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Posted on July 9, 2008 12:59 AM

Fraternity housing issue still at impasse after meeting with officials

The future of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house still remains unclear after a meeting yesterday between two alumni from the former fraternity and two university administrators, including the Director of Greek Life and Advancement.

"We just talked," Director of Greek Life and Advancement Roy Baker said. "Nothing was determined or decided."

Baker and Stan Latta, assistant vice president for housing, food services and residence life, met with two Phi Delta Theta alumni for about an hour yesterday morning to have a discussion about the future of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house after the fraternity's charter was suspended on Dec. 7, Baker said.

Former members were given a deadline of June 30 to vacate the house after the fraternity lost its charter, according to Collegian archives. The fraternity on 240 N. Burrowes Road lost its charter after it violated a dry-house policy in October of last year.

"As far as I know there are still six guys living in the house today," Baker said. "They need to vacate the property because they are not a fraternity any longer."

The alumni acknowledged it is a "huge liability" for the former members to continue living in the house while they are not part of a fraternity, Baker said.

University Park Undergraduate Associate (UPUA) President Gavin Keirans said actions need to progress quickly but he "didn't expect anything really groundbreaking" from yesterday's meeting.

Keirans plans to meet with Baker today to hear the university's view on the situation.

Former Phi Delta Theta President Kevin Haslam said he had not heard anything about what happened at the meeting.

In an April 3 letter to Phi Delta Theta, university officials told alumni residents of the fraternity house must vacate the premises by June 30 if its charter was not reinstated, according to Collegian archives.

On Monday, Keirans said he supported Phi Delta Theta's efforts to keep the house and reemerge as another fraternity, but members of the former fraternity needed to move quickly.

There are no future meetings planned with Phi Delta Theta alumni as of press time yesterday, Bake said.