2008 Woodie Awards
Fraternities seek housing exemption
Brianna Mulligan
Issue date: 8/26/08 Section: Campus
Miami University's new sophomore residency program is underway, with 15 Miami fraternities applying for exemptions for sophomores living in their off-campus houses.
The residency program, which requires all second-year students to live on campus, will officially begin as members of the class of 2012 choose residence halls to live in during their sophomore year.
According to April Robles, interim director of the Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Leadership, Miami housing officials finalized an exemption in the spring of 2007 for fraternities who want new members to be able to live in houses during their sophomore year. The application for exemption had to be filed by May 2.
The application contains logistical information about the chapter and its housing, including identifying a faculty advisor and outlining fire capacity.
The fraternities were also required to meet a number of requirements in order to house sophomore students.
"The fraternities either have to have the facility damp, which means (students) over 21 may consume alcohol in the privacy of their room, or they can be dry," Robles said. "In either case, no alcohol is allowed in common spaces."
Other requirements include the selection of a house director or fraternity community assistant, who would help make a positive second-year experience within the chapter house.
While Miami is home to 28 fraternity chapters, only one more than half applied for the exclusion. Robles believes there are various reasons not all chapters will take part in the offered exception.
"Some chapters are in housing limbo (because) their facility isn't ready or they do not know where (sophomores) are going to be housed … and there are others who many not be in agreement with the demands of the exemption," Robles said.
The first-year class entering Miami in fall 2012 will be the first class required to take part in the sophomore residency program. The new policy is part of Miami's focus on sophomore students in order to increase the number of students who return each year to the university.
The residency program, which requires all second-year students to live on campus, will officially begin as members of the class of 2012 choose residence halls to live in during their sophomore year.
According to April Robles, interim director of the Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Leadership, Miami housing officials finalized an exemption in the spring of 2007 for fraternities who want new members to be able to live in houses during their sophomore year. The application for exemption had to be filed by May 2.
The application contains logistical information about the chapter and its housing, including identifying a faculty advisor and outlining fire capacity.
The fraternities were also required to meet a number of requirements in order to house sophomore students.
"The fraternities either have to have the facility damp, which means (students) over 21 may consume alcohol in the privacy of their room, or they can be dry," Robles said. "In either case, no alcohol is allowed in common spaces."
Other requirements include the selection of a house director or fraternity community assistant, who would help make a positive second-year experience within the chapter house.
While Miami is home to 28 fraternity chapters, only one more than half applied for the exclusion. Robles believes there are various reasons not all chapters will take part in the offered exception.
"Some chapters are in housing limbo (because) their facility isn't ready or they do not know where (sophomores) are going to be housed … and there are others who many not be in agreement with the demands of the exemption," Robles said.
The first-year class entering Miami in fall 2012 will be the first class required to take part in the sophomore residency program. The new policy is part of Miami's focus on sophomore students in order to increase the number of students who return each year to the university.
Be the first to comment on this story