The State College Planning Commission is considering allowing disbanded fraternities to live in their houses for up to two years while the chapter reorganizes.
On Wednesday, State College Zoning Officer Herman Slaybaugh showed the commission the new version of a potential temporary use provision, which will be voted on at the next meeting.
According to the proposal, disbanded fraternities could temporarily classify themselves as a rooming house for two years, after which the landowner will decide what happens to the property. For on-campus fraternities, the university could seize the property.
The policy states that a "local alumni association member" or "building ownership entity" in charge of the property must live within 25 miles of State College should any problems arise.
It also mandates that the fraternity must apply for a permit that allows temporary use as a rooming house within 120 days of the fraternity disbanding.
Both Penn State officials and fraternity alumni at the meeting supported the change.
Sandy Deveney, a Phi Delta Theta fraternity alumnus, and Ed Sidwell, a Sigma Nu fraternity alumnus, both said they support the 120-day application period -- which was only 60 days on earlier drafts.
Roy Baker, Penn State's Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, agreed that the 120-day period is reasonable.
Commission members brought additional changes to the discussion. Member Anita Genger suggested requiring an on-location resident supervisor at the temporary rooming houses, as fraternities are usually disbanded because of behavioral issues.
But chairman Evan Myers disagreed, saying the commission couldn't single out students for special rules.
"It's almost a human rights issue," he said. "These students are adults and need to be treated as such."
The reworked policy would also no longer require disbanded fraternities to add parking spaces to meet rooming house regulations.
At the end of the discussion, Myers asked Slaybaugh to draft the provision into ordinance form. It is slated for a vote at the next meeting.
With the temporary-use provision close to being enacted, the commission also voted to ask the State College Borough Council to repeal an ordinance that allowed permanent rooming houses to be set up on campus.
