Fraternity gets spot on the Row
Adi Joseph
Issue date: 5/6/08 Section: News
After housing one of the largest hazing controversies in university history, 3 Fraternity Row has new tenants.
Tau Kappa Epsilon was selected by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life to fill the house occupied by Delta Tau Delta until March 31, when the fraternity was expelled after violating the university's hazing policies. Just three years after returning to the campus, Tau Kappa Epsilon has found its way back to Fraternity Row.
"We weren't expecting to get a house," chapter president Matt Zambrotta said. "When this came up, we were pretty surprised."
Only two fraternities applied for the house, the other being Phi Kappa Psi.
Despite a troubled past with the university, Tau Kappa Epsilon was still awarded the house. The fraternity had its charter revoked by the university and was kicked out of its fraternity house in September 1995 for violating hazing and alcohol policies. When the fraternity re-formed at this university in 2005, all ties, including any means of contact, were cut with the members of the expelled chapter.
Tau Kappa Epsilon applied for housing in 2006, after Beta Theta Pi was expelled. Delta Chi was awarded the house at 6 Fraternity Row, but Zambrotta, a senior finance major and founding member of the re-formed chapter, said the experience of going through the application process taught his fraternity a lot.
"It showed us that, at the time, we really weren't ready," Zambrotta said.
He noted that since the initial application, Tau Kappa Epsilon has organized its budget much better, kept clear documentation of all fraternity events and improved its standing with the OFSL. He also noted that the Washington-area Tau Kappa Epsilon alumni group is the largest in the country and helped lobby for the chapter to get the house.
With 55 of 70 current members returning next year, Tau Kappa Epsilon has already filled the newly acquired house. Because of the late announcement, many of the members had already signed leases, but 30 members still signed up to fill the house's 33-resident maximum.
Tau Kappa Epsilon was selected by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life to fill the house occupied by Delta Tau Delta until March 31, when the fraternity was expelled after violating the university's hazing policies. Just three years after returning to the campus, Tau Kappa Epsilon has found its way back to Fraternity Row.
"We weren't expecting to get a house," chapter president Matt Zambrotta said. "When this came up, we were pretty surprised."
Only two fraternities applied for the house, the other being Phi Kappa Psi.
Despite a troubled past with the university, Tau Kappa Epsilon was still awarded the house. The fraternity had its charter revoked by the university and was kicked out of its fraternity house in September 1995 for violating hazing and alcohol policies. When the fraternity re-formed at this university in 2005, all ties, including any means of contact, were cut with the members of the expelled chapter.
Tau Kappa Epsilon applied for housing in 2006, after Beta Theta Pi was expelled. Delta Chi was awarded the house at 6 Fraternity Row, but Zambrotta, a senior finance major and founding member of the re-formed chapter, said the experience of going through the application process taught his fraternity a lot.
"It showed us that, at the time, we really weren't ready," Zambrotta said.
He noted that since the initial application, Tau Kappa Epsilon has organized its budget much better, kept clear documentation of all fraternity events and improved its standing with the OFSL. He also noted that the Washington-area Tau Kappa Epsilon alumni group is the largest in the country and helped lobby for the chapter to get the house.
With 55 of 70 current members returning next year, Tau Kappa Epsilon has already filled the newly acquired house. Because of the late announcement, many of the members had already signed leases, but 30 members still signed up to fill the house's 33-resident maximum.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
sarah
posted 5/06/08 @ 9:44 AM EST
With many of the campus sorority houses being renovated, wouldn't it have made more sense to house the currently homeless Alpha Chi Omega sorority in the empty row house? The university could continue using the house to proving a place for the sororities who are being kicked out of their houses and then when the renovations were completed, fill the house permanently with a fraternity. (Continued…)
M.O.
posted 5/06/08 @ 3:52 PM EST
Earning a spot on the row or the graham cracker is an honor and a privilege that the majority of the universities 56 greek organizations dont have. PHA sororites seem to have the highest priority amongst greek councils, seeing that 10 out of 14 chapters enjoy residing in university owned housing. (Continued…)
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