Wawa, Pike may be forced to relocate
University repeals sophomore housing exemption for fraternity members
"No student organization heard about it until after the fact," said Student Council junior class president and Sigma Phi Epsilon brother Prasanna Chandrasekhar.
"This conversation did not begin this year and has been held broadly with members of the Student Affairs division. It has been something we have discussed for the past several years but became convinced this year that the difference in living situations was too great to continue to offer an exemption," Boswell said.
"The main complaint was that it was such a short notice from their perspective, which is probably true. One way or another they had recruitment coming up and they had to tell freshmen. They wanted to prepare," Turning said.
"They did this the week before rush. We were trying to organize ... and they threw this enormous kink in the works," Chandrasekhar said.
Turning said that he had told fraternity presidents, advisors and consultants that the discontinuing of exemption was a possibility.
Kurz and Phi Kappa Alpha President Brad Garcia met with Turning, Boswell and Associate Dean of Students Dorothy Sheppard on Jan. 29.
Garcia declined to comment.
Boswell said that after this meeting, "I understood how this would affect them in the immediate future and was willing to allow current freshmen to receive a Greek exemption."
"They understood that it was a rather quick decision on their part, which is why they gave us the year extension," Kurz said.
Student Council Executive Board President and Wawa brother Scott Bierbryer also attended the meeting, where he said it was "heavily implied" that the administration planned to make on campus housing mandatory for juniors.
When asked, Boswell said there were no such plans.
A meeting was held on Feb. 8, when Boswell said, "I let them know that the exemption would be permitted for the current class but eliminated after that."
But Kurz said that at the previous meeting, representatives talked about "how even if this one-year extension is granted, which it was, we would still have that same problem next year."
Turning said the loss of exemption would have the largest affect on Wawa. "They rely on sophomores to live in their house. However ... they have 77 men in their roster, counting [current] seniors to sophomores. Even if they didn't have exemption, I don't think that place has more room than that," he said.
"The second sophomores can't live there, the rent goes up and no one can live there," Wawa brother and Student Council executive board member Andrew Gerba said.
Kurz disagreed. "I don't think losing the house is something that one or two low pledge classes would cause," he said, adding that the chapter would consider letting people from outside the fraternity rent space in the house.
According to Bierbryer, the average cost of a room in Wawa is $6,900 for a 12-month lease, which includes amenities. Kurz confirmed this number.
The cost of renting a room in SAE ranges from $425 to $700 per month, according to Funk.
"This conversation did not begin this year and has been held broadly with members of the Student Affairs division. It has been something we have discussed for the past several years but became convinced this year that the difference in living situations was too great to continue to offer an exemption," Boswell said.
"The main complaint was that it was such a short notice from their perspective, which is probably true. One way or another they had recruitment coming up and they had to tell freshmen. They wanted to prepare," Turning said.
"They did this the week before rush. We were trying to organize ... and they threw this enormous kink in the works," Chandrasekhar said.
Turning said that he had told fraternity presidents, advisors and consultants that the discontinuing of exemption was a possibility.
Kurz and Phi Kappa Alpha President Brad Garcia met with Turning, Boswell and Associate Dean of Students Dorothy Sheppard on Jan. 29.
Garcia declined to comment.
Boswell said that after this meeting, "I understood how this would affect them in the immediate future and was willing to allow current freshmen to receive a Greek exemption."
"They understood that it was a rather quick decision on their part, which is why they gave us the year extension," Kurz said.
Student Council Executive Board President and Wawa brother Scott Bierbryer also attended the meeting, where he said it was "heavily implied" that the administration planned to make on campus housing mandatory for juniors.
When asked, Boswell said there were no such plans.
A meeting was held on Feb. 8, when Boswell said, "I let them know that the exemption would be permitted for the current class but eliminated after that."
But Kurz said that at the previous meeting, representatives talked about "how even if this one-year extension is granted, which it was, we would still have that same problem next year."
Turning said the loss of exemption would have the largest affect on Wawa. "They rely on sophomores to live in their house. However ... they have 77 men in their roster, counting [current] seniors to sophomores. Even if they didn't have exemption, I don't think that place has more room than that," he said.
"The second sophomores can't live there, the rent goes up and no one can live there," Wawa brother and Student Council executive board member Andrew Gerba said.
Kurz disagreed. "I don't think losing the house is something that one or two low pledge classes would cause," he said, adding that the chapter would consider letting people from outside the fraternity rent space in the house.
According to Bierbryer, the average cost of a room in Wawa is $6,900 for a 12-month lease, which includes amenities. Kurz confirmed this number.
The cost of renting a room in SAE ranges from $425 to $700 per month, according to Funk.
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