[shadokat]

I would question whether there is a real need for your chapter to have a "nationally owned" fraternity house. For instance, do the other chapters on campus have nationally owned houses? Is housing essential for survival on campus?

I don't know how fraternities work, but with sororities, it's really an issue of is the need for housing there. At large schools such as UGA and U of Florida, we have nationally owned houses, and those houses are there because ALL sororities have houses on campus, and it's the way the campus works. At Rider University in NJ, campus gives each GLO a small dorm (it really is enough for about 50 people), and that is their housing. It has a kitchen and living rooms and all that great stuff, on top of a ton of bedrooms and bathrooms for the members. While the property is lived in and kept by the GLO, the university technically owns it. Our chapter has been in their house for the better part of 50 years.

Hope this helps a little. I would contact your HQs and see what their take on your situation is, and also contact alums from your chapter and see what they would like to do to help.

Good luck!