We all have taken trips down Alpha and Adelphi drives and seen the architectural wonders that line "Fraternity Row." Many memories have been made and lost in these run-down houses from the 1950s. In general, the area looks like a war-zone. As a member of the Greek community myself, I know that this is not a popular thing to hear from a fellow Greek; I mean, who really wants to be reminded that he lives in the ghetto?
The new Adelphi II Project, which will construct housing for six of ASU's 16 fraternities on south campus, will break ground this fall.
This should be exciting for the Greek community. Finally, housing will be available that is up-to-code and appealing to parents, students, faculty and basically all organisms endowed with the gift of sight.
ASU's decision to house Greeks in this new $13.4 million complex is a promising one. Fraternity and sorority members often whine that, "ASU hates Greeks." I really don't know what that means. With the exception of those days when someone in the community does something really stupid, I don't think administrators are sitting around plotting how they will drop a bomb on "Greek Life." After all, the construction of Adelphi II is the second major capital improvement for the Greeks in as many years.
A few other baseless arguments keep popping up in the Greek community.
"How can you put all of these guys together and expect them not to fight?" The answer that comes to mind is: act like grown-ups. If chapters are recruiting guys who have a need to hit one another, the problem definitely isn't in the housing. I don't see fistfights breaking out between the male residents of Palo Verde East and West to settle the age-old question of which dorm is better.
Another common complaint among Greeks is that ASU will begin to house freshmen in these complexes as soon as fraternities set to occupy the new Adelphi II can't come up with the cash.
Why shouldn't that be the case? Purchasing property that is subsequently rented to college students is a huge risk due to the unstable nature of student incomes. Thus, ASU is taking the risk for us, counting on someone other than the leaseholder to actually pay the monthly obligations for the facility.
Secondly, college students lack the assets to back any type of legal attack at debt collection. When you have a complex large enough to house a fraternity, or six, there are a finite number of groups that could possibly fulfill a lease obligation on this facility, should you ever need to seek a new source of renters.
In the case of Adelphi II, ASU assumes all risk associated with fraternity housing. If something goes wrong and your chapter loses its right to live on campus, ASU will be forced to find suitable replacement tenants. Nobody goes bankrupt and no house falls into disrepair, leaving an eyesore for all who visit the campus. Better yet, students will be able to occupy the beds and ensure that someone is getting a good college experience out of the space allotted for housing.
ASU is in a unique position. Since we lack the room for expansion without displacing serious numbers of people, we are forced to maximize our use of space. The decrepit fraternity rows are some of the most probable targets. With facilities in disrepair and the need for space hard to negate, ASU will have little trouble exercising eminent domain over the houses. When this happens, the chapters are basically forced to sell. Fighting the system will not yield positive results. Chapters will most likely receive more than market price for their property and are essentially guaranteed replacement housing.
Six fraternities are finally getting livable housing. Like it or not, the Greek community at ASU is a little different than the "traditional" Greek community you might find, in say, Alabama. Chapters here do not have the luxury of the mansions known to many U.S. schools. Here, fraternities live in houses that look like a strong wind will blow them down or that mold, rather than ivy, should be covering their walls. No big deal.
ASU fraternities also seem to think that ASU "owes it to them" to build houses for them. This is far from the case; on the contrary, this University is assuming a huge capital risk on behalf of a group of students who notoriously screw up.
If you don't like what ASU is offering, go to Tempe and find a place to situate a fraternity house through private means. Then, perhaps an administration begging you to occupy these facilities will seem like a better deal.
Matt Snowden is a finance senior. You can reach him at matthew.snowden@asu.edu.