They may be the most interesting buildings University students enter during college, and most of them aren't even on campus.

But although fraternity houses may go unnoticed by many people, fraternity members say they are proud of their dwellings, many of which have unique histories and are more than a century old.

One of the many unusual fraternity houses at the University is owned by Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, 508 Locust Lane, known by the nickname "Pink Elephant" because of its exterior's pink color.

"The uniqueness of the color makes the house stand out," said Delta Sigma Phi member Ben Stradley (junior-finance). "And the people living in the house are exceptional and stand out in their own ways."

Other fraternity houses also symbolize the people living within them, members say.

For example, Triangle fraternity, 226 E. Beaver Ave., whose members study engineering, science and architecture, is housed in one of the most contemporary of all the fraternity houses.

"It is a very modern house. The construction is a lot different from the others," said Triangle member Karl Peterman. "The angles on the house are fairly elevated, resembling triangles."

The Triangle house was designed by a Triangle alumnus, who included several unique features, said Peterman (junior-architectural engineering). One feature the architect designed was a triangle-shaped fireplace.

Sigma Chi fraternity, 400 E. Prospect Ave., retained the mantel of the original fireplace from its old house on Burrowes Road, said Sigma Chi member Scott Stewart. The old house no longer stands, he added.

But Sigma Chi's members currently live in a house that was originally designed for Delta Tau Delta fraternity in 1929, said Stewart (junior-architecture). Much of the design of the interior is representative of Delta Tau Delta, he added.

"The borders around the ceilings have carved decorations of snakes and birds," Stewart said. "We believe these are somehow related to the DTD tradition."

In fact, many of the fraternity houses are as rich in tradition as the members who live within them.

"Our brotherhood is rich in traditon, and our house is 60 years old, and has it's own tradition," said Bob Miller (senior-finance), member of Kappa Delta Rho fraternity, 420 E. Prospect Ave. "It has a strong foundation, just like our brotherhood."

Some ways that Kappa Delta Rho's house displays its tradition, Miller said, is through its many stained glass windows.

Other fraternities also have old-fashioned touches on their houses that make them unique.

"The fact that we still have a slate roof makes it very nice," Stewart said. "Also, we still have our original leaded-glass windows."

However, Sigma Chi's house manages to combine old and new styles, he said.

"We have a strange combination of structure . . . steel in the new wing, and heavy timber in the old wing," Stewart said.