Rumors about the old Delta Chi house have surfaced amid its silence, leading to much confusion and uncertainty about its future.
The house has been empty since December 2002, when the Delta Chi fraternity was removed from campus.
According to an April 29, 2003 The Reveille article, Delta Chi was removed from campus “after the Dean of Students’ Office finished an investigation on allegations of hazing.”
Patti Exner, the College of Education associate dean and Zeta Tau Alpha adviser, said there were reports of people living in the house that circulated as rumors.
Exner said the concern surrounding the house lead to her participating in an informal committee to seek information from the University about plans for the house.
She said Angela Guillory, Office of Greek Affairs associate director, helped facilitate a meeting between members of the Panhellenic Council and Facility Services to meet and discuss rumors surrounding the house.
Guillory said she facilitated the meeting at the request of Kappa Alpha Theta and Zeta Tau Alpha.
The sorority ladies had been complaining that the house was an eyesore, she said. It was just time for someone to do something.
Guillory said she and the two sororities met with Emmett David, Facility Service’s director of facility development.
She said David told the group that the Delta Chi property is the responsibility of the chancellor’s office.
Guillory said once the chancellor made Facility Services aware of the future of the building, Chancellor Emmert will notify the office of Greek Affairs.
She said in the meantime, the house has been secured for the protection and safety of the women living in the sorority houses near the Delta Chi house.
Guillory said only the chancellor knows the fate of the house.
Victor Felts, assistant dean of Greek Affairs, said the fate of the house is out of the hands of Greek Affairs.
“At this point I don’t think anyone is sure,” Felts said.
Felts said it is possible that one of the windows was unsecured, leading people to believe someone could get in the house.
Although Guillory said she does know if a window on the house was unsecured, she believes a gentleman was living in the house.
The house has been secured by Facility Services, she said.
Ray Dudley, Facility Service’s assistant director of facility maintenance, said he has been instructed to ensure the security of the house.
David said he walked the grounds of the Delta Chi house when the two sorority houses next to it expressed concerns.
He said he identified blown-out lights and shrubs that blocked visibility around the house.
Facility Services replaced the lights and cut down the shrubs to increase visibility, David said.
He said the old Delta Chi house was already locked down and as far as it looks, New locks have not been added to the house.
David said to the best of his knowledge, the house is secure.
He said it is not uncommon for Facility Services to patrol vacated buildings on the University’s campus and Facility Services has a committee that does security checks of these properties once a month to ensure student safety.
Exner said she does feel the University has taken steps to secure the house, but she is always concerned about the safety of her girls.
As for the future of the house, Guillory said, “There’s nothing on the table regarding its future.”
Chancellor Mark Emmert could not be reached before press time.