Training in 10: Facility Closure Best Practices

This week's "Training in 10" discusses best practices for closing the chapter house for the holidays.

T10_5_Facility_Closure_Best_Practices:

SigEp settles into new house on Pro Row

Great way to start a new year - with a new house. Just down the street from the university president. No pressure. Be sure to note why they needed a new place.

SigEp settles into new house on Pro Row - News - Tufts Daily - Tufts University:

After two years without a house on campus, Sigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp) officially opened its house on 92 Professors Row with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday.

The fraternity had been without a house since May 2011, when damages from an unsanctioned Senior Week alumni party prompted SigEp’s landlords to refuse the organization’s return to the 114 Curtis Street residence.

The organization has since made a concerted effort to ensure that a similar incident does not occur, according to SigEp President Stephen Ruggiero II. 

“While we were [without a house], we did a lot to make sure we cleaned up our image, to show we’re capable of the responsibility of having a house,” Ruggiero, a senior, said. 

The house on 92 Pro Row became available in the summer of 2012 after the university told the fraternity Sigma Nu — which had occupied the house since 1985 — to leave. The space at that time had reportedly deteriorated due to abuse and neglect by its tenants. Female transfer students took up residence in the house before November 2012, when SigEp signed a one-year agreement for the house. 

The brothers will learn this semester whether or not they will be able to stay in the house in subsequent years, Ruggiero said.

Several representatives from the university administration and the national SigEp organization, as well as leaders from Greek organizations on campus, attended the housewarming ceremony.

University President Anthony Monaco, who participated in the ribbon cutting, noted the importance of the house in symbolizing the role of the fraternity on campus.

“This is not just a house with residents. It’s about what they represent in Greek life on campus,” he said. “[Fraternities and sororities] provide a lot of active support for students in academics, leadership development and school spirit.”

Monaco also addressed the brothers directly, reminding them of the real importance of the event. 

“A house is one thing, but it’s all the work this fraternity does across the campus ... that matters,” he said. 
SigEp Regional Director Logan Fletcher, who oversees the fraternity’s 21 chartered chapters in the Northeast, commented on the benefits of the house’s location on the corner of Pro Row and Packard Avenue.

“The house is a great location,” he said. “It helps them to be a part of the fraternity and sorority community.” 
Fletcher added that while the house may prove to be a convenient recruiting device, he does not believe it is necessary to gain new members. 

“If we’re recruiting the best men, then the house isn’t what they’re joining for,” he said.

Ruggiero agreed, saying that the fraternity targets a high quality, not quantity, of men.

“We don’t want the house to do the recruiting for us,” he said. “It’s a tool we can use. We’re hoping not to recruit more, but higher quality guys.”

The 11 brothers living in the newly renovated house will pay rent through the university bursar, much like students living in a dorm, according to Ruggiero. Though the university owns the house, Massachusetts law stipulates that the fraternity chapter will pay the housing property tax, he said.

According to SigEp Vice President of Programming Gregory John Vitale, the fraternity will not have access to the house’s basement, which may preclude it from hosting larger events. Vitale is considering other ways the fraternity can engage students in its new space, such as hosting backyard events.

“We have to think of new and interesting ways to reach out to the community,” Vitale, a senior, said.
Graduate Assistant at Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Hayley Keene believes that SigEp’s return to an on-campus house is part of a positive trend in Greek life on campus, which also includes the addition of new sorority Kappa Alpha Theta this year. 

“Any time there’s an expansion in Greek organizations is great,” she said. “It shows that there’s an interest in Greek life and that it’s growing.”

Before cutting the ribbon to the house, Monaco noted the short distance between the president’s house and the fraternity.

“It’s quite an honor to have you as a neighbor,” he said to the brothers. “Lucky for you, I’m a very sound sleeper.”
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Fraternities Lobby for Tax Break Without Hazing Penalties - Bloomberg

Meanwhile on Capitol Hill - the Fraternity lobby is pushing for a tax break for building and restoring greek housing. Further, there is resistance to a federal anti-hazing measure.

Fraternities Lobby for Tax Break Without Hazing Penalties - Bloomberg:

About 40 percent of U.S. senators, and 25 percent of U.S. representatives, belonged to fraternities or sororities in college. On April 24, more than a dozen of these grateful alumni extolled Greek life at an annual $500-a-plate dinner in a Washington hotel ballroom for “FratPAC,” the industry’s political arm.

One by one, they took the podium and praised fraternities for teaching them loyalty, leadership, and practical skills.

A 1996 fraternity house fire at the University of North Carolina that killed five students spurred the industry’s drive for the tax break. About half of all fraternity houses lack sprinklers, according to an internal industry memorandum reviewed by Bloomberg News. Photographer: Joe Weiss/Durhan Herald-Sun via AP Photo

“We learned to tap a keg,” declared Representative Steven Palazzo, a Mississippi Republican and Sigma Chi brother, who then yelled a cheer as hundreds of FratPAC donors applauded.

Many of the legislators also pledged support for FratPAC’s pet legislation: a multi-million-dollar tax break to let fraternities and sororities use charitable donations to renovate and help build chapter houses.

“This time, we think we can get it done,” said Ohio Republican Steve Stivers, a Delta Upsilon alumnus, adding, “We need more Greeks in Congress.”

While fraternities used to limit their political activity to fending off potential threats, they’re “playing offense today” by promoting initiatives such as the tax break, FratPAC and two companion groups told fraternity leaders in a Jan. 10, 2011, memo.

Besides pushing the tax bill, FratPAC, as the Fraternity and Sorority Political Action Committee calls itself on its Twitter page, has helped dissuade U.S. Representative Frederica Wilson from filing federal anti-hazing legislation. Wilson, a Democrat, is co-sponsoring the tax proposal with six senators and more than 50 other representatives.

Hazing Death
Debbie Smith, whose 21-year-old son died in 2005 from heart failure and seizures after a hazing ritual, is “dumbfounded” by the industry’s lobbying for a tax break and against national hazing penalties, she said.

Smith’s son, Matthew Carrington, collapsed after being forced to do pushups in raw sewage while fans blasted cold air on him in a basement at Chi Tau fraternity at California State University in Chico. After his death, her advocacy spurred the California legislature to enact “Matt’s Law,” toughening hazing penalties.

“Why do fraternities need government help?” Smith asked. “They want to build more houses for hazing? I don’t think so. They need to learn safety first.”

Fraternities’ Comeback
Attracting undergraduates with aggressive recruiting and the prospect of jobs at Wall Street firms and other fields dominated by Greek alumni, fraternities are making a comeback on college campuses.

Meanwhile the toll from hazing and binge drinking is mounting. The 101 fraternities and sororities in the industry’s trade groups had 630,052 members in 2012, up 25 percent from 503,875 in 2007. Since 2005, 59 students have died in incidents involving fraternities, about half of them alcohol-related, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Ten students died in 2012, the most fatalities in at least a decade.

A 1996 fraternity house fire at the University of North Carolina that killed five students spurred the industry’s drive for the tax break. They decided that they needed a federal law to let them tap funds in their charitable foundations to outfit chapter houses with fire sprinklers. About half of all fraternity houses lack sprinklers, according to an internal industry memorandum reviewed by Bloomberg News.

In 2003, the tax bill passed the House. Two years later, fraternities and sororities established FratPAC, which has contributed $818,000 to political campaigns, primarily to Republicans. It has made some of its largest contributions to key backers of its tax initiative, and to members of the House Ways and Means committee, where the bill is pending.

Link to full story on Bloomberg:

Ex-Va Tech frat house will be home for innovators

VA Tech gets creative with the former SigEp House.

Ex-Va Tech frat house will be home for innovators - Richmond Times Dispatch: Technology:

 BY JACOB DEMMITT The Roanoke Times

THE ROANOKE TIMES

This fall, the former Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house at
Virginia Tech will become the Innovate living-learning
community, which will include three dozen students.

BLACKSBURG Virginia Tech is inviting a group of young entrepreneurs to live in the new $5.1 million house that was left empty when the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity was kicked off campus in May for bad behavior.

The announced plan sounds like the plot to a new reality TV show: Fill a mansion with innovators, give them some guidance, and then watch startups roll out the front door.

The so-called Innovate living-learning community is accepting applications as it looks for 35 male and female freshmen from any major. Applicants need only have an “entrepreneurial spirit.” The university has 16 similar programs for groups ranging from female engineers to volunteers, but this will be the only one stationed in a former fraternity house.

University officials were excited to talk about the new program as they danced around the touchy subject of the previous tenant. But Nathan Latka, an entrepreneur involved with the program, probably wasn’t the only one who saw the irony of the situation. He laughed at the thought of the new tenants sitting around the same table where party themes used to be hatched. The only difference, he said, is that this time, they hope to create million-dollar startups.

Latka knows how productive this kind of space can be. The 23-year-old worked out of a Virginia Tech dorm room when he was one of the founders of Heyo, a startup that designs social media campaigns for companies such as Lilly Pulitzer. Heyo is now a multimillion-dollar operation with 16 employees. But Latka said it all started with Red Bull-fueled brainstorming sessions with classmates in Tech’s Barringer Hall.

He says new ideas require “random collisions.”

The house “has got all the amenities built in,” Latka said. “It allows random ideation to happen at any moment. It increases the chances that two freshmen who would have never known each other from two disciplines to really collide and engage and ideate.”

Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity chapter banned from USC campus | abc7.com

Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity chapter banned from USC campus | abc7.com:

EXPOSITION PARK, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity chapter was banned from the University of Southern California for violating school policies. The local chapter will lose its letters, its house and its charter. The fraternity chapter has been suspended for a minimum of five years. The action is meant to send a message about sexual misconduct, according to USC.

On USC's frat row, Greek names are boldly mounted on each house. Only one now is conspicuously blank.

The letters for Sigma Phi Epsilon have been removed. "SigEp," as it is called, has been expelled from its national organization and banned from the university.

The action comes following the national organization's review of reports about alleged sexual misconduct at the house. The dismissal has sent shock waves down the row.





'via Blog this'

VA Tech SigEps Move into $5 Million House

New Oak Lane project complete

Oak Lane has completed the first stage in an expansive new project, wrapping up the construction of a $5 million fraternity house.

Virginia Tech’s Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, commonly known as Sig Ep, has helped to start the Oak Lane expansion with the building of their new fraternity house.

The new house is the largest Greek house on campus and the only with air conditioning, according to Cameron Sheppard, a brother in the fraternity. The house has a full-size kitchen, library, conference room, multiple study lounges and large back patio that overlooks Tech's golf course. It also has five 55-inch flat screen televisions, copper drainpipes and gutters and a Hokie-stone fireplace.

Mike Cocke, a junior Building Construction Major and former VP of Programming for Sig Ep, said the house was needed.

“Our old house on Clay Street was built a very long time ago and is falling apart, which was our main motivation for trying to build a new house,” Cocke said. “We wanted to collaborate with the university in order to have a house on campus, which we were able to accomplish.”

Funds raised from the sale of the 402 Clay Street house were used for expenses in building the new house. The fraternity also contributed one-third of the total construction cost of the new house, a pricetag that includes furnishings. The university funded the remaining construction costs.

Time capsule commemorates church's past

Michigan Alpha Sig Eps are moving in to an old church. Lets hope that they have the heavy duty lightning rods installed.

Time capsule commemorates church's past - The Michigan Daily:

New home of Michigan Alpha

"Amid the construction at Memorial Christian Church, located on the corner of Tappan and Hill Streets, members of its former congregation and of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity essentially heard its walls speak when a time capsule embedded in the building’s cornerstone from 1914 was opened yesterday as part of a decommissioning service at the church.

Among the contents of the dented copper box were a Bible, a map of Ann Arbor, a history of the church with names of members and officers and an American flag with only 48 stars. The occasion was bittersweet for members of the Disciples of Christ, some of whom had attended services held at the church for more than 30 years. The event symbolized a parting and a meeting as Sig Ep is renovating the church to become its new University chapter house."

'via Blog this'

In all seriousness, this is a great way to preserve an historic structure and keep it useful. 

Merry Christmas From S&P

A few of the scenes we found with a Google search  for "Christmas SigEp."

Best wishes for the Holiday season and for a prosperous and "Balanced" New Year.

Fraternally,
The S&P Blog Team

Tennessee Alpha SigEp House Ribbon Cutting Event

Tennessee Alpha House Ribbon Cutting Event | Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Tennessee:
(Click link for more pictures)

Undergrads and alumni gather to enjoy
the newly renovated house.

"The Tennessee Alpha Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon held the ribbon cutting of Friday, September 9th, 2011 on The University of Tennessee campus. In attendance were alumni and actives from the chapter as well as representatives of Sigma Phi Epsilon headquarters, The University of Tennessee, Johnson & Galyon (General Contractor), and PurserLee (Architect). The ribbon cutting celebrated a $2.5 million dollar renovation giving Sig Ep a first class facility on the UT campus.

After the ceremony, alumni toured the facility and enjoyed light refreshments. A Barbeque lunch at the chapter house on Saturday before the UT / Cincinnati football game. The weekend was a huge success and was capped off by a Vol victory over the Bearcats at Neyland Stadium. Thanks to all those who came out to celebrate our new home!"

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Toronto Keeps Hands off Greek House Regulations

City to keep hands off frat houses

By Daniel Dale

Annex fraternities and their wary neighbours should continue to work out their problems on their own, city staff say in a report that opposes new licensing rules.

Councillor Adam Vaughan had asked the city to come up with a licensing plan after residents who live near a cluster of University of Toronto fraternity and sorority houses complained of unruly late-night parties and other nuisances.

The licensing department said blitzes could be conducted to enforce existing rules. But it argued against imposing new ones. It said it cannot license fraternities as businesses or rooming houses. And it said that the community’s own efforts to improve the situation “hold the promise of a grassroots solution.”

Vaughan agreed. He said neighbours’ complaints are “way down” in the past year, as “the fraternities and sororities have taken responsibility for the behaviour of their members.” And he said the community is close to finalizing a system for resolving disputes.

There are 24 fraternities and sororities in the area, according to Vaughan (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina). He said “one or two” are a problem, down from about six last year.

David Harrison, chair of the Annex Residents’ Association, said he did not want to express an opinion until he consulted with his neighbours. But he said the situation had improved only because residents had “spent hours and hours and hours” working on it. They do not want to have to do so again, he said.

“Perfection, is, I suppose, out of the question. It is better. But each year it’s a different story because each year you have different people in every fraternity,” Harrison said. “I think we certainly have the attention of the elders of these fraternities, who seem to genuinely want to improve things. But what we’ve looked for is: If self-regulation were to fail, then what?”

The self-regulation system, according to the report, relies in part on the “Greek Council” system that governs fraternities. The council, city staff said dryly, “can influence the individual chapters under the threat of ‘shunning.’” If chapters continue to behave badly, the international organizations they belong to could take away their official status.

“That’s when they become eligible for licensing as a rooming house,” Vaughan said.

The fraternities’ spokesperson could not be reached Wednesday.

http://www.thestar.com/news/torontocouncil/article/1013493--city-to-keep-hands-off-frat-houses

SDSU Plans for Greek Housing

SDSU could have ‘Fraternity Row’
by Vicki Schuster

Some “displaced” South Dakota State University fraternities and sororities may, in the not-too-distant future, have a new home to call their own.

Last week, the South Dakota Board of Regents approved a master ground lease with the State College Development Association that will enable creation of 4.7 acres near McCrory Gardens for a Greek Village.

One parcel of land for future development is between FarmHouse and the Brookings Fire Station on the 700 block of 20th Avenue. A second lot is on the other side of Alpha Gamma Rho, which is across the street to the north of FarmHouse.

Marysz P. Rames, vice president of student affairs, says the plan honors the original agreement SDSU made with the Greek life system almost four decades ago. Rames said since 1972, that land was set aside to be developed for Greek chapter houses.

“At the time, the banking industry was quite different, so … (Alpha Gamma Rho) and FarmHouse were able to build their chapter houses.”

But since then, Rames explained, the banking industry has undergone changes and “so the way the land is currently written up in South Dakota codified law, our Greek chapters could not get bankable loans to build out there.”

Rames cited a “reversion clause” in the codified law concerning land and the improvements of the land that made the loans difficult to obtain.

$1-a-year leases

The newly approved master ground lease will allow other Greek chapters to obtain loans to build houses on land that will be subleased from the State College Development Association for $1 per year on 99-year agreements.

The bank loan would be repaid with rent from the tenants of the chapter houses.

Rames says a few local fraternities have been “displaced” in the past few years – by fires and plans for university parking lots – and may find the idea of a ground lease appealing.

She says Chi Omega members have been living in the residences halls since the university bought their chapter house several years ago.

A February fire at Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) has also scattered those members into rental units around town. SAE President Drew Carwile said since the incident – which was caused by a damaged electric power strip – members and alumni have been working on building a new house for SAE, whether it’s on existing property or one of the Greek Village lots.

“We all are excited with the prospects of our new house and are taking the necessary steps to build, whether we build on our lot south of campus or in one of the Greek Village lots,” he said.

Rames said Sigma Phi Epsilon, now located at 804 Sixth Ave., has also been renting and reports that its members are excited by the idea of a Greek Village, as well as, Ceres, another SDSU women’s sorority.

“We’ve been trying to figure out a way to give these chapters an option – and it’s strictly an option at this point – to build out there,” said Rames. “This ground lease gives them an opportunity.”

Definite interest

Carwile says there is definite interest for SAE to approach the university, “but right now we are keeping all our options open,” he said. “There is still a lot of work to be done on our side and SDSU’s side as well in order to … make the idea of a unified Greek community on Greek Village a reality.”

No fraternity or sorority has talked about building or moving in the near future, but Rames says she welcomes any ideas.

“Right now we are in the process of letting the Greek chapters know it went through and talking with them to see what interest there is. And depending on the interest, having a discussion on how we can allocate some lots,” she said.

300-plus in Greek life

Addie Wolcott, Greek Life adviser at SDSU, says there are currently six male fraternities and four female fraternities with a total active membership of about 300.

She did not attend the regent’s meeting but is excited for the idea of a Greek village. “I’ve spoken to other Greek officials at other universities, and this would be a great way to unify the campus and the community,” she said. “It would be great to have a unified presence near campus by having all of the houses together.”

Rames agreed. “Many universities are doing this, and we thought it would be great to have all of our Greek chapters together. It would really build some unity.”

Carwile said there are several advantages to having a central location for Greek housing. “The impact of having a line of nice Greek houses would be beneficial to recruitment to our fraternity and, more importantly, to Greek life in general,” he said.

“It would also foster more inter-fraternal interaction between not only the men’s fraternities but also the women’s fraternities ...”

http://www.brookingsregister.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&story_id=8585&page=76

Georgia State Expands Greek Housing

Greek housing expands Georgia State’s community

Georgia State has expanded its university housing once again. Greek housing will be opened this August for select sororities and fraternities.

The Greek housing will consist of nine three-story town homes. Each sorority and fraternity will have a choice of one, two, or three bedroom suites, which comes out to a total of 145 beds. The town homes will include laundry facility and a common room.

Each sorority/fraternity chapter will have a Residental Assistant (RA) who is a member of their chapter. An RA is a hired student who watches over the living space to ensure that students are being safe and following the rules. There are three floors in each town house. The first floor will include a kitchen, a common area, a bathroom facility, and bedrooms. The two upper floors will contain a bathroom and a common area, along with more bedrooms.

Students are excited to start living in Greek housing.

Georgia State sophomore and Alpha Xi Delta member Jenn Twitchell said, “I’m really excited for Greek housing because of the fact that it is making us like other schools. Other schools get to have a place for their chapters to meet and hang out in a home setting. This will bring our chapter together, because we actually get to live together and bond more closely.”

Every sorority and fraternity cannot have all of their members live in the housing facility. After certain requirements are met, such as GPA requirements, the specific chapter decides on who will reside in the Greek housing.

Anyone who is in a chapter will be able to get into the common room on the first floor with card access. Only residents of Greek housing will be allowed access to the specific town homes. Guests will need to be checked in at the front desk.

Parking will not be available for Greek housing, but students can park in the University Lofts parking deck. This parking deck is across the street on Edgewood Ave. For more information on this, students can visit Auxillary Services on the second floor of the University Center.

Greek housing is the fifth housing unit that Georgia State students have lived in. The University Village, which is now owned by Georgia Tech, was the first housing facility. The Village was built for the 1996 Olympics and sold to Georgia State shortly after. The University Lofts, built in 2001, holds all students, including undergraduates and graduates. Greek housing is the third housing development to be opened recently for Georgia State, the previous ones being the Commons, built in in 2007, and the Freshman Dormitories, which were built last year. This new housing is serving in Georgia State’s goal of having 20 percent of their students living on campus by 2015.

Carleston Sanford of Atlanta is designing the Greek Housing.

For more information about Greek housing or other housings facilities, visit the housing website at www.gsu.edu/housing or visit the Central Housing Office in room 250 of the Student Center.

http://www.gsusignal.com/living/greek-housing-expands-georgia-state-s-community-1.2273050#5

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Fraternity Fire Prevention Bill Passes House

U.S. House passes bill aimed at preventing campus fires

By Sabrian Eaton

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House of Representatives on Wednesday agreed to a longtime priority of the late Stephanie Tubbs Jones: a bill establishing grants for installation of fire prevention and suppression technologies for university student housing, including fraternities and sororities.

When Tubbs Jones died in 2008, her successor, Warrensville Heights Democratic Rep. Marcia Fudge, took up the cause and renamed the bill the "Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones College Fire Prevention Act."

It passed the House of Representatives on a voice vote.

The legislation doesn't specify the scope of grants that would be available. At least 10 percent of the money would be reserved for institutions that primarily serve minorities, and another 10 percent would be reserved for fraternities and sororities.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, has introduced a companion bill in the U.S. Senate, which is before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. Brown said the bill honors Tubbs Jones' legacy by protecting Ohio students and preventing deaths.

Brown's office estimates there are between 1,500 and 1,800 fires each year in college residence halls, dormitories, and sorority or fraternity houses. In Ohio, there have been at least 13 deaths and 36 fire-related campus incidents since 2000. When fire suppression technology is present in student housing, the chance of surviving a fire increases by 97 percent and property damage is lowered by 35 percent, Brown's office says.

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2010/05/us_house_passes_bill_aimed_at.html

Virginia Tech Expands Greek Housing

Virginia Tech looks to expand Oak Lane on-campus community for Greek organizations

The plan could increase the size of Virginia Tech's on-campus community for fraternities and sororities from 13 buildings to 30.

By Tonia Moxley 381-1675

JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times

The first phase of the approved expansion plan for Virginia Tech's Greek housing includes space for five new buildings that could house up to 220 students.

Oak Lane Community

Virginia Tech plans to add five new buildings to house fraternities and sororities next to the campus golf course.
View Oak Lane student housing in a larger map

An expansion of Greek housing at Virginia Tech would offer more on-campus living space and could help calm tensions between permanent residents and college students in Blacksburg neighborhoods.

The plan, approved by the Tech's board of visitors last week, would expand the on-campus Oak Lane Community near the Duck Pond from 13 buildings to up to 30 at final buildout.

Currently, Oak Lane accommodates 12 sororities and four fraternities in 13 buildings.

The first phase of the approved expansion plan includes space for five new buildings that could house up to 220 students. The $2 million to $4 million structures could be customized and would be built adjacent to the Tech golf course under a cost-sharing agreement between the university and the organizations.

Construction will be funded through university construction bonds, with the Greek chapters contributing about a third of the total cost as a tax-deductible contribution to the Tech Foundation.

Students living in the new buildings would pay a housing fee similar to those living in newer dorms. Oak Lane is part of the university's student-housing network.

At least three Greek organizations must commit to the project before construction can begin, and a handful have already shown interest.

Sigma Phi Epsilon is moving forward with preliminary plans to build in the new development.

"The alumni board has been working with the university for several years to improve the Greek system at Tech," said Bill Thomas of Sigma Phi Epsilon.

The chapter has about 60 student members, seven of whom live in the group's 100-plus-year-old house on Clay Street in Blacksburg.

Given its age, maintenance costs and design as a single-family home, it has never been ideal as housing for fraternity members. A new, customized building that could house more of the chapter's members could strengthen the organization, Thomas said.

The group has yet to sign a lease with Tech, but is looking at hiring an architect and builder.

"We know this is going to be a win-win for the university and the fraternity and the Greek system as a whole," Thomas said.

Moving fraternity housing out of Blacksburg neighborhoods could also help with another problem: reducing the perennial lifestyle conflicts between students and permanent residents.

Complaints about noise, parties and litter can become a drain on the local police force and town staff that field the complaints, as well as cause tensions between neighbors.

"We are interested in building the strength of the Greek community by having more chapters housed on campus and, in the process, decreasing the number of chapters out in the local communities," Vice President for Student Affairs Ed Spencer wrote in an e-mail.

And town officials are happy, too. Blacksburg Mayor Ron Rordam applauded the Oak Lane expansion plan.

"For years we have been encouraging the university to build more Greek housing on campus," he said.

Oak Lane was founded in 1983 and expanded in 1990 and 2001. Tech's Greek community comprises 65 nationally affiliated fraternities and sororities.

South Carolina Looks to Build New Greek Housing

Carolina seeks to build premier Greek Village
Campus sororities, fraternities would benefit from new housing project

By Paige Kirby

The Daily Gamecock
STAFF WRITER

In a world of technology, rumors spread like wildfire, and it is often hard to separate fact from fiction. One of these enticing rumors is the possibility of a new Greek Village being built on campus.

The Greek community at the University of South Carolina has been growing at an extremely fast pace over the past five years. Its membership has swelled to almost 3,800 Greeks, who compose just under a fifth of the entire undergraduate population.

The current Greek Village is home to about 700 students in nine sororities and 11 fraternities. Although many universities have housing for Greek members, USC is unique. Not only is the Greek Village run by USC’s Office of Greek Life, but also each fraternity and sorority’s house corporation.

There are many advantages to owning a house. According to Greek Life’s Web site, positive outcomes of the project include greater alumni participation, increased recruitment numbers and higher levels of chapter accountability.

“We are trying to create the premier Greek Community in North America,” said Greek Life director Ron Binder in a meeting last Saturday with sorority Pi Chis. “It’s not my job to locate land and build new houses, but I do know that we need them.”

Currently there are a total of 34 Greek organizations on campus with only 20 houses. Many Greek students agree with Binder’s statements. There are currently fraternities in McBryde on campus that are simply outgrowing their allotted space.

“I think we’ve been ready for a long time for a house,” said Phi Sigma Kappa brother Sam Bacon. “Having a house in the Greek system would both make housing easier on us and make recruits more likely to get to know us better.”

Already this year there have been two new additions to the Greek Community at USC. Phi Mu sorority and Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity have both joined USC this fall and would take advantage of an opportunity to be a part of a new Greek community. Phi Mu, with 252 members in its first year, has the numbers to have a house of its own.

The main problem with building a new Greek Village is simply the lack of University funding to buy land.

“The University would like to acquire more land for additional Greek housing, but the budget situation doesn’t permit that right now,” said Margaret Lamb, Media Relations Director for USC.

The ideal place to put new houses would be near the current Greek Village, but there is one problem.

“If we were to use those lots, we would have to move the existing train tracks, and that costs millions of dollars that we don’t have,” Binder said.

While land is owned by the University, each separate house is privately owned and operated by an Alumni House Corporation. According to a map on the University’s Web site, there is room for one more house on the side of Sigma Phi Epsilon, but no organization has claimed it yet.

“One thing is for sure. When plans finalize on a new Greek Village, it will be just as nice as the current one,” Binder said. “We are on our way to having the premier Greek Community in North America, and a new village would certainly add to that.”

Sigma Phi Epsilon Houses

Here is an interesting photoblog:
Sigma Phi Epsilon Houses

Yup, that's it. Photos of most of the SigEp houses from around the country. I don't know who put it together but he (she?) has way more time - and apparently a much larger travel budget - than I.

There are also links to several other fraternity and sorority house picture blogs. I'm sticking this on on the sidebar for reference. Be sure to let the author know if you have pics of houses that are not shown or updated from your own house.

EKU Opens Remodeled Greek Housing

Greek Towers Open to Fraternity, Sorority Members
Jerry Wallace
PR&M Communications

Many members of Eastern Kentucky University fraternities and sororities have a new home – in the middle of campus.

The University’s new Greek Towers, incorporating renovations to Todd and Dupree Halls, opened this fall to an enthusiastic response, according to Lindsay Greenwell, associate director for student involvement and leadership at EKU.

The Towers represent a “positive for our Greek community because they have created a space for the chapters to call their own,” Greenwell said. The renovations, completed at a cost similar to any routine residence hall renovations, were done with the input of the Greek community.
“This was truly a great project to be involved with,” said Kenna Middleton, director of housing at EKU. “The planning group was made up of two members from each Greek organization on campus that wanted to be involved, chapter advisers, the Greek Life office and Housing. We met weekly … to finalize decisions, choose colors, carpet, etcetera.”

The Towers are priced the same as other EKU residence halls, although the chapters do pay an annual fee for the use of chapter, office and storage space.”
Middleton said the Towers aid in the achievement of one of Housing’s chief objectives: development of community.

“Within chapters, there is already a community that comes from the sisterhood and brotherhood,” Middleton said. “This takes that individual community a couple of steps beyond their own chapter into the other female or male chapters and then ultimately extends the entire Greek community as a whole.”

The Greek Towers is an extension of a recent trend at EKU: the emergence of more “special interest” housing. “The Greek Towers is in keeping with our philosophy of these communities, and we truly believe, because our GPA and retention numbers support it, that community engagement plays a role in the University’s retention efforts.”

Of EKU’s approximately 1,000 Greeks, many live off campus in various houses and apartments, none of which are owned by their housing corporations or national organizations.
Greenwell predicted that the centrally located Greek Towers will “greatly impact recruitment. “It puts the Greek community front and center on campus. (Others) will see the brotherhood and sisterhood that exists in and between chapters.

“The Towers will not serve as a home to the active members, but it will serve as a gathering place for alumni. I also think the Towers will become a source of pride for the chapters living there. Hopefully, they will outgrow the space in Todd and Dupree, and we will look at building chapter houses.”

http://www.prm.eku.edu/ekunews/?module=0&article=1105

East Carolina Sig Eps Back in House

Frat house set to re-open after fire
The Daily Reflector

Michael Abramowitz/The Daily Reflector
Workers put a fence railing on the porch of the new addition to the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house on Tuesday

The East Carolina University Interfraternity Council and Student Government Association will formally welcome Sigma Phi Epsilon back to campus after a January fire destroyed part of the fraternity's living quarters at Fifth and Summit streets.

Community members, ECU staff and faculty, and many Greek alumni will join students in an event to celebrate Sigma Phi Epsilon's new home, according to a university news release.

The program will emphasize the new safety precautions that Sigma Phi Epsilon has taken to make the home one of the safest in the country, the release said.

ECU Environmental Health and Safety as well as ECU Student Legal Services will distribute information throughout the event.

Scheduled speakers include Patrick Sebastian, IFC president; Brad Congleton, Student Government Association president, and Ryan Harris, Sigma Phi Epsilon president.

The new structure will be open from 3-6 p.m. for tours, and the program will begin at 5 p.m. The event is open to the public.

ECU's Assistant Director of Greek Life Keith Tingley said the house opening sets a good example for ECU's Greek Life community.

“After the horrible incident in the spring, Sigma Phi Epsilon is now able to be a campus-wide leader in fire safety. Their new house will be equipped with all tools needed to keep students safe in the case of a fire,” he said.

On the morning of Jan. 30, a fire destroyed the two-story auxiliary house being leased by the fraternity and located behind the main fraternity house. Nine students living in the house were safely accounted for after the fire. One student was treated for burn injuries.

UT House Has Fire Code Violations

Come on guys. You can do better than this...

State fire marshal finds code violations at 2 UT frat houses
Katie Shands

The state fire marshal found code violations at two University of Tennessee fraternity houses. If the issues are not corrected, the residents will be forced to leave the buildings.

The City of Knoxville Fire Department filed complaints against the Pi Kappa Phi and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity houses. KFD officials said they responded to alarms at both facilities and noticed exposed electrical wiring, trash blocking exits, and parts of the ceilings missing.
[...]
The report said an emergency light in the Sigma Phi Epsilon house was vandalized and didn't operate. A plugged-in extension cord ran outside into a puddle of water under a wet cardboard box, posing an electrical hazard, according to the state fire marshal. A "heavy fire load" was found in the kitchen, especially on top of the stove. The floors below the exits were covered in broken glass, trash, and slippery substances.

The report stated that in order for the Sigma Phi Epsilon residents to remain in the house they must clear the exits, repair emergency lighting, and have a State Electrical Inspection.

Stimulus: Billions to colleges and students

Stimulus, Schimulus, what's in it for me? As a hard working middle-aged white guy who got a mortgage I could afford and has a bit saved up in a 401-K (though not as much as last year) - not much. But my kids, who are in college now, and many of the SigEps reading this blog may have a chance at some stimulus largess...

The stimulus plan emerging in Washington could offer an unprecedented, multibillion-dollar boost in financial help for college students trying to pursue a degree while they ride out the recession.

It could also hand out billions to the states to kick-start idled campus construction projects and help prevent tuition increases at a time when families can least afford them.
[...]
"We're ready to go, there's great jobs involved, and we're educating kids who wouldn't have other opportunities if we weren't there," Chuck Middleton, president of Roosevelt University in downtown Chicago, said Sunday. His university has a $135 million new building with classrooms, labs, dorms and offices on hold after financing dried up. Construction could be under way in six months, he says, providing 600 jobs for two years while helping Roosevelt's diverse student body.

Also helping students, the House and Senate both call for expanding the Hope tuition tax credit from $1,800 to $2,500 and making it partly refundable. Now, almost half of families with children pay no income tax, so the current tuition tax-credit system doesn't help them (the full benefit kicks in for families earning at least $43,000).

There is more, including the disclaimers about what is getting cut, but lets hope those idiots in Washington stumble over each other and get it right, this time. Maybe there is even hope for the bill authorizing tax deductions for fraternity house building and renovation contributions.

WHO GETS WHAT: Billions to colleges and students - Yahoo! News