Future of Castle program hangs in balance

For the last two years the Castle, former home of the Psi Upsilon fraternity, has been inhabited by students involved with the Community Service Living-Learning Program. But next year could bring some changes. Psi U., which occupied the house at 36th Street and Locust Walk before being kicked off campus in 1990, has begun the process of reapplying for recognition from the University. And nobody seems to be sure whether the fraternity wants its old house back or not. Psi U.'s Executive Director Mark Williams said Monday that the fraternity will probably not seek to return to the Castle immediately. Meanwhile, Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta said the fraternity and the University are still involved in a legal battle over who controls the fate of the house. Larry Rhein, program director for the CSLLP, said Psi U. has not contacted anyone in the program about any desire to reclaim the Castle. He said although there are questions as to whether Psi U. can return to its former home, in terms of diversifying Locust Walk Rhein thinks the CSLLP is a more attractive choice for the property. "We think our program is a better use of a house than any fraternity," Rhein said. Twenty-four students currently live in the Castle. Other residents said they shared Rhein's beliefs. "We'd love to keep the program in the Castle," said College sophomore Mazher Ahmad. Ahmad said it is important for the University to have a strong community service program now, especially since President Clinton has stressed the idea of college students contributing to the community. And Wharton junior Rumiko Hagiwara said the Castle, because of its location in the heart of the campus, is a great place not only for the CSLLP, but for other volunteer groups at the University to coordinate activities as well. But, residents admitted, there is nothing they can do if the chapter decides it wants the Castle back. "If they have legal rights to the house, then you can't do anything about it," Ahmad said. Rhein said he can't worry about Psi U. now since the fraternity could not even be readmitted to the Greek system until next semester at the earliest. The fraternity, if re-recognized, would probably not return until the fall of 1994. "We run this program year to year," Rhein said. "[Psi U.'s re-recognition] would not affect the program this year but it would in the future." If the CSLLP is forced to leave the Castle, one resident had an idea about where the program could relocate. "There are many other vacant buildings on Locust Walk," Ahmad said. "Maybe we could be moved to another place right on the Walk."