Fraternity houses reopen on campus

The boarded-up, deserted fraternity homes on Third and 10th streets are perhaps the perfect depiction of a haunted house. But they were once full of life. \nThese buildings, in addition to the abandoned lot on North Jordan Avenue, were the homes of Delta Chi and Beta Theta Pi fraternities in the 1990s. Since then, these greek chapters, among others, have been expelled from campus. \nBut it's not all bad news. Some chapters -- including Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Phi Delta Theta -- have plans to recolonize next fall. Some, like Sigma Phi Epsilon, will be back next spring. And one -- Beta Theta Pi -- regrouped just two years after its expulsion in fall 2003. \nDean of Students Richard McKaig said since then, IU's oldest and perhaps most celebrated fraternity has made strides to regain honor to its name on campus.\nBeta Theta Pi was first instated at IU in 1845 and has donated several gifts to the campus, including the medallion the University president dons at graduation and induction ceremonies. Having the chapter back on campus pleases McKaig.\nHe spoke of the long and effectual relationship between Beta Theta Pi and IU and called its exclusion from campus "a very unfortunate situation."\nMcKaig said hazing and underage drinking -- more formally called "risk management" -- are the primary reasons for expulsions of fraternity chapters, including Beta Theta Pi. \nWhen a chapter is administratively moved from campus, it's not typical for IU to call the shots, it's the national organization of the individual chapters, McKaig said.\nLike Beta Theta Pi hopes to do, chapters can usually return to campus with permission from their national organization. \nAlex Shortle, IU Student Association president and one of the "founding fathers" of Beta Theta Pi in 2003, said regaining a position on campus was a difficult but important process.\nHe attended the organization's national convention in Arizona in the summer of 2003 with other Beta executive board members where IU's chapter of the fraternity was reinstated and Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., a Beta alumnus, spoke on IU's behalf.\n"It was amazing," Shortle said.\nSince then, he and his brothers have made efforts to live by the fraternity's standards, which include keeping the house free of alcohol, Shortle said. \nHe said the chapter has been attempting to keep alumni relations strong and recruit new members. The chapter has also recently purchased the old Delta Chi house on North Jordan Avenue and plans to begin remodeling it for use for fall 2006. The University has purchased the old Beta Theta Pi house for its own uses, preventing the re-colonized chapter to reclaim it.\nInterfraternity Council President and senior Jason Growe said IU's male greek system as a whole is making strides in promoting a positive image regarding fraternities.\nHe said a new procedure where any alcohol brought into a greek home would have to be "checked in" and distributed only to people 21 years and older is being put into effect. In addition, a party patrol, which includes members of the IFC executive board, attends fraternity functions Thursday through Saturday evenings and ensures that they're following safety procedures, said IFC vice president and senior Omear Khalid.\nShortle said they see only positive things in the future for Beta Theta Pi and the greek system at IU.\n"The effort is there," Shortle said. "There's a lot of movement to clear up stereotypes created in the '90s. I believe in the strength of the greek system"