Homeless Again?
The NPHC Fraternities Are Moving Out Once More
Aaron Stannard
Issue date: 11/30/05 Section: editor's picks
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Versus Magazine Online [Image Edition]
The National Pan-Hellenic Council is composed of nine international historically African American fraternities and sororities, seven of which have active chapters on Vanderbilt's campus. "Historically, neither the NPHC sororities nor fraternities have had a [permanent] residential space on [Vanderbilt's] campus," NPHC President Jade Dodds said. Last year, the presidents of the three NPHC sororities on campus (Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, and Zeta Phi Beta) were given one-bedroom apartments on Westside Row, a permanent housing situation. The NPHC fraternities, however, have spent the last four years under temporary circumstances on Greek Row. In the fall of 2002, the NPHC fraternities lived in what is now the Kappa Alpha house, where they remained for one year. Sigma Nu was suspended from campus for violating probation in 2002, and the NPHC fraternities moved into Sigma Nu's vacant house in 2003, where they have been ever since.
Kristen Torrey, Director of Greek Life at Vanderbilt, said, "When Sigma Nu was suspended, their long term lease for [their] facility was suspended with the understanding that the building would be returned to them when they were welcomed back on campus." Even though the charter for Sigma Nu's local chapter was suspended, Vanderbilt still has a commitment to honor Sigma Nu's lease agreement regarding the fraternity's house, which is currently occupied by the NPHC fraternities Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, and Phi Beta Sigma. The NPHC fraternities moved into Sigma Nu's house, with the knowledge that it would be a temporary home. Sigma Nu is returning to campus in the 2006-2007 school year, thus the time has come for the NPHC fraternities to find a new home yet again.
What are some solutions for the housing shortage? Greek Row was formed in the 1960s, and given the shortage of space surrounding it, there is not a feasible means of expanding and constructing more fraternity or sorority housing.
The National Pan-Hellenic Council is composed of nine international historically African American fraternities and sororities, seven of which have active chapters on Vanderbilt's campus. "Historically, neither the NPHC sororities nor fraternities have had a [permanent] residential space on [Vanderbilt's] campus," NPHC President Jade Dodds said. Last year, the presidents of the three NPHC sororities on campus (Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, and Zeta Phi Beta) were given one-bedroom apartments on Westside Row, a permanent housing situation. The NPHC fraternities, however, have spent the last four years under temporary circumstances on Greek Row. In the fall of 2002, the NPHC fraternities lived in what is now the Kappa Alpha house, where they remained for one year. Sigma Nu was suspended from campus for violating probation in 2002, and the NPHC fraternities moved into Sigma Nu's vacant house in 2003, where they have been ever since.
Kristen Torrey, Director of Greek Life at Vanderbilt, said, "When Sigma Nu was suspended, their long term lease for [their] facility was suspended with the understanding that the building would be returned to them when they were welcomed back on campus." Even though the charter for Sigma Nu's local chapter was suspended, Vanderbilt still has a commitment to honor Sigma Nu's lease agreement regarding the fraternity's house, which is currently occupied by the NPHC fraternities Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, and Phi Beta Sigma. The NPHC fraternities moved into Sigma Nu's house, with the knowledge that it would be a temporary home. Sigma Nu is returning to campus in the 2006-2007 school year, thus the time has come for the NPHC fraternities to find a new home yet again.
What are some solutions for the housing shortage? Greek Row was formed in the 1960s, and given the shortage of space surrounding it, there is not a feasible means of expanding and constructing more fraternity or sorority housing.