North American fraternity and sorority housing
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North American fraternity and sorority housing refers largely to the houses or housing areas in which fraternity and sorority members live and work together. In addition to serving as housing, fraternity and sorority housing may also serve to host social gatherings, meetings, and functions that benefit the community.
History
[edit]The first fraternity house seems to have been located at Alpha Epsilon of Chi Psi at the University of Michigan around 1846.[1] As fraternity membership was punishable by expulsion at many colleges at this time, the house was located deep in the woods.[2]
Fraternity chapter housing initially existed in two forms: lodges that served as meeting rooms and houses that had boarding rooms.[3] The lodges came first and were largely replaced by houses with living accommodations. Lodges were often no more than rented rooms above stores or taverns. The idea of substantial fraternity housing caught on quickly, but was accomplished with much greater ease in the North as southern college students had far less available money for construction.[4] The first fraternity house in the South was likely one rented by members of Beta Theta Pi at Hampden–Sydney College from at least 1856. Alpha Tau Omega was then the first fraternity to own a house in the South when, in 1880, its chapter at The University of the South acquired one.[5]
Early chapters of women's fraternities often rented houses where they could live together, usually with a chaperone. This was in a day before colleges and universities had housing available. The first chapter house built by a women's fraternity was the one Alpha Phi erected at Syracuse University in 1886.[6]
Many colleges eventually came to support fraternity and sorority housing as they allowed increased enrollment without the construction of costly dormitories. The nature of this benefit varied between campuses as some houses were paid for entirely by alumni, some were rented, and some were built on land leased from the college. It was further recognized that, while fraternities having chapter houses did not raise academic performance, it did tend to keep it from falling as the chapters could not afford (financially) to have members leaving school and no longer paying for their rooms.[7]
The Inter-Sorority Congress of 1913 saw the establishment of uniform rules and regulations regarding life in chapter houses.[8]
The number of houses owned by fraternities and sororities grew from 772 in 1915 to 928 in 1920.[9]
Design
[edit]Fraternity and sorority houses range in size from three to twenty bedrooms or more. They can usually be identified by large Greek letters or flags on the front of the house. The larger chapter houses generally have a large meeting room, a large dining room, a commercial kitchen, and a study room. There is usually a lounge of some sort, access to which is often restricted to fully initiated members. Fraternities and sororities will also often maintain a chapter room, to which only initiates may ever be admitted and even whose existence may be kept secret. The walls of the house may be decorated with pictures of past chapter events, awards, and trophies, decorative (or historic) paddles, or composite photos of members from past years.
In some fraternities or sororities, only the representatives live in the houses while in others the entire fraternity or sorority may live in the house. Other, larger fraternities or sororities may have more than one house to accommodate all of its members.
At many colleges, Greek houses are placed on the same street which is traditionally referred to as "Greek Row."[10][11]
Policies
[edit]Fraternity and sorority houses are typically owned either by a corporation of alumni, the sponsoring national organization, or the host college. For this reason, such houses may be subject to the rules of the host college, the national organization, or both.
Due to the increase in widely publicized alcohol-related deaths on college campuses, many national organizations and host colleges have implemented dry housing policies in which the consumption and possession of alcohol are prohibited on house property.[12] Some colleges make this policy conditional on overall grade performance.
In addition to banning alcohol, many university-owned fraternity and sorority houses have smoking bans in place inside.[13]
Because of residential requirements, some college campuses and national chapter administrations also prohibit members of the opposite sex on certain floors of fraternity and sorority houses.
National Register chapter houses
[edit]The following chapter houses are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Demolished structures are indicated in italics.
- ^ The chapter house was demolished in January 2018.
- ^ Alpha House was a private residence until purchased by the fraternity in 1939,
- ^ House was a private residence until acquired by the fraternity in 1923.
- ^ It housed the Indiana Gamma Omicron chapter of Alpha Tau Omega until May 2021,
- ^ The chapter used the house until 2017 and disbanded in 2018. Its chapter house was demolished in 2020.
- ^ House was a private residence until acquired by the society in 1915.
- ^ After serving as a residence, the Mary E. Ingersoll Girls Friendly Club, a clubhouse operated by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and a settlement house, Gifford House became a fraternit residence in 1960.
- ^ Hancock House was purchased by the fraternity in 1962.
- ^ Llenroc was built for Ezra Cornell, the founder of Cornell University. It became the chapter house of Delta Phi fraternity in 1911.
- ^ The fraternity used this building from 1910 to 1922.
- ^ This building was built for Sigma Pi and was used by fraternities until 1943.
- ^ The frtaternity sold the house in 2006.
- ^ This was built as the residence of lumber tycoon William Thorsen until his death in 1942. At that time, it became a fraternity house.
- ^ Oak Hill was a residence, hospital, hotel, and school before becoming a fraternity house in 1929.
Notable chapter houses by size
[edit]See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "About Chi Psi - Chi Psi Fraternity". www.chipsi.org. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
- ^ Birdseye, Clarence Frank (1907), Individual Training in Our Colleges, New York: The MacMillan Company, p. 211, retrieved 2008-06-20
- ^ Baird, William Raimond (1920), Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (9th ed.), New York: James T. Brown, p. 32, retrieved 2008-06-18. Baird's Manual is also available online here: The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
- ^ Psi, Chi (1906), The Purple and Gold, vol. XXIII, Chi Psi Fraternity, p. 8, retrieved 2008-06-20
- ^ "ATO Facts & Firsts". ato.org. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ^ Martin, Ida Shaw (1919), The Sorority Handbook (6th ed.), Menasha, WI: George Banta Publishing, p. 36, retrieved 2008-06-18
- ^ Jordan, David Starr (December 1909), The American College, vol. 1, New York: The Higher Education Association (published 1910), p. 176, retrieved 2008-06-20
- ^ Martin, Ida Shaw (1919), The Sorority Handbook (6th ed.), Menasha, WI: George Banta Publishing, p. 43, retrieved 2008-06-18
- ^ Baird, William Raimond (1920), Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (9th ed.), New York: James T. Brown, p. v, retrieved 2008-06-17
- ^ "Greek Row".
- ^ staff, Tritima Achigbu, The Shorthorn (15 April 2020). "Living on Greek Row provides convenience, community, and affordability in living on campus". The Shorthorn.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Schackner, Bill (2000-08-18). "Fraternity houses turn off the taps and sober up". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ "Smoking Ban", The Chronicle of Higher Education, 52 (38): A28, May 26, 2006
- ^ Page, William C. (June 1, 2007). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Sigma Sigam-Delta Chi Fraternaity House". National Park Service. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
- ^ Newsroom, Osu Stillwater. "New Sigma Chi house going up, taking shape".
{{cite web}}
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has generic name (help) - ^ "Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, University of Arkansas". Brinkmann Constructors. Archived from the original on 2013-08-07. Retrieved 2013-11-13.
- ^ "University of Arkansas Tri Delta House Expansion and Renovation Celebrated". University of Arkansas News. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
- ^ "Arkansas Alpha | Pi Beta Phi History". history.pibetaphi.org.
- ^ a b "Kappa Delta Details CDI Contractors". 2019-09-22.
- ^ "UA Cribs: Alpha Chi Omega". The Odyssey Online. 2014-09-22. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
- ^ "Delta Upsilon Fraternity House – LayneCo Construction Services". lcsconstruct.com.
- ^ Brown, Melissa (8 August 2013). "New University of Alabama house largest in sorority's national history". al.com.
- ^ "Listing". /www.maddogweb.com.
- ^ Flanagan, Ben (13 October 2016). "Take a look inside the new $13 million Phi Mu sorority house at the University of Alabama". www.al.com.
- ^ "Listing". /www.maddogweb.com.
- ^ "House - Sigma Pi at FSU". www.fsusigmapi.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-22. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
- ^ "buildfh". www.buildfh.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-18. Retrieved 2019-01-11.
- ^ "Oklahoma State University's The Grecian Spring 2017 (fraternity and sorority affairs)".
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-10-05. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Alpha Gamma Rho - Pi Chapter - progress". Archived from the original on 7 November 2013.
- ^ "Phi Kappa Psi - Focus". www2.pursuantgroup.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2011-12-08.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-04-23. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Morris, Callie (August 2021). "Alpha Delta Pi Sorority Celebrates New Chapter House At OSU". ktul.com.
- ^ "Alpha Tau Omega, University of Alabama - WAR Construction, Inc". www.warconstruction.com.
- ^ "Chi Omega Sorority House". MW Builders. Archived from the original on 2013-11-09. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
- ^ "TreanorHL". www.treanorarchitects.com.
- ^ "Beacon - Story County, IA / City of Ames". beaconbeta.schneidercorp.com.
- ^ "Pi Kappa Phi, University of Alabama". Retrieved 2019-05-05.
- ^ "Phi Kappa Psi Foundation: Indiana Beta Chapter Housing Campaign". Archived from the original on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
- ^ "Beta Zeta - Oklahoma State Univ. - Kappa Alpha Theta Housing". Archived from the original on 2011-08-18. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- ^ "PiKa: Our House". Archived from the original on 2011-05-12. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- ^ "University of Arkansas AOII House". alphaomicronpi.org. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- ^ Carney, Jordain (February 27, 2009). "Alpha Omicron Pi Hosts Open House This Weekend". The Arkansas Traveler. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011.
- ^ "On the boards — MILES ASSOCIATES". Archived from the original on 9 December 2013.
- ^ "Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity House, University of Oklahoma - Timberlake Construction". Archived from the original on 2012-02-26. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
- ^ "Projects - Category: Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity House - Compton Construction Corporation". comptonconstruction.com.
- ^ "Kappa Sigma at Missouri Science & Technology - House Plans". Archived from the original on 2011-08-22. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- ^ "Tri Sigma Sorority House". MW Builders. Archived from the original on 2013-11-09. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
- ^ Bitterman, Abby (October 19, 2016). "OU Sigma Nu chapter building a new house, physical presence on campus". OU Daily.
- ^ "Two Fraternity Houses Celebrated on Campus This Weekend". University of Arkansas News. April 27, 2015.
- ^ "Archived copy". www.omegafundraising.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2006. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Dodson, Don (June 14, 2010). "Fraternities rehabbing, rebuilding houses with newest touches on UI campus". The News-Gazette.
- ^ "The House | Sigma Chi at UNM". unmsigmachi.com. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
- ^ "Delta Rho-Arkansas Housing Fund". Alpha Chi Omega. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
- ^ "New Sigma Chi Fraternity House". hhbeng.com. Archived from the original on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2013-11-20.
- ^ "Fraternity right at home in church". Times Union. 18 February 2011.
- ^ RealtyTrac, Real Estate. "1801 E 1st St, Tucson, AZ 85719 - 158977215 | RealtyTrac". www.realtytrac.com. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
- ^ "ucsae.org". www.ucsae.org.
- ^ "University of Arkansas Kappa Sigma Fraternity House". Kinco Constructors. 6 May 2015.
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