U.: 'Yes' to Phi Sig plan

Officials approved the plan to turn the ex-frat into alcohol-free student use space. Hoping to fight the activity-space crunch while Houston Hall is closed for renovations, University officials yesterday approved a proposal to temporarily convert a former fraternity house on Locust Walk into a space for campus functions and student groups. Construction began yesterday at the former Phi Sigma Kappa house at 3615 Locust Walk and should finish by October 30. The cost of the renovations was not immediately available. University officials evaluated the costs of the project over the last few weeks before approving the project yesterday. The space will be used at least until the re-opening of Houston Hall, which is scheduled to be closed for construction until December 1999. The University closed its Phi Sig chapter last spring for various alcohol and liability violations. "The space is going to be a wonderful complement to our new student activities spaces in the [recently acquired] Westminster Building [at 37th and Chestnut streets]," said Vice Provost of University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum, who submitted the proposal. She described the project as "one of the fastest start-ups ever." The building will become a replacement for Houston Hall's first-floor Bodek Lounge, which hosted academic and social activities for faculty members and students, explained John Smolen, executive director of student information and systems. University President Judith Rodin said she was excited about the possibilities the building could offer, especially in light of administrators' and students' growing concern over binge drinking. "The idea is that for the weekends, it would be open late for non-alcoholic parties," Rodin said last week. A Harvard University study released earlier this month indicated that binge drinking among college students has not diminished over the last few years. Also this month, two Penn freshmen were hospitalized for alcohol-related illnesses, causing added concern for administrators. Although several student leaders said they would welcome a new space for activities, many students had wanted the building to remain a Greek house. Possibilities that students mentioned included renovating the building for a future recolonization of Phi Sig or making the building a sorority house. But approval of the project means that, at least in the near future, there will be no sorority houses on Locust Walk. Delta Delta Delta, the last sorority to reside on Locust Walk, was forced out of its house at 36th Street and Locust Walk this year by house owner Phi Kappa Sigma. The sorority retains an off-campus house at 40th and Spruce streets. Daily Pennsylvanian staff writer Edward Sherwin contributed to this article.