"Frat house" and "sorority house" redirect here. For the 1998 documentary, see Frat House. For the 1939 film, see Sorority House (film).
North American fraternity and sorority housing refers largely to the houses or housing areas in which fraternity and sorority members live and work together. In addition to serving as housing, fraternity and sorority housing may also serve to host social gatherings, meetings, and functions that benefit the community.
The first fraternity house seems to have been located at Alpha Epsilon of Chi Psi at the University of Michigan around 1846.[1] As fraternity membership was punishable by expulsion at many colleges at this time, the house was located deep in the woods.[2]
Fraternity chapter housing initially existed in two forms: lodges that served as meeting rooms and houses that had boarding rooms.[3] The lodges came first and were largely replaced by houses with living accommodations. Lodges were often no more than rented rooms above stores or taverns. The idea of substantial fraternity housing caught on quickly, but was accomplished with much greater ease in the North as southern college students had far less available money for construction.[4] The first fraternity house in the South was likely one rented by members of Beta Theta Pi at Hampden–Sydney College from at least 1856. Alpha Tau Omega was then the first fraternity to own a house in the South when, in 1880, its chapter at The University of the South acquired one.[5]
Early chapters of women's fraternities often rented houses where they could live together, usually with a chaperone. This was in a day before colleges and universities had housing available. The first chapter house built by a women's fraternity was the one Alpha Phi erected one at Syracuse University in 1886.[6]
Many colleges eventually came to support fraternity and sorority housing as they allowed increased enrollment without construction of costly dormitories. The nature of this benefit varied between campuses as some houses were paid for entirely by alumni, some were rented, and some were built on land leased from the college. It was further recognized that, while fraternities having chapter houses did not raise academic performance, it did have a tendency to keep it from falling as the chapters could not afford (financially) to have members leaving school and no longer paying for their rooms.[7]
The Inter-Sorority Congress of 1913 saw the establishment of uniform rules and regulations regarding life in chapter houses.[8]
The number of houses owned by fraternities and sororities grew from 772 in 1915 to 928 in 1920.[9]
Design
Fraternity and sorority houses range in size from three to twenty bedrooms or more. They can usually be identified by large Greek letters or flags on the front of the house. The larger houses generally have a large meeting room and/or dining room, commercial kitchen and study room. There is usually a lounge of some sort, access to which is often restricted to fully initiated members. Fraternities and sororities will also often maintain a chapter room, to which only initiates may ever be admitted and even whose existence may be kept secret. The walls of the house may be decorated with pictures of past chapter events, awards and trophies, decorative (or historic) paddles, or composite photos of members from past years.
In some fraternities or sororities, only the representatives live in the houses while in others the entire fraternity or sorority may live in the house. Other, larger fraternities or sororities may have more than one house to accommodate all of its members.
At many colleges, Greek houses are placed on the same street which is traditionally referred to as "Greek Row."[10][11]
Policies
Fraternity and sorority houses are typically owned either by a corporation of alumni, the sponsoring national organization, or the host college. For this reason, such houses may be subject to the rules of the host college, the national organization, or both.
Due to the increase in widely publicized alcohol-related deaths on college campuses, many national organizations and host colleges have implemented dry housing policies in which the consumption and possession of alcohol is prohibited on house property.[12] Some colleges make this policy conditional on overall grade performance.
In addition to banning alcohol, many university-owned fraternity and sorority houses have smoking bans in place inside.[13]
Because of residential requirements, some college campuses and national chapter administrations also prohibit members of the opposite sex on certain floors of fraternity and sorority houses.
^. www.chipsi.org. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
^Birdseye, Clarence Frank (1907), Individual Training in Our Colleges, New York: The MacMillan Company, p. 211, retrieved 2008-06-20
^Baird, William Raimond (1920), Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (9th ed.), New York: James T. Brown, p. 32, retrieved 2008-06-18. Baird's Manual is also available online here: The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
^Psi, Chi (1906), The Purple and Gold, vol. XXIII, Chi Psi Fraternity, p. 8, retrieved 2008-06-20
^. ato.org. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
^Martin, Ida Shaw (1919), The Sorority Handbook (6th ed.), Menasha, WI: George Banta Publishing, p. 36, retrieved 2008-06-18
^Jordan, David Starr (December 1909), The American College, vol. 1, New York: The Higher Education Association (published 1910), p. 176, retrieved 2008-06-20
^Martin, Ida Shaw (1919), The Sorority Handbook (6th ed.), Menasha, WI: George Banta Publishing, p. 43, retrieved 2008-06-18
^Baird, William Raimond (1920), Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (9th ed.), New York: James T. Brown, p. v, retrieved 2008-06-17
^"Beacon - Story County, IA / City of Ames". beaconbeta.schneidercorp.com.
^"Pi Kappa Phi, University of Alabama". Retrieved 2019-05-05.
^. Archived from the original on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
^. Archived from the original on 2011-08-18. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
^. Archived from the original on 2011-05-12. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
^. alphaomicronpi.org. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
^Carney, Jordain (February 27, 2009). . The Arkansas Traveler. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011.
^"On the boards — MILES ASSOCIATES". Archived from the original on 9 December 2013.
^. Archived from the original on 2012-02-26. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
^"Projects - Category: Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity House - Compton Construction Corporation". comptonconstruction.com.
^. Archived from the original on 2011-08-22. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
^. MW Builders. Archived from the original on 2013-11-09. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
^Bitterman, Abby (October 19, 2016). "OU Sigma Nu chapter building new house, physical presence on campus". OU Daily.
^"Two Fraternity Houses Celebrated on Campus This Weekend". University of Arkansas News. April 27, 2015.
^. www.omegafundraising.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2006. Retrieved 11 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^Dodson, Don (June 14, 2010). "Fraternities rehabbing, rebuilding houses with newest touches on UI campus". The News-Gazette.
^"The House | Sigma Chi at UNM". unmsigmachi.com. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
^"Delta Rho-Arkansas Housing Fund". Alpha Chi Omega. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
^. hhbeng.com. Archived from the original on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2013-11-20.
^"Fraternity right at home in church". Times Union. 18 February 2011.
^RealtyTrac, Real Estate. "1801 E 1st St, Tucson, AZ 85719 - 158977215 | RealtyTrac". www.realtytrac.com. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
^"University of Arkansas Kappa Sigma Fraternity House". Kinco Constructors. 6 May 2015.
March 20, 2023
north, american, fraternity, sorority, housing, frat, house, sorority, house, redirect, here, 1998, documentary, frat, house, 1939, film, sorority, house, film, refers, largely, houses, housing, areas, which, fraternity, sorority, members, live, work, together. Frat house and sorority house redirect here For the 1998 documentary see Frat House For the 1939 film see Sorority House film North American fraternity and sorority housing refers largely to the houses or housing areas in which fraternity and sorority members live and work together In addition to serving as housing fraternity and sorority housing may also serve to host social gatherings meetings and functions that benefit the community Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house at Lafayette College in Easton PennsylvaniaPhi Delta Theta house at University of Illinois in Urbana IllinoisGamma Phi Beta house at the University of Oregon in Eugene Oregon Contents 1 History 2 Design 3 Policies 4 Notable large chapter houses 5 See also 6 ReferencesHistory EditThe first fraternity house seems to have been located at Alpha Epsilon of Chi Psi at the University of Michigan around 1846 1 As fraternity membership was punishable by expulsion at many colleges at this time the house was located deep in the woods 2 Fraternity chapter housing initially existed in two forms lodges that served as meeting rooms and houses that had boarding rooms 3 The lodges came first and were largely replaced by houses with living accommodations Lodges were often no more than rented rooms above stores or taverns The idea of substantial fraternity housing caught on quickly but was accomplished with much greater ease in the North as southern college students had far less available money for construction 4 The first fraternity house in the South was likely one rented by members of Beta Theta Pi at Hampden Sydney College from at least 1856 Alpha Tau Omega was then the first fraternity to own a house in the South when in 1880 its chapter at The University of the South acquired one 5 Early chapters of women s fraternities often rented houses where they could live together usually with a chaperone This was in a day before colleges and universities had housing available The first chapter house built by a women s fraternity was the one Alpha Phi erected one at Syracuse University in 1886 6 Many colleges eventually came to support fraternity and sorority housing as they allowed increased enrollment without construction of costly dormitories The nature of this benefit varied between campuses as some houses were paid for entirely by alumni some were rented and some were built on land leased from the college It was further recognized that while fraternities having chapter houses did not raise academic performance it did have a tendency to keep it from falling as the chapters could not afford financially to have members leaving school and no longer paying for their rooms 7 The Inter Sorority Congress of 1913 saw the establishment of uniform rules and regulations regarding life in chapter houses 8 The number of houses owned by fraternities and sororities grew from 772 in 1915 to 928 in 1920 9 Design EditFraternity and sorority houses range in size from three to twenty bedrooms or more They can usually be identified by large Greek letters or flags on the front of the house The larger houses generally have a large meeting room and or dining room commercial kitchen and study room There is usually a lounge of some sort access to which is often restricted to fully initiated members Fraternities and sororities will also often maintain a chapter room to which only initiates may ever be admitted and even whose existence may be kept secret The walls of the house may be decorated with pictures of past chapter events awards and trophies decorative or historic paddles or composite photos of members from past years In some fraternities or sororities only the representatives live in the houses while in others the entire fraternity or sorority may live in the house Other larger fraternities or sororities may have more than one house to accommodate all of its members At many colleges Greek houses are placed on the same street which is traditionally referred to as Greek Row 10 11 Policies EditFraternity and sorority houses are typically owned either by a corporation of alumni the sponsoring national organization or the host college For this reason such houses may be subject to the rules of the host college the national organization or both Due to the increase in widely publicized alcohol related deaths on college campuses many national organizations and host colleges have implemented dry housing policies in which the consumption and possession of alcohol is prohibited on house property 12 Some colleges make this policy conditional on overall grade performance In addition to banning alcohol many university owned fraternity and sorority houses have smoking bans in place inside 13 Because of residential requirements some college campuses and national chapter administrations also prohibit members of the opposite sex on certain floors of fraternity and sorority houses Notable large chapter houses EditRank Size Fraternity or Sorority University Affiliation Location Year Completed References1 55 500 sq ft 5 160 m2 Phi Gamma Delta Indiana University Bloomington Indiana 2016 14 2 46 356 sq ft 4 306 6 m2 Kappa Kappa Gamma University of Arkansas Fayetteville Arkansas 2013 15 3 43 000 sq ft 4 000 m2 Delta Delta Delta University of Arkansas Fayetteville Arkansas 2019 16 4 42 000 sq ft 3 900 m2 Pi Beta Phi University of Arkansas Fayetteville Arkansas 2016 17 5 40 352 sq ft 3 748 8 m2 Delta Chi Florida State University Tallahassee Florida 2005 18 6 tie 40 000 sq ft 3 700 m2 Kappa Delta University of Arkansas Fayetteville Arkansas 2019 18 6 tie 40 000 sq ft 3 700 m2 Alpha Chi Omega University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Alabama 2014 19 6 tie 40 000 sq ft 3 700 m2 Delta Upsilon University of Missouri Columbia Missouri 2015 20 6 tie 40 000 sq ft 3 700 m2 Gamma Phi Beta University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Alabama 2015 21 10 39 500 sq ft 3 670 m2 Pi Kappa Alpha Florida State University Tallahassee Florida 2005 22 11 39 444 sq ft 3 664 5 m2 Phi Mu University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Alabama 2016 23 12 39 264 sq ft 3 647 7 m2 Sigma Pi Florida State University Tallahassee Florida 2005 24 25 13 38 853 sq ft 3 609 6 m2 FarmHouse Oklahoma State University Stillwater Oklahoma 2012 26 14 38 000 sq ft 3 500 m2 Pi Kappa Alpha Oklahoma State University Stillwater Oklahoma 2017 27 15 36 884 sq ft 3 426 6 m2 Delta Tau Delta Indiana University Bloomington IN 2016 28 16 36 818 sq ft 3 420 5 m2 Alpha Gamma Rho Oklahoma State University Stillwater Oklahoma 2015 29 17 35 000 sq ft 3 300 m2 Phi Kappa Psi University of Kansas Lawrence Kansas 2005 30 18 34 800 sq ft 3 230 m2 Delta Gamma University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Alabama 2012 31 19 34 000 sq ft 3 200 m2 Alpha Delta Pi Oklahoma State University Stillwater Oklahoma 2021 32 20 33 783 sq ft 3 138 5 m2 Alpha Tau Omega University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Alabama 2011 33 21 33 557 sq ft 3 117 5 m2 Chi Omega University of Missouri Columbia Missouri 2013 34 22 32 445 sq ft 3 014 2 m2 Beta Theta Pi University of Missouri Columbia Missouri 2012 35 23 32 400 sq ft 3 010 m2 Delta Tau Delta Iowa State University Ames Iowa 2015 36 24 tie 31 000 sq ft 2 900 m2 Pi Kappa Phi University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Alabama 2014 37 24 tie 31 000 sq ft 2 900 m2 Phi Kappa Psi Indiana University Bloomington Indiana 2014 38 26 30 534 sq ft 2 836 7 m2 Kappa Alpha Theta Oklahoma State University Stillwater Oklahoma 39 27 tie 30 000 sq ft 2 800 m2 Pi Kappa Alpha Missouri Science amp Technology Rolla Missouri 2007 40 27 tie 30 000 sq ft 2 800 m2 Alpha Omicron Pi University of Arkansas Fayetteville Arkansas 2009 41 42 29 29 100 sq ft 2 700 m2 Kappa Sigma University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 2014 43 30 tie 29 000 sq ft 2 700 m2 Phi Gamma Delta University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 2008 44 30 tie 29 000 sq ft 2 700 m2 Alpha Tau Omega Kansas State University Manhattan Kansas 2013 45 32 28 500 sq ft 2 650 m2 Kappa Sigma Missouri Science amp Technology Rolla Missouri 2011 46 33 28 070 sq ft 2 608 m2 Sigma Sigma Sigma University of Missouri Columbia Missouri 2012 47 34 28 051 sq ft 2 606 0 m2 Sigma Nu University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 2017 48 35 28 000 sq ft 2 600 m2 Pi Kappa Alpha University of Arkansas Fayetteville Arkansas 2015 49 36 tie 27 000 sq ft 2 500 m2 Pi Kappa Alpha University of Illinois Champaign Illinois 2011 50 51 36 tie 27 000 sq ft 2 500 m2 Sigma Chi University of New Mexico Albuquerque New Mexico 1951 52 38 26 600 sq ft 2 470 m2 Alpha Chi Omega University of Arkansas Fayetteville Arkansas 2018 53 39 26 500 sq ft 2 460 m2 Sigma Chi University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Alabama 2012 54 40 26 000 sq ft 2 400 m2 Phi Sigma Kappa Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy New York 2011 55 41 25 814 sq ft 2 398 2 m2 Phi Gamma Delta University of Arizona Tucson Arizona 2004 56 42 25 425 sq ft 2 362 1 m2 Sigma Alpha Epsilon University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Ohio 1925 57 43 25 000 sq ft 2 300 m2 Kappa Sigma University of Arkansas Fayetteville Arkansas 1931 58 See also EditCategory Fraternity and sorority housesReferences Edit About Chi Psi Chi Psi Fraternity www chipsi org Archived from the original on March 18 2018 Retrieved 2018 01 10 Birdseye Clarence Frank 1907 Individual Training in Our Colleges New York The MacMillan Company p 211 retrieved 2008 06 20 Baird William Raimond 1920 Baird s Manual of American College Fraternities 9th ed New York James T Brown p 32 retrieved 2008 06 18 Baird s Manual is also available online here The Baird s Manual Online Archive homepage Psi Chi 1906 The Purple and Gold vol XXIII Chi Psi Fraternity p 8 retrieved 2008 06 20 ATO Facts amp Firsts ato org Archived from the original on October 1 2012 Retrieved 21 August 2012 Martin Ida Shaw 1919 The Sorority Handbook 6th ed Menasha WI George Banta Publishing p 36 retrieved 2008 06 18 Jordan David Starr December 1909 The American College vol 1 New York The Higher Education Association published 1910 p 176 retrieved 2008 06 20 Martin Ida Shaw 1919 The Sorority Handbook 6th ed Menasha WI George Banta Publishing p 43 retrieved 2008 06 18 Baird William Raimond 1920 Baird s Manual of American College Fraternities 9th ed New York James T Brown p v retrieved 2008 06 17 Greek Row staff Tritima Achigbu The Shorthorn Living on Greek Row provides convenience community and affordability in living on campus The Shorthorn Schackner Bill 2000 08 18 Fraternity houses turn off the taps and sober up Pittsburgh Post Gazette Smoking Ban The Chronicle of Higher Education 52 38 A28 May 26 2006 Newsroom Osu Stillwater New Sigma Chi house going up taking shape Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority University of Arkansas Brinkmann Constructors Archived from the original on 2013 08 07 Retrieved 2013 11 13 University of Arkansas Tri Delta House Expansion and Renovation Celebrated University of Arkansas News Retrieved 2021 03 29 Arkansas Alpha Pi Beta Phi History history pibetaphi org a b Kappa Delta Details CDI Contractors 2019 09 22 UA Cribs Alpha Chi Omega The Odyssey Online 2014 09 22 Retrieved 2018 11 20 Delta Upsilon Fraternity House LayneCo Construction Services lcsconstruct com Brown Melissa 8 August 2013 New University of Alabama house largest in sorority s national history al com Listing www maddogweb com Flanagan Ben 13 October 2016 Take a look inside the new 13 million Phi Mu sorority house at the University of Alabama www al com Listing www maddogweb com House Sigma Pi at FSU www fsusigmapi com Archived from the original on 2018 08 22 Retrieved 2018 08 22 buildfh www buildfh com Archived from the original on 2018 08 18 Retrieved 2019 01 11 Oklahoma State University s The Grecian Spring 2017 fraternity and sorority affairs Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2017 10 05 Retrieved 2017 02 01 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Alpha Gamma Rho Pi Chapter progress Archived from the original on 7 November 2013 Phi Kappa Psi Focus www2 pursuantgroup com Archived from the original on 2012 07 22 Retrieved 2011 12 08 Archived copy Archived from the original on 2013 04 23 Retrieved 2013 05 23 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Morris Callie August 2021 Alpha Delta Pi Sorority Celebrates New Chapter House At OSU ktul com Alpha Tau Omega University of Alabama WAR Construction Inc www warconstruction com Chi Omega Sorority House MW Builders Archived from the original on 2013 11 09 Retrieved 2013 11 09 TreanorHL www treanorarchitects com Beacon Story County IA City of Ames beaconbeta schneidercorp com Pi Kappa Phi University of Alabama Retrieved 2019 05 05 Phi Kappa Psi Foundation Indiana Beta Chapter Housing Campaign Archived from the original on 2014 02 21 Retrieved 2014 02 03 Beta Zeta Oklahoma State Univ Kappa Alpha Theta Housing Archived from the original on 2011 08 18 Retrieved 2011 06 18 PiKa Our House Archived from the original on 2011 05 12 Retrieved 2011 06 18 University of Arkansas AOII House alphaomicronpi org Archived from the original on 2011 09 27 Retrieved 2011 06 18 Carney Jordain February 27 2009 Alpha Omicron Pi Hosts Open House This Weekend The Arkansas Traveler Archived from the original on May 22 2011 On the boards MILES ASSOCIATES Archived from the original on 9 December 2013 Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity House University of Oklahoma Timberlake Construction Archived from the original on 2012 02 26 Retrieved 2012 02 13 Projects Category Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity House Compton Construction Corporation comptonconstruction com Kappa Sigma at Missouri Science amp Technology House Plans Archived from the original on 2011 08 22 Retrieved 2011 06 18 Tri Sigma Sorority House MW Builders Archived from the original on 2013 11 09 Retrieved 2013 11 09 Bitterman Abby October 19 2016 OU Sigma Nu chapter building new house physical presence on campus OU Daily Two Fraternity Houses Celebrated on Campus This Weekend University of Arkansas News April 27 2015 Archived copy www omegafundraising com Archived from the original on 1 January 2006 Retrieved 11 January 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Dodson Don June 14 2010 Fraternities rehabbing rebuilding houses with newest touches on UI campus The News Gazette The House Sigma Chi at UNM unmsigmachi com Retrieved 2018 02 28 Delta Rho Arkansas Housing Fund Alpha Chi Omega Retrieved 2018 11 20 New Sigma Chi Fraternity House hhbeng com Archived from the original on 2014 02 21 Retrieved 2013 11 20 Fraternity right at home in church Times Union 18 February 2011 RealtyTrac Real Estate 1801 E 1st St Tucson AZ 85719 158977215 RealtyTrac www realtytrac com Retrieved 2018 09 24 ucsae org www ucsae org University of Arkansas Kappa Sigma Fraternity House Kinco Constructors 6 May 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title North American fraternity and sorority housing amp oldid 1140676257, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
