The Transcript

Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: News

Media Credit: By Craig Ullom A rendering of the recently approved and upcoming renovations to the former fraternity houses on The Hill.

The Hill may soon house more than fraternities as plans to renovate the three empties on Williams Dr. were recently approved by The Board of Trustees.

The renovations, which are slated to begin in January, have been in the process for months,, said Vice President for Student

Affairs Craig Ullom.

Ullom said the empty buildings will be used as residences for general student occupancy next fall, specifically seniors interested in staying on-campus, but in future semesters, they may become open to other greek or residential groups.

"In the future, we are open to considering how we can use these residences for specific groups of students, like fraternities, sororities and [those living in] small living units-who want to live in a residential community," Ullom said.

Sorority leaders recently discussed the possibility of converting the renovated buildings into residential sorority houses instead.

"Nothing is set in stone, but there are a lot of options," said senior and President of Panhellenic Council Mery Kanashiro. Whether the houses are converted into sorority residences, SLUs or other fraternity houses, Kanashiro said it will be a long

process.

Sorority members admitted there would be advantages to living in residential houses.

"It would allow for the sororities to use their houses more for activities instead of just chapter meetings and recruitment

events," said junior Alexa Bean, an early childhood education major and member of Delta Gamma. "Moving onto The Hill Allison Bressler, the assistant director of student involvement for fraternity and sorority life, emphasized that the possibility of converting the houses into residential sorority houses is simply one of many options the university is considering.

"There are mixed opinions [as to who the buildings should house], and many different questions have been generated at this point in time," Bressler said.

In addition to serving as upperclassmen, fraternity, sorority or SLU housing, she said that "it could be used as swing space if another residential facility is renovated on campus."

"There is a team of administrators at the institution who are overseeing the renovations and working on all logistics of the housing plan for the unoccupied houses," Bressler said.

The renovation may lower the number of upperclassmen who are selected in the off-campus lottery by 100 because the renovated buildings will increase the University's housing capacity.

"This number is calculated using a number of factors including our housing capacity, retention of current students and the projected size of the entering class," Ullom said.

Sophomore Alex Bailey thought the renovations will be a positive change overall

"It will provide a new place for students to live that is freshly renovated," Bailey said.

Bressler said the best option right now for the empty buildings is for them to be occupied.

"They are beautiful structures and it is honestly sad to see them sitting there not being used."

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