Despite noise and party complaints, Greek row not coming soon

Graphic by Jackie Cohen

Despite persistent pressure from students and neighbors, there will be no Chapman-sanctioned Greek row in the near future, said Jerry Price, vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students.

“It’s not that (the administration is) opposed to the idea, it’s just that the things that really have to be in place for it to get serious consideration haven’t been in place,” Price said. “Space is such a premium in Old Towne, and we’ve had such pressing academic needs – Musco (Center for the Arts), the Center for Science and Technology, Dodge (College of Film and Media Arts).”

With 35 percent of students involved in Greek life and limited on-campus housing, students often attend parties in residences close to campus, causing issues with noise and parking. Many students believe that a Greek row would lessen the tension between students and neighbors.

“I think the community would be content (if a Greek row was built), especially with the ordinance,” said Aurelio De Anda, a junior screen acting major and member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. “If every Greek chapter lived together in a separate section, then (the neighbors’) complaints would be reduced.”

The Orange City Council is scheduled to vote on amendments that would strengthen the city’s current noise ordinance May 10. The first reading of the changes was unanimously approved April 12.

“Bringing the party scene at Chapman all onto one street would really solve the problem,” said Gabriella Wolcott, a freshman political science major and member of Kappa Alpha Theta. “Then, the only neighbors you have are Greek and you’re not bothering anyone.”

Wolcott also said that concentrated Greek housing in close proximity to campus would provide the Greek population with a sense of community it now lacks.

“I think having a (fraternity or sorority) house brings a sense of unity, and it solves the whole issue of Greek organizations having to find a place on campus to do their events,” Wolcott said.

Price, however, said he worries that Greek housing would create division between students, rather than bringing them together.

“We have good inter-chapter relationships. I fear having chapter houses could stress that,” Price said. “Pikes (Pi Kappa Alpha) and Phi Delts (Phi Delta Theta) and FIJIs (Phi Gamma Delta) who are friends can go own a house together. (With Greek housing), you can’t live with your best friend or your teammate, you have to live at the chapter’s house.”

Nate Friend, the president of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, disagreed.

“I actually think it would promote more inter-Greek harmony with living and harmony and culture,” Friend said. “In terms of events, there could be room for inter-Greek block parties and barbecues and stuff like that.”

However, Phi Delta Theta has never formally brought the idea of Greek housing before the administration, Friend said.

“It’s something that we’ve talked about with other Greek orgs, but I don’t think it’s our place to go and ask that of the university,” Friend said. “I don’t want to sound lazy, but it’s not really one of our priorities right now. There’s only so much we can fight for something that probably won’t happen in our four years here.”

Friend also noted that, if the housing was school-sanctioned, Phi Delta Theta wouldn’t be able to throw parties.

“We have alcohol free-housing for (Phi Delta Theta’s) Greek housing,” Friend said. “If this housing would be school-approved, then our national headquarters wouldn’t allow us to throw parties or have alcohol in the house.”

Despite neighbors’ concerns, Price said that the university didn’t necessarily see a need, or an ability, to build Greek housing in the near future.

“Our Greek system right now is really quite healthy without the housing,” Price said. “And right now, we’re talking about 18 houses. Where in the world would we put 18 houses? If we had a footprint that would hold that many houses, wouldn’t we be better off building residential areas that would house more students than just those 18 houses?”