Vanguard

Issue date: 10/15/07 Section: News

With phase two of The Grove soon to be underway, along with the construction of a University clubhouse, two fraternity houses and the old Career Services Center will be demolished. All three buildings are located on Old Shell Road.
The new faculty clubhouse, which will be built by Campus Crest as a gift to the University of South Alabama, will be built in place of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity house. The Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity house and the old Career Services Center will be torn down to make way for The Grove expansion.
The Nu Mu chapter of TKEs has been in the house on Old Shell Road for more than 20 years. Its demolition is expected to occur "within the next month or so," according to Dr. Dale Adams, vice president of student affairs.
After the house is demolished, the fraternity will not have a house to host brotherhood and social events. Many members of TKE are disappointed in the decision to tear down their house.
"Even when we get off social probation, we won't have a place to study together, have parties or hang out with friends," Peter Savill, a TKE member, said. "We never got a proper goodbye. It's like losing a family member."
TKE has been on social probation because of an alleged hazing incident that occurred in January of 2007. However, the fraternity members were informed this semester they were going to lose the house. Some of the fraternity members say that they did not expect the demolition of the house to occur so soon.
"Hundreds of brothers have gone through that house. It has irreplaceable sentimental value to us," TKE President Mickey Hendrich said. "I wish The Grove could have built around it or that South could help us build a new one. It's a hard thing to talk about because I don't want to disrespect the administration."
"What I don't think people understand about that house is that it's a home; it looks like a home; it feels like a home," Savill said. "There's a lot of history in those walls."
The TKEs have the highest grade point average of all the fraternities, with a 2.88 this past spring. It is also higher than the average of unaffiliated males on campus, according to Emily Ulmer Feinstein, coordinator of student activities and Greek life.
"On top of having the highest grade point average, they are also one of the more spirited groups. They're very involved. They do a lot more work than even some of the community service organizations on South's campus," Feinstein said.
Each member does about 35 hours of community service a semester, and members are known for being a huge part of OUTLAWS and attending sporting events on campus.
"They do a lot for the campus and the community. South is categorized as a commuter campus, so it's encouraging to see these guys contributing so much," Feinstein said.
The TKEs are attempting to raise funds to build a new house. They currently have $23,349 in their housing fund, which is about a quarter of the estimated $100,000 needed to procure a new fraternity house.
"They're going to try to have a brick sale, so we're going to try to help them out with that," Adams said.
The TKEs will try to save some of the bricks from the house to raise money to build a new one. The reigning sentiment is that the members of TKE will miss the house on Old Shell Road.
TKE currently has 23 members and 12 pledges.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools