Former Chi O House Donated to Syracuse U.

[chi-o_cat]

The chapter closed in 1992, and the house was owned by the house corp all this time, even after it was made clear that Chi Omega had no plans of ever re-establishing the chapter. The house was most recently leased out to Phi Sigma Sigma, who the article says has moved to another location.

Historic Gift Preserves a Legacy and Countless Campus Memories

I do like the idea of fraternities and sororities that do not have their own house on campus using it to hold events and meetings.

[33girl]

Why were they so adamant about never reopening the chapter?

[carnation]

Interesting. I do know of some chapters who were treated awfully by the administration and they never want to go back (there was one at Arkansas). There are others that were an embarrassment or problem to their nationals and they never want another chapter on that campus.

[chi-o_cat]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Why were they so adamant about never reopening the chapter?

I believe it was due to the perceived "instability" of the NPC sororities on the campus. After Chi O closed (due to low membership numbers), there were several other chapters that closed, mostly also because of numbers, but a couple for some different reasons. Some of the closed chapters have re-opened, such as AGD (their Alpha Chapter!) and DPhiE, but others have remained closed.

It was probably a situation where there was always that one "bottom house" and when that one couldn't hold on any longer, another one took its place and it became sort of a revolving door of closings and openings for over 2 decades. But I'm looking at Shadokat's thread, and it appears that the last chapter to close was Pi Phi in 2013, and the most recent return was Alpha Chi Omega in 2016, so maybe things have finally started to settle down there without so many changes. Someone on here who has an in with SU's current Greek climate PMed me saying that there are now rumors that Chi Omega is interested in coming back, so maybe they've changed their minds. If they do, they'd be starting from scratch without a house, since the one they had has been donated.

[Iota_JWH]

Hmm. The NPC listing thread for Syracuse states Chi O was active until 2008. Maybe what the article meant was that the Chi O chapter gave up their house in the 90's and kept on without a house. The donation says it will be used by GLOs without a permanent house, so that could mean more sororities on campus. Some housed and some un-housed. I am sure the vast majority of PNMs have no clue how much $$ it takes to own an operate a chapter house.
I read that Pi Phi at West Virginia Univ has given up their house and will go without a house.

[Shellfish]

Do you mean shadokat's thread? It definitely says that this chapter closed in 1992.

[Iota_JWH]

Originally Posted by Shellfish

Do you mean shadokat's thread? It definitely says that this chapter closed in 1992.

Oops, you are correct. I confused Syracuse and Cornell (both old, private schools in upstate NY with long sorority histories.)

I do hope that maybe the donation will allow un-housed groups to thrive at Syracuse. Theta Phi Alpha has done just fine w/o a house at Indiana, we'll see how Pi Phi does at West Virginia U. I know this is huge hurdle, as Univ of Arizona tried to establish an un-housed sorority, but the ASA chapter was never more than 10% the size of the housed chapters.

[Titchou]

If you would read the article you would know that they have been using it for unhoused chapters. It will now be used for other purposes such reunion events for Greeks and other special events. Very lovely of Chi Omega to do this!

[AZ-AlphaXi]

Originally Posted by Iota_JWH

Oops, you are correct. I confused Syracuse and Cornell (both old, private schools in upstate NY with long sorority histories.)

I do hope that maybe the donation will allow un-housed groups to thrive at Syracuse. Theta Phi Alpha has done just fine w/o a house at Indiana, we'll see how Pi Phi does at West Virginia U. I know this is huge hurdle, as Univ of Arizona tried to establish an un-housed sorority, but the ASA chapter was never more than 10% the size of the housed chapters.

I may be wrong .. but I believe that Theta Phi Alpha has housing at Indiana. At least the IU panhellenic lists the chapter as having a live in requirment. Alpha Sigma Alpha at IU has no live in requirement listed.

[navane]

Originally Posted by Iota_JWH

I am sure the vast majority of PNMs have no clue how much $$ it takes to own an operate a chapter house.

I am sure the vast majority of active members have no clue how much $$ it takes to own and operate a chapter house.

[SWTXBelle]

Syracuse has such lovely sorority houses. Some are featured here:https://www.instagram.com/syracusehistory/

[Jnx4]

As a former member of this chapter, I will be shocked if Chi Omega decides to return to Syracuse, at least in the coming years. The risk management situation on that campus goes against a lot of national policies. It was a party campus when I was there and it still is.


As someone stated when Chi O departed Syracuse we were the start of a string of departures. I think 5 chapters left in 7 years or similar. Several returned.

[*winter*]

What happened to Pi Beta Phi’s house at WVU? It was my favorite Greek house there

Syracuse is an interesting place, to say the least. The houses there are beautiful. Favorite SU fun fact is that Emily Butterfield, a founder of Alpha Gamma Delta, became an architect and designed the Syracuse AGD house.

http://https://alphagammadeltahousing.org/our-story/

[Iota_JWH]

Pi Phi is giving up their house at WVU due to the cost to maintain it. I believe I read about it via a Facebook post in the Focus on Fraternity History page. The article also sounded like the chapter had a hard time keeping it filled (as so many upperclassmen don't want to live in chapter houses any more.)

[ChioLu]

Well, Chi O is recolonizing at UCSB and the house was sold years ago. Not sure what the housing plan is for the new chapter. I don’t think the campus has any room to build.

Tri-Delta was actually renting it when it when the crazy male student shot up a few sorority houses.