Editor's note: This is the fifth in a multi-part series focusing on the future of residential life at Dartmouth.
The luxurious new dormitories slated to open this fall will effectively alleviate the sophomore housing crunch, but they could leave empty beds in their wake, especially in Greek and affinity houses.
Greek houses have had difficulties in the past finding enough boarders to fill their beds. In the fall of 2003, hundreds of students struggled to find space in dormitories, yet 79 of 385 Greek house spaces remained vacant.
"I had a waiting list that could choke a horse and was putting up people in lounges," Dean of Residential Life Martin Redman said. "That was the first time it really hit home that it was a problem."
Recently, however, Greek houses have "been doing great" at meeting their capacities, according to Redman. But competition from the posh new dorms, with floor-heated suites and singles to tempt upperclassmen, could make the reasons many students opted to forego living in Greek houses in the past a concern of the present.
Redman theorized that students preferred not to live in the spaces where they socialize.
"I think Dartmouth students are social, they want to do all the stuff people do in Greek houses, but they don't want to live at the bar, to be very blunt," Redman said. "Wading through the six feet of beer cans on the floor, and the odor, and the people hanging off the banister -- is that a pleasant place to be?"
Greek houses who fail to meet their occupancy requirements can face temporary closures, as Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority did in the summer of 2004. Greek organizations only have to fill their houses to 60 percent capacity during sophomore summer -- a standard Kappa could not meet, forcing members to gather and socialize elsewhere.
When asked if the College would ever take back Greek houses to use for other purposes if occupancy requirements could not be met, Redman responded, "It's a remote possibility, but yes."
Privately-owned houses are not in danger of College reallocation, but are faced with pressing financial concerns if their beds are not filled. Boarders provide an important source of revenue that lets the house meet expensive tax and maintenance costs. While the College spent $1.2 million renovating Alpha Chi Alpha in the summer of 2004, privately-owned houses must shoulder the cost of expensive renovations themselves.
Redman anticipated that fewer boarders might mean higher rent and dues, making it too expensive for some students to continue with their membership.
"Clearly it would be more difficult to pay for taxes and maintenance if we weren't getting the same amount of money from house residents," Chi Gamma Epsilon house manager Anthony Gargiulo '06 said. But, he added, "New dorms do not worry me, as I believe all current residents want to live in the house."
This sentiment was echoed by every Greek leader that responded to The Dartmouth's questions.
"I have never worried about the College taking our house," Sigma Delta house manager Katherine Nugent '06 said. "The building of the new dorms has little effect on our house because we are always filled to capacity."
Most of the Greek leaders also felt their membership would step up to make sure bed spaces got filled if an issue ever did arise.
"We have an incredibly close and dedicated brotherhood," Sigma Alpha Epsilon President Michael Greene '06 said. "If a shortage of boarders existed, I am absolutely certain that our brothers would rectify the problem."
Although Greek leaders admitted that living in a fraternity or sorority might not be for everyone, they also acknowledged that there is often no shortage of people willing to live in these houses.
According to Redman, the opening of the new dorms will help to gauge where student interest in living actually lies.
"Are students choosing to live in the affinity houses because it's the best alternative for housing or because they're genuinely interested?" Redman wondered. "We'll find out in the next couple of years."
