Quote:
Originally Posted by SWTXBelle
I wonder - does housing play any part in deciding whether or not a Greek system continues or closes? Is a system without housing, or only with university housing, more likely to close?
I know the issue of housing is an important component of the Greek experience on some campuses - even figuring into quota on some campuses. It was an issue in the late unpleasantness at DePauw. Thoughts, anyone?
|
I believe it plays a major role. On my tiny campus, Greek life has declined from approximately 75% Greek during my era (mid-90s) to about 50% now. In talking to the collegians and college officials, one major reason is housing. Our houses are college owned. They were built in about 1950, and have few amenities common to today's college student. When I was there, every house was filled to capacity, and every sorority was at total.
Today (on a campus where 100% of students live on campus) with new apartment style housing being constructed, with the dorms being remodeled to include air conditioning, and with what the university calls "tiered housing", we struggle to fill our house at times. Only two of the sororities are at total (which has declined from 90 to 68 in the past three years). The students want to live in the nice dorms, and the college encourages it. The anti-Greek feelings are strong these days, and the college would love nothing more than to close our chapters, and take our houses (which they would then turn into themed housing and charge out the wazoo).
Threaded Mode
