Pastor renovates house

Nestled in the woods on 17th Street, the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity house sat empty and unused. Dry leaves built up in the doorways, and tree branches littered the yard. \nThat is how it appeared to the Fellowship of Collegiate Christians Pastor Richard Burdett and his wife one day when they drove by it in 1997. Burdett said his wife looked at the house and said, "You know, somebody needs to claim that place for the Lord and his work."\nInspired by his wife's comment, Burdett has been working to get the house ready to re-open as a center for Christian students for almost three years. At first, the goal was to open the doors in the fall of 2000. Unable to complete the renovation in time, Burdett reset his sights on Fall 2001. \nIf the house, to be renamed the "Alpha House," opens as scheduled, it will be one of four offering alternative Christian housing to students.\nChristian groups offer housing at several Indiana campuses. The Fairway House at Purdue houses 51 men; its sister house, the Stewart House, houses 35 women. \nBurdett said he hopes the Alpha House will provide Christian students with another choice on the IU campus.\n"In a time when we are seeing so many situations like the recent death and other suspensions regarding our fraternities," Burdett said, "we feel like the Alpha House, if opened and operated like it could be, could be a wonderful alternative to talk and to show that good community living like this can be a positive thing."\nThe house will include a community center and living quarters for evangelical Christian students. It will house about 28 students for about $400 per month. The ground floor dining room will include a coffee house on Friday and Saturday nights with live music, comedy and food. \nAndy McAfee, a continuing education student, has been helping with the renovation for a year and a half.\nEarly in his college career, McAfee said he got tired of explaining to people why he didn't drink, and that he likes the idea of having a place to hang out where students don't drink. There might have been a place like Alpha House on campus then, he said, but he didn't know about it.\nChristian Student Fellowship\nThe Christian Student Fellowship has been offering Christian housing since the 1960s. \nWhile the mission of the houses is outreach, Fellowship Campus Minister Ritchie Hoffman said students often seek their housing for another reason.\n"Most people live here because their friends are here," Hoffman said, "and because they share the faith." \nHoffman said occasionally a student moves into one of the houses because of parental pressure.\nHe remembered a student who wanted to come to IU but would only be allowed if she agreed to live in Christian Student Fellowship housing. The student agreed, but she wasn't happy, and it created conflict in the community.\nToday, Hoffman said, most of the spaces go to upperclassmen who have already shown an active interest in the ministry, although occasionally an exception is made.\nIn the case of an apprehensive student who fears living on a secular campus instead of going to a religion-based college, Hoffman said Christian Student Fellowship might accept a freshman for housing.\nChristian Student Fellowship houses 26 students in four houses on Eighth Street, one block from campus. A single room costs $355 per month. Rates are reduced in the summertime when houses are harder to fill.\nSt. Paul's Catholic Center\nSt. Paul's Catholic Center has space for six students. While being involved with St. Paul's ministry is not required, senior Juan Jimenez said being in the center makes getting involved a lot easier. He serves as a Eucharistic minister and on the pastoral council.\nBut Jimenez, who has been living at St. Paul's for almost two years, has been mistaken for a priest more than once. \nFather Joe Moriarty, the archdiocese vocations director and St. Paul's sacramental assistant, owns black T-shirts that say "Good Guys Wear Black" on the front and "Roman Catholic Priesthood" on the back. \nHe gave one to Jimenez, who wore it under another shirt one day when he went to teach a class. The room got kind of hot, and Jimenez said he took off his outer shirt without thinking about it. Class continued for about 20 minutes before one of the students asked, "Are you a priest?"\nWhile he has considered priesthood after seeing the life the priests live at St. Paul's, Jimenez said he has no immediate plans to join the priesthood.\n"It's a beautiful life," Jimenez said. "So I'm truly open to it, but for now my studies in medicine, especially genetics, is my passion."\nJimenez remembers one of the housing perks -- Bill Armstrong Stadium is right in back of the building.\n"You could watch the game, hear the band play," Jimenez said. "Probably the best seats in the house were in my bedroom window. It was really neat."\nSt. Paul's houses up to six students for $300 per month. All utilities are paid, and students have access to free laundry facilities and off-street parking. \nUniversity Lutheran Student Center\nThe University Lutheran Student Center is home to five women who study at IU and attend the church next door. In exchange for a place to live, each pays a $400 utility fee per semester, attends church services and one Bible study per week and is host to visitors to the church. In addition, each cleans part of the house or church once a week.\nHanna Viljanen, a doctoral music student, also serves as the church organist.\n"The house is wonderful," Viljanen said. "When I walk in, I feel it is a home."\nAs Viljanen talks, two of her housemates talk and wash dishes in the kitchen. Something sizzles in a pan, and the radio plays in the background. Viljanen's job in the house is to keep the kitchen clean and empty the trash. She said she doesn't mind the work.\nSenior Maggie Jacobs said she wanted to live in the student center to strengthen her faith. She said being close to the church makes it easier to attend the activities. Living with others who share her beliefs, she said, gives her opportunities for spiritual growth she wouldn't get in a residence hall.\nIn the fall and spring, the group rakes leaves or plants flowers. Viljanen said she doesn't see the chores as an extra burden. Instead, being outside gives her a lift. \n"Instead of walking around," she said, "why don't you do something useful like collect the leaves?"\nViljanen said sometimes the residents invite a few friends over and watch a video or order pizza. \n"I have been fortunate to have four wonderful Christian women living with me," Viljanen said. "It has been a very good, supportive environment."\nWork at Alpha House Continues\nA tractor-trailer parked in back of the Alpha House sits filled with furniture students moved out of the building when renovation began about a year and a half ago. Heavy metal desks, round tables, chairs, shelves, dressers, bed frames and lightweight study desks fill the full-length trailer. \nMcAfee works alone, unloading what he can into what will be the dining room. He unloads the desk drawers and some of the lighter furniture. The heavier items will have to wait until some more people show up to help.\nMcAfee says he is one of a few people who still work at the Alpha House on\na regular basis getting it ready to open in the fall. He says that at the rate progress is going right now, he doesn't see how the house will be ready.\nBefore the house can open, it needs a new ceiling, new wiring, new heating ducts, a new boiler, and bathroom renovation.\nBurdett said although the work has not gone as quickly as he would have liked, the work that has been done has not been wasted. The group has already gutted the house and prepared it for work by professionals.\nIf you look at the project as an investment of relationship and love, it will pay off whether the house opens this fall or not, Burdett said.