A strong wind surge blows down Sorority Row and a broken window swings open on the second story of an abandoned fraternity house – a house bolted with a padlock and lined with broken windows. Most of the windows are backed with black plywood to stop illegal trespassers from entering. But not this window. It swings open providing an easy path leading directly from the exterior balcony into a vacant room. And aside from the occasional unauthorized guest, no one has lived in the house for more than 10 years. But a discussion at a campus safety meeting Monday suggested access may be even easier than climbing through a second-story window of the house nestled between Zeta Tau Alpha and Alpha Kappa Theta sorority houses and formerly occupied by Delta Chi fraternity. Window vandalism was also brought up as a red flag for security awareness. After the Delta Chi’s relocated on the row, the University used the house for storage. A few things an illegal trespasser might stumble upon if they climbed through the top window include some yearbooks, furniture and more. Angela Guillory, Office of Greek Affairs director, said she has found the back door unlocked on a couple of occasions. But Guillory said there was never evidence of a break-in. This uninhabited house is not alone. Any observant onlooker walking down Sorority Row can easily spot another abandoned house, a house lined with more cracked windows and plywood boards adjacent to University Press building. Guillory said when the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity’s membership began to dwindle, their national chapter closed the fraternity nearly three years ago. Today, the house is bound with a padlock and still owned by Delta Sigma Phi with a mortgage held by Alpha Sigma Pi fraternity. And while wood panels forbid outside access into the house, one window is covered with a black tarp – behind which a glass pile rests on the window sill. Despite the tarp, Guillory said the house is secure and has never had an issue with a break-in. But Linda Williams, house director for Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, said police officers arrested a man during the winter break for knocking down the plywood and entering the house. “They might have been looking for a place to sleep,” she said. Williams said recent discussion between two men and the University revealed possible plans to turn the vacant building into a female dormitory. Guillory said there are no official plans for the houses because of cost issues. Eric Monday, associate vice chancellor of finance, said the University is responsible for costs related to the Delta Chi house but faces minimal financing to maintain the house. Located in the heart of the Greek community, Monday said these two houses are no exception to campus security. He said the special LSU Police Department details assigned to Sorority Row also patrol the two vacant houses. Guillory said the University is committed to making sure police officers walk around the two houses for security purposes. Guillory also said facility services increased the lights around the house and trimmed surrounding hedges. Maj. Lawrence Rabalais, LSUPD spokesman, said because the property is void of an alarm system the property remains a target for break-ins. But because of frequent LSUPD patrols, he said the potential for break-ins has been reduced.
—-Contact Natalie Messina at [email protected]