Thursday, September 1, 2005
Pi Kappa Phi is growing concerned about its housing as the men of Alpha Tau Omega are making a push to return to campus.
Pi Kappa Phi currently leases the house at 1537 Tennessee Street from Alpha Tau Omega, which left the University of Kansas in 2001. Now that the fraternity is making an effort to return to campus, Pi Kappa Phi could soon be looking for another place to live.
“I really don’t try to think about it too much. I know it’s in the back of my mind,” said Zack Zimmerman, Wichita senior and president of Pi Kappa Phi.
The members of Alpha Tau Omega signed a three-year lease with two one-year renewals, allowing the men to live in the house for five years.
The lease will end in a year, and though the members of Alpha Tau Omega would like to re-establish their fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi would like to buy the house.
“We’re going to try and acquire the facility,” said Charlie Mitts, housing corporation president for Pi Kappa Phi. “Fraternity and sorority life buildings are hard to find in Lawrence.”
Zimmerman said it would be difficult for the group that owns the house to re-establish.
“It’s a tough situation,” Zimmerman said. “You want to see the greek community thriving at KU but at the same time if it could be a threat of our living conditions then I don’t want to see that happen.”
Despite Pi Kappa Phi’s plans, Alpha Tau Omega plans on moving back in to the house.
“The goal is within two years from now, we would really like to move in, coming that fall,” said Chad Sinclair, associate director of expansion for Alpha Tau Omega.
Alpha Tau Omega has started its first week of a five-week recruitment process. The group will hold informational meetings and provide information for interested students.
The fraternity’s goal is to attract 20 to 30 members to start a colony group, which would allow the members to work together to develop the future of the fraternity.
“We’ll stay as long as it takes, until we get the 20 guys,” Sinclair said.
Once the colony group is established, Alpha Tau Omega would aim to become a chapter beginning next fall with at least 40 new members. The group would then build up recruitment until it has about 75 members, which would be enough to fill the house.
Meanwhile, Pi Kappa Phi is furthering its presence in the greek community to gain support.
Zimmerman said the recruitment process for Alpha Tau Omega has only motivated his fraternity.
“Their trying to recruit gives us a bigger push to make more of an impact on campus,” he said. “Each year is kind of like you’re making yourself known on campus.”
The threat to Pi Kappa Phi’s current housing has elicited mixed reactions in the greek community.
“I’m a little concerned for Pi Kappa Phi because they are an outstanding chapter for us,” said Scott Shorten, president of the Interfraternity Council. “(Alpha Tau Omega) is absolutely welcomed back on campus. The more we can get greek life here the better.”
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