate.
But in legal papers, Colgate President Rebecca Chopp said the university needs to have access to the temple to help rid fraternities of discipline problems.
Chopp said the university's takeover of the houses was the only way to solve the problems afflicting Greek houses.
"The Colgate community has been affected by increasing problems with the fraternity and sorority system in recent years, leading to a strong sense that the status quo was not working," Chopp said in her affidavit. "A number of houses have been subjected to sanctions or closed for disciplinary problems including violations of alcohol policies, sexual misconduct, hazing and fighting."
