Greeks seek old campus buildings

The University Architect's Office announced recently that the University will demolish a historic fraternity house. Some members of the greek community say the demolition of the house formerly used by Kappa Sigma is only part of a larger campus problem -- IU's lack of greek housing.\nWhile many fraternities and sororities have housing on Jordan Avenue or Third Street, others have had trouble finding a home.\n"Over a year ago, we tried to buy a building near the (Indiana Memorial Union) that has been vacant for some time," said Greg McBride, president of Phi Kappa Tau. "We were just told that it was going to be used for education, which is great, but it still hasn't been touched."\nPhi Kappa Tau is one of several greek organizations without houses. Other groups include Kappa Delta Rho and Phi Delta Theta.\nIU-Bloomington Dean of Students Richard McKaig said he believes there is a shortage of Greek housing on campus, but said there isn't any land available.\n"The University has a master plan for development, and under the current plan, there are no properties available," he said.\nIU officials said there are not currently any plans for the land occupied by the former fraternity house at 1503 E. Third St. -- a house Kappa Sigma used from the 1920s through 1964, when the University bought the house.\nThe house is listed on the city's historic survey. It was visited by IU law graduate and jazz icon Hoagy Carmichael, who was a member of Kappa Sigma before the fraternity moved into the house in 1926.\nSome members of the greek community said they believe having more greek housing would be a benefit.\n"There are too many fraternities off-campus right now," said Phi Kappa Tau member Jordan Loeb, "and it would strengthen the greek system to put the houses on campus."\nMcKaig said he also thinks there are advantages to housing greek groups on campus.\n"It puts them in less conflict with other housing in the community, and it gives them the chance to interact with other groups on campus," he said. McKaig added that it also makes it easier for fraternities and sororities to meet together and act as a group if all of the members live in one house.\nHe said there are several empty houses on campus, but said smaller fraternities, like some without houses, don't have the financial support to remodel a house. McKaig said the empty houses on campus are not in any condition to be lived in.\nLoeb added that letting fraternities use on-campus housing would make fraternity life safer. He said living in on-campus fraternity housing can help keep party-goers safer because the Interfraternity Council can keep closer tabs on illegal activity.\nMcBride said he doesn't understand why fraternities can't use existing empty housing on campus.\n"Off the top of my head, there are three abandoned houses around campus that need to be claimed, bought or rebuilt," he said. "The problem is getting the OK from IU to do that"