Marshall: "Within ten years, frat row will probably cease to exist."

[hoosier]

Missing: Lambda Chi Alpha

Future of chapter in doubt as members lose house
By Mason Weir
Published: Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Article Tools: Page 1 of 1

The Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity lost their house this fall. Now it appears Marshall University has lost Lambda Chi Alpha.
Lambda Chi Alpha, once a prominent organization among the Greek community, has disappeared. There have been no efforts for recruitment this fall and the house which once belonged to the fraternity sits dormant on the outskirts of campus. So does the fraternity still exist at Marshall?
Harrison O'Dell, former president of Lambda Chi Alpha, said the house was sold to Pyramid Properties because of lack of active brothers living the house.
"The reason no one lived in the house is because the university won't allow members to live there, not because they didn't want to," O'Dell said. "They make a certain number of each chapter live on campus, and because of this we didn't have enough people who were allowed to live in the house."
The condition of the house was poor at the time of its sale, and this factored into the sale.
"The house was destroyed," O'Dell said. "If current brothers are unable to care for the house it becomes the responsibility of the housing corps."
The loss of the house would not have necessarily done the fraternity in for good, but that appears to be the case.
"Until there are some active members worthy of the name Lambda Chi, I would say that the Marshall chapter is extinct," O'Dell said.
Nick Walker, a prospective member who was to be initiated this fall, is still waiting for word from Lambda Chi Alpha about its current standing.
"When I was trying to join last spring there were only about five other people in my recruitment class," Walker said. "I haven't heard from my big brother or any of the active members since school went out. I heard the whole frat went under."
O'Dell expects more scenarios similar to the disappearance of Lambda Chi Alpha.
"In my opinion, the university considers all fraternities to be a hindrance," O'Dell said. "Within ten years, frat row will probably cease to exist."
O'Dell estimated there are still seventeen to twenty members who are technically "active". No active members were available for comment. Even though the fraternity is doing little right now, it would be untrue to say no one is dedicated to the fraternity.
"I would still consider myself a part of Lambda Chi," Walker said. "Even though I am not officially a member, I dedicated myself in the spring. If they ever get going again, I would definitely consider getting right back in it."