To have a house, or not...that is the question...

[33girl]

alphagamzetagam,

I totally understand what you mean. My big was president and didn't live in the house - which was good because quite a few of the girls in the house were super critical of her. She was trying to get new types of girls into the chapter and there were a lot of "old fashioned" people who didn't want any part of it - they wanted the same safe type people we'd always rushed, even though those were dwindling. If she'd had to live in the house, she probably would have given up her office. Our house held 14, a made-over family house, so it's proably similar to your situation.

Some people are just not meant to live in a communal setting period, let alone with the duties of office. I don't know, this just seems like one of those things that there's never one good solution.

[amanda6035]

Originally posted by sigmaK619
Did you also notice that the person you called "selfish" is one of your sisters? Just an observation.

That was one of the first things I noticed, actually. I'm not going to change the fact that I still think it's selfish to complain about lack of privileges because you choose to avoid the drama.

But I DO agree with you that not everyone is exec material. But a decent person who knows they aren't exec material, shouldnt be too upset about not getting the perks of doing exec. I've avoided circumstances that I knew I couldn't handle properly, but I didnt complain that the people who did engage in those circumstances got bonus perks.

[adpiucf]

At my university, I would say chapters without a house were at a competitive disadvantage at recruitment, based on the perspectives of the PNMs and their unsubstantiated view that house=status. I observed a previously un-housed chapter move into their chapter house and was interested to see how the campus's overall perception of them rose, as well as their increase in numbers and, in-turn, how their new status shifted the rest of the sororities. ZTAngel, would you agree?

Anyway... My chapter is housed. Although there are nearly 200 members, only 32 live-in. The chapter president is expected to share a room with another sister, and our local by-laws specify who must live-in (this includes the exec board and other key officers.) In cases where there is too large an interest in living in the "mandatory live in spots have filled" GPA and other chapter offices are used as a tie-breaker.

Because there are so many members who can't live in the house due to lack of bedroom space, many members do tend to block out apartment buildings, rent houses together or apartments. It isn't unsual to drive by an apartment complex and see various sorority letters spelled out in Christmas lights from the balconies!

One thing I like about ADPi House Corp (I'm not sure-- maybe all NPC House Corp is like this)-- you don't need to have a house or a suite to have a house corp.

[TSteven]

Originally posted by DeltaEtaKP
On our campus, we don't have houses, but each sorority/fraternity has their own dorm building.

The dorms include 2 lobbys--a formal and an informal, and a kitchen. It is campus housing, and since we HAVE to live on campus all four years, it is as good as we can get.

Many (most?) of the large houses - the ones that house over ten members - are really just gussied-up dorms. Especially the houses specifically built to house members/students and not those reclaimed and or rezoned from the local community.

While many include various amenities, the main difference I have noticed is that most of these large houses have at least a good sized dinning room and a full kitchen.

edited for grammar

[neonsparkles]

I love you, will you marry me?

haha I just hate that brothel rumor!! There was also another one that some sister/daughter/female relative of SOME sort of the Ball sisters didnt get into a sorority so she forbad the campus to ever let them have houses. That of course is also ridiculous!

[SouthernXO]

We have both a house and two halls in a greek women's dorm b/c so many girls want/need to live in Chi O housing. It has its ups and downs. But I think for the simple fact that we have a place to meet for chapter every single week without scheduling conflicts or miscommunications or anything like that makes the house a good idea. It's also a place where we can plan rush, homecoming, and initiation without worrying about being overheard or what not. And, since we have a meal plan at the house, I know that the fact that I probably ate at least 7 meals a week at the house brought me closer to my sisters. People bond over meals, it just works. Yes a house causes drama, yes people get mad about rules and mortgage etc. But I think in the long run, a house provides more good than detriment.

[sigmaK619]

Living in the sorority house for 3 years was the best decision and experience of my life. As people have said, we had a cook, who made lunch and dinner for us M-F. It was so cheap to live there (considering how expensive it is to live in San Diego). The only bill we had to pay for that wasn't included in our rent was our phone line into our bedrooms. Plus I got to park behind the house, so I didn't have to pay $110 a semester and could walk to school.

It was so much fun. All the late night shananigans (sp?). I wouldn't trade it for the world. I feel kind of sad for the girls who never got to experience that (my sister included, who was a DG at Northern Kentucky, which doesn't have houses).

[Tom Earp]

Living in the center of thigs was most important to me.

But there are things like quiet hours to study, the main reason Students are there, well supposedly!

A place to go when you are sitting there and doing nothing, see your Brthers/Sisters who you are a part of. There is always something going on, whether it seems like play, there always conversations about The GLO and can be discussed in an informal manner.

As an Alum it was nice to have a place to go to when you got back into town. For the last two, there really hasnt been a House (We Demolished it )and it does get disheartening!

[Xanthuos]

My chapter does not have a house, but none of the fraternities or sororities on our campus are housed either. It kinda pisses me off, because when we were chartered, we were even offered the loans to build a house...however, our university refused. They don't want Greek housing. We're still a minority on campus, though the Greek system as a whole is growing every year, along with the university. In the future, I'd like to see my chapter have at least a small house - maybe 8 brothers housed. I think the biggest thing we all want is a center for social activity & for meetings...just a good-size living room with a nice TV and video games and stuff, convenient to campus, where brothers can come "chill" between classes and in the evenings and stuff, and then a nice meeting room maybe in the basement or something.

My alumni dollars to my university will depend on if they lose their religious affiliation and if they allow Greek housing, and I anticipate my alumni dollars to be substantial

[amanda6035]

*bump*

Well, I don't know any official details yet, but supposedly, Greek housing is actually in the works for SPSU to open Fall 2010. From what I understand, it's going to be university housing, but that is the extent of my knowledge. We didnt have a housing corporation....until now. Myself and one other alumnae are working on getting a housing corporation started for the chapter - which now has 20 members (much different from when I started this thread several years ago!)

My nose is buried in our housing corp manual. I have NO IDEA what I'm getting myself into by agreeing to be on corp board. I just want the absolute best for my girls.

Anyone on here started a corp board from scratch before? Any words of wisdom to share?

[KSUViolet06]

As far as being on Housing Corp, I would hope that you aren't a SUPER recent alumna (as in, you were an active member with some of the girls who are actives now).

Being on HC places alumnae in some tough positions sometimes (i.e. having to take certain actions when a member isn't fulfilling financial obligations), and it can be really hard to do the job if you were like BFFs with the actives in undergrad.

[amanda6035]

I graduated May 2007. By the time Fall 2010 comes around, all the girls I was active with, will be gone.... there's only 6 left. One is graduating this Spring, and the rest will be done by next spring, i believe.

*edit* And financial.....definitely not a problem.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by amanda6035

I graduated May 2007. By the time Fall 2010 comes around, all the girls I was active with, will be gone.... there's only 6 left. One is graduating this Spring, and the rest will be done by next spring, i believe.

And financial...not a problem.

I think I remember you posting that you were your chapter's VP Finance at one point. So I guess you've been in tough situations with sisters before. It's kind of similar (as you'll be responsible for handing out the conseuences when girls violate house policies). Some people are really aren't ready for that and can't handle it.

[Piercedfreak]

Where I go to school, the city does not allow any type of Greek House. So none of the chapters have a house. I hoestly wish we did sometimes. However, one positive about living in an all girls dorm is the chance to recruit PNM.

[AOIIalum]

Amanda, I didn't start one from scratch but helped to rebuild one from the bottom up. I also helped revise AOII's Corporation Manual a while back. I'll be honest, it's hard work but extremely rewarding. Feel free to PM if I can help with anything.