Greek chapters will compete to fill a pair of townhouses next fall, after two chapters were evicted for hazing-related violations in the last month.
More than a dozen chapters without on-campus Greek housing could compete for the 12 beds available after GW revoked housing for Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity and the Sigma Delta Tau sorority last month.
Center for Student Engagement officials and GW Housing staff will decide the chapter assignments Jan. 23.
GW Housing director Seth Weinshel said some repairs were needed before a new chapter could move in next fall, but declined to comment on specific issues with each house. Both buildings will remain empty for the rest of the spring.
Alpha Epsilon Pi was evicted from its 22nd Street townhouse in December for 17 counts of hazing, alcohol and drug violations as well as damages to the chapter’s townhouse. Six members of Sigma Delta Tau were also evicted from their F Street townhouse in December after the chapter was charged with hazing.
Greek housing applications require chapters to create risk management plans, have recommendation letters from their national organization and prove that they can maintain 95 percent occupancy of the space throughout the next academic year.
The 2015 application has the same requirements as the year before, though Interfraternity Council president Peyton Zere said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if GW officials paid extra attention to applications this year in the wake of hazing activity.
Half of the housing selection will rely on results from the 2013 Chapter Excellence rankings, which are based on a chapter’s performance in areas such as academics, leadership and philanthropy. Chapter judicial records for the last two years are also considered.
Jeffrey Liskov, president of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, said his chapter had “definitely considered” applying for one of the two townhouses. He said an on-campus house helps a chapter form tighter bonds with its members while bolstering its effort to recruit new members.
“I think at this University having a house gives a chapter its own place, it’s something that [the chapter] can be recognized by on campus,” Liskov said.
Greek housing comprises 500 beds on the Foggy Bottom Campus. The options include affinity housing in International House and space in townhouses with up to 28 beds.
