chscrew144 ...
Thank for your interest in U of T fraternities - it's great to have someone this much interest.
There are 16 fraternities at U of T that have excellent organizations - lots of groups on St. Geroge, just north of Bloor, There are also some houses that are on St. George just north of College. You are not going to see many guys around as they are studying/moving home - it's just a tough time of the year.
In your case currently, you would be known as a 'border'. You could be able to move in after exams (most U of T houses rent their rooms over the summer), however, it is more than likely, both houses may have their rooms already leased to members for when they come back in the fall - you may not have the opportunity to move there anyways.
Who you need to speak with is the President of their "Housing Corporation". This is an alumni-run organization which handle all the leases and owns the house. They would be able to tell you
definatively whether this is even a possibility for you. From my experience, most of fraternities are full until around elections/Christmas break, and that is when things shuffle around. (just want you to be prepared, man!)
As for dry vs wet, many of the men's groups are being hit with such high insurance premiums that going dry is quickly becoming the only option to have their chapters stay viable. Many of U of T's chapter are award-winning with their own organziations and take a lot of pride in this - be prepared it is not going to be 'Animal House'. And if you are underage, the house may have policies for that which you don't even know about yet.
I might suggest taking this summer to review the websites of the groups at U of T, and attend their recruitment events in the fall. You will get a much better picture of what everyone is about, and whom you 'mesh' with. I know you are looking for housing within a particular time frame - there is a whole TON of places around the Annex that rent rooms in those big Queen Anne houses - good luck!!
If you have other questions, please PM me and I'll be happy to answer any of your questions.
Shala
(I used to be the Chapter Adviser for the AOII U of T chapter - now I am a Collegiate Supervisor for AOII & Pres of the Canadian Interfraternal Assc)
PS - Interesting that you chose the 2 groups whose houses are the closest to Madison Ave - within 1 min of 5 sorority houses ...?
From a former U of T adviser
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