Phi Mu house to close due to deteriorating conditions

Hopkins's only sorority house will be closing its doors this year due to deteriorating conditions.

The University notified Phi Mu sisters two years ago that the Rogers House, a University-owned building on Greenway, would not be leased for residential use after June 30.

"The rent revenue generated by that building is not sufficient for annual upkeep," Greek Life Coordinator Rob Turning said.

He said sorority members living in the building currently pay the same rent that students pay for on-campus dorm rooms, with the chapter treasury making up for the cost of empty rooms.

"The cost of renovations is more than we can spend on housing," Dean of Student Life Susan Boswell said, adding that the current housing conditions, "are beyond what the Housing Department can fix."

According to Boswell, the house would need to be gutted. Installations would include a new roof, plumbing, heating and bathrooms, and that these renovations would not be cost effective.

Phi Mu has rented the Rogers House from Hopkins since 1992.

Of the 17 sorority members who currently reside in the Rogers House, 11 are sophomores.

According to Boswell, the University's decision to revoke the sophomore Greek exemption policy would probably have stopped sophomores from living in the house in the future.

Phi Mu President Ashley Carter declined to comment.

"Phi Mu national policy dictates that no member of Phi Mu speak to the press on behalf of the sorority," she said in an e-mail.

"Any time an organization loses a central hub, the effects can be devastating," said David Kurz, president of the Alpha Delta Phi, commonly known as Wawa.

"A house establishes an organization's presence on-campus and gives people something to identify you with. When people think of our frat, they think of our house," he said.

Turning also recognized the sense of camaraderie and bonding that a sorority house can instill in members, but he believes that the loss will have minimal financial and social effects on the sorority.

"Phi Mu never uses the house as a place to host events. They host their events off-campus," Turning said.

He also noted that only a small percentage of Phi Mu's approximately 120 members would be affected by the change.

"The house is a central location, giving everyone a place to meet, hang out and do things together," sophomore Phi Mu member Caitlyn Dennis said.

With no plans for replacing the Phi Mu house in the foreseeable future, sisters may be forced to reserve space on campus where they can hold meetings and possibly host events.

Because members are billed independently for rent, it should not affect the sorority financially.

The loss of the Rogers House has also renewed University interest in creating a "Greek village" or fraternity row that would relocate Hopkins's fraternity and sorority houses to one University-owned, off-campus location.

"We would love to specifically provide for Greeks and provide the space for storage, chapter meetings, and programming," Boswell said.

In the past, the University has brought in consultants and considered a Greek village model similar to that found at George Washington University.

However, in the past, the possibility of a "Greek village" was not well-received by fraternity and sorority members. Currently the idea is at little more than the conversation stage.

The Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and Phi Mu are currently the only two Greek organizations renting directly from the University.

Upon the expiration of Phi Mu's lease, the Rogers House may either be renovated and converted into office space or demolished, though plans remain uncertain.