Colgate acquires Greek houses, few resist

Drastic measures are being taken against the Greek community at Colgate University, but Penn officials say the likelihood of the University ever following suit is unlikely.

Fraternities and sororities at Colgate are being forced to sell their houses to the university by next fall. If they do not comply, the chapters will lose university recognition.

Though most of the Greek houses at Penn are University-owned, Director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Scott Reikofski said he did not think such a widespread and drastic action would be possible here.

"Penn has a long-standing, historically supportive relationship with our fraternities and sororities," Reikofski said. "Because of the University's philosophy of working with the fraternities [and sororities], it hasn't happened."

While the Colgate initiative is part of a larger plan to address campus culture, this specific action was taken following a drunk-driving incident in the fall of 2000 that resulted in the death of four students. The driver had been drinking at an unregistered fraternity party.

The administration had considered disbanding the Greek system at Colgate altogether.

"They decided to continue the organizations but create a system [with] a little more control and support," said Jim Leach, a spokesman for Colgate.

According to Leach, the final decision regarding fraternity and sorority houses was made in the spring of 2003. By this coming fall, 10 active chapters will have sold their houses to the university.

All the chapter houses were previously owned by the respective alumni house corporations, which oversee the living situations of fraternities and sororities.

"Understandably, alumni and undergraduates who have owned their own houses ... for years were reluctant to sell their property," Leach said. "However, everyone realized that something had to happen."

Some fraternities have been far more than reluctant. Three chapters -- Delta Kappa Epsilon, Alpha Tau Omega and Kappa Delta Rho -- have elected not to sell.

Delta Kappa Epsilon is the only chapter of these three that is currently active. However, following this decision, it will no longer be allowed to recruit or pledge new members.

Sean Dublin, a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, began the Freedom of Association Coalition for Truth in protest of the university's decision. FACT held a rally on the lawn of the DKE house this Tuesday.

Colgate sophomore Jason Rand is a member of Theta Chi. His fraternity has sold its house to the university, and he will be living there next fall. While not actively protesting the decision, he does think that it is not the best solution to the problem.

"I wish the administration would listen more to our concerns and not be so assertive in their actions," he said.

Rand did say that he is "trying to be positive" about the decision. While he said that he is genuinely happy at Colgate and with his fraternity, he is apprehensive of the effects of this initiative.

Rand worries that students will "move off-campus to drink" since the school will have more control over the fraternity and sorority houses.

When people are "off-campus, the university is no longer viable to what happens," he said. "I think the student body will want to be completely independent of the university, somehow."

Colgate has been known for its active and widespread Greek system in the past, with student membership numbers similar to Penn's.

Despite this, College junior and InterFraternity Council President Spencer Scharff agreed with Reikofski about the improbability of the Penn administration making a decision of this nature.

"Colgate is a very different campus," Scharff said. "It just isn't feasible. There's no current tension that would cause such an action."

While Rand is remaining optimistic, he does think improved communication between students and administrators at Colgate would be beneficial.

"I think that Colgate is trying to change the image that it has," he said. "Students are definitely not on board with the school on that one."

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