but Congratulations to the ladies of Delta Sigma Theta!
Greek system unable to expand
Substandard housing halts plans for additional sororities
By Melissa Prescott - Staff Writer
November 20, 2002
JENNIFER SAVARIO / The Reveille
UNDER CONSTRUCTION: The Delta Chi house has been vacant since the beginning of the semester. A new sorority, Sigma Sigma Sigma, was supposed to occupy the building but declined to come on campus because the house needs so many renovations.
Students who were looking forward to the arrival of a new sorority are out of luck, unless the University can find $1 million for housing renovations.
The University wanted to extend the Greek system to allow more women to join sororities without overpopulating the current groups. The University has worked on finding new groups, such as Sigma Sigma Sigma and Alpha Chi Omega, since April.
The Greek system will not see a new sorority because of financial restraints. Although the sorority national chapters are interested in the University, they will not move to campus under unequal circumstances, said Victor Felts, Greek Affairs director.
The University planned to use the recently vacated Delta Chi house for the new sorority, returning the house to its original purpose. However, all other sorority houses have been renovated during the last 40 years, leaving the former Delta Chi house substandard.
Although no new sororities will come to campus, many still are fond of the University.
"LSU has always been a campus Alpha Chi Omega is interested in," said Julie Burkhard, Alpha Chi Omega national president.
She said they look for locations where they can be successful, competitive and supported by strong administration and alumni. While the University has support, the nature of the Greek system revolves around equality with other groups.
She said housing is an especially important collegiate component at LSU because all the other houses on Sorority Row are large with attractive curb appeal.
When Alpha Chi Omega was on campus before the 70s, it did not have equivalent housing, and it does not want to repeat its mistakes, Burkhard said.
However, the house is not a lost cause. Delta Sigma Theta, a National Pan-Hellenic sorority, is interested in moving in. Most of the National Pan-Hellenic Greek organizations do not have housing and historically recruit African-American students.
When the campus Panhellenic Council does decide to bring a new sorority on campus, all sororities will vote to select candidates, said Felts.
Last year, the University primarily sought sororities with strong interests in member education programs and high numbers of alumni in the Baton Rouge area to support the chapter.
The University formed a diverse committee to select prime candidates for bidding. The committee consisted of one member from each sorority, a Student Government representative and a faculty member.
The committee brought Alpha Chi Omega and Sigma Sigma Sigma to campus to speak to students and to allow both parties to get to know each other.
The University plans to invite both sororities in the future when it finds a solution to the housing dilemma.
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