A controversial University decision to revoke the sophomore Greek housing exemption may make it difficult for several fraternities to keep their houses, according to some chapter presidents.
Attempts to overturn the decision by students resulted in the exemption being extended for a year beyond the original date.
"As the University has added more housing and upgraded current housing in regards to amenities and security, we can no longer in good conscience justify the Greek exemption as a legitimate alternative to University housing for sophomores," Dean of Student Life Susan Boswell said.
"Things are going to have to change in the future so we can afford our mortgage," said David Kurz, president of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity more commonly known as Wawa.
Coordinator of Greek Life Rob Turning said that the decision was ultimately up to Boswell.
He said that fraternities "definitely came to me first with the complaint, but I can't make the decision."
Both Turning and Kurz said they were notified of the decision on Jan. 23.
Kurz said that the reason Boswell made the decision was because "sophomores living in a fraternity house do not have the same experience as someone living on campus, which is very obvious ... she just doesn't see the benefits like we do."
Turning said that the original reason for the exemption was to create space in the dorms, but with the construction of Charles Commons and other housing this was no longer an issue.
He added that he told fraternity presidents, advisors and consultants that the discontinuing of exemption was a possibility.
"We've been discussing it on and off for the past two years," he said.
"I definitely heard that it was a consideration. I hadn't taken part in any meetings with administrators but the possibility was on the horizon," Kurz said.
But Jack Funk, president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), said that he had no idea that administrators were planning to discontinue sophomore exemption.
"No student organization heard about it until after the fact," said Student Council junior class president and Sigma Phi Epsilon brother Prasanna Chandrasekhar.
"This conversation did not begin this year and has been held broadly with members of the Student Affairs division. It has been something we have discussed for the past several years but became convinced this year that the difference in living situations was too great to continue to offer an exemption," Boswell said.
"The main complaint was that it was such a short notice from their perspective, which is probably true. One way or another they had recruitment coming up and they had to tell freshmen. They wanted to prepare," Turning said.
"They did this the week before rush. We were trying to organize ... and they threw this enormous kink in the works," Chandrasekhar said.
Turning said that he had told fraternity presidents, advisors and consultants that the discontinuing of exemption was a possibility.
Kurz and Phi Kappa Alpha President Brad Garcia met with Turning, Boswell and Associate Dean of Students Dorothy Sheppard on Jan. 29.
Garcia declined to comment.
Boswell said that after this meeting, "I understood how this would affect them in the immediate future and was willing to allow current freshmen to receive a Greek exemption."
"They understood that it was a rather quick decision on their part, which is why they gave us the year extension," Kurz said.
Student Council Executive Board President and Wawa brother Scott Bierbryer also attended the meeting, where he said it was "heavily implied" that the administration planned to make on campus housing mandatory for juniors.
When asked, Boswell said there were no such plans.
A meeting was held on Feb. 8, when Boswell said, "I let them know that the exemption would be permitted for the current class but eliminated after that."
But Kurz said that at the previous meeting, representatives talked about "how even if this one-year extension is granted, which it was, we would still have that same problem next year."
Turning said the loss of exemption would have the largest affect on Wawa. "They rely on sophomores to live in their house. However ... they have 77 men in their roster, counting [current] seniors to sophomores. Even if they didn't have exemption, I don't think that place has more room than that," he said.
"The second sophomores can't live there, the rent goes up and no one can live there," Wawa brother and Student Council executive board member Andrew Gerba said.
Kurz disagreed. "I don't think losing the house is something that one or two low pledge classes would cause," he said, adding that the chapter would consider letting people from outside the fraternity rent space in the house.
According to Bierbryer, the average cost of a room in Wawa is $6,900 for a 12-month lease, which includes amenities. Kurz confirmed this number.
The cost of renting a room in SAE ranges from $425 to $700 per month, according to Funk.
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