Chapter house loss hurts Greek community

As a governing body, the Fraternity President’s Council has the responsibility to unite the fraternities into a forward-moving body of students, always seeking to improve the college community. Some fraternities provide a social outlet for students, a place where all undergraduates can come together and hang out on the weekends, listen to live music, dance and socialize. Other fraternities focus more on fostering an academic atmosphere to promote the flow of new ideas and the free exchange of opinions. Holding classes and recitations in our place of living, hosting literary competitions and events, tutoring college and high school students, and the countless hours of community service and philanthropy are among some of the contributions fraternities make to the community.Alpha Delta Phi is a fraternity that has excelled in all of these areas. As such, it is with great displeasure that we witness ADP, a fraternity that fulfills academic, social and philanthropic commitments to the college, forfeit the right to call the house it built its home. While many may not know the history of the Fraternity Quadrangle, it began over 70 years ago when UR moved from its campus on Prince Street to our current home at River Campus. At that time, George Eastman called upon the alumni groups of UR’s seven existing fraternities to construct a Fraternity Quadrangle, with the intent to provide a social aspect to college life at UR. Many people may question why fraternities are granted the privilege of living in one of the best residence locations on campus. Our houses are centrally located, with proximity to the Academic Quad, Todd Union, dining halls, the athletic center, etc. In essence, they are small mansions, with over 15 rooms in most houses and spacious common areas. It is certainly true that the houses of the Fraternity Quad are owned by the school, and therefore the administration has the ultimate say in the usage of the Quad. It is equally true, however, that these houses were built by the alumni of our respective fraternities. For nearly three-quarters of a century, ADP has occupied its beautiful house, and the history and traditions that have been created within its halls are priceless to each and every member. Barring serious disciplinary and/or academic allegations, neither of which Alpha Delta Phi is currently facing, the “eviction” of a fraternity from this richness in heritage is a shameless overexertion of administrative power. Perhaps what is most unsettling about this decision is the fact that the group replacing Alpha Delta Phi on the Fraternity Quad was formed just this semester. While living in our fraternity houses may be a “privilege” in the contractual sense, we are dismayed that such an infant organization was deemed to have more merit and tradition than an organization that was founded the very same year as this University in 1850. Alpha Delta Phi has reluctantly accepted this administrative decision with heavy hearts and a concern for their own legacy here at UR, as well as the rest of the Fraternity Quadrangle. ADP will still be recognized by the University and they will continue to contribute to this community in every way possible, but for a fraternity to lose its chapter house is to lose a party of its identity.