FSL house

BRENNA LUMLEY/THE STANDARD Alpha Omicron Pi is one of many sororities that fines members who live elsewhere when there are empty rooms in the house.

Fraternities, sororities can fine members for not living in house

LAINEY SANDERS Staff Reporter @lainey_sanders

Joining a sorority or fraternity can shape someone’s college experience, giving them a group of like-minded individuals who are active in volunteering and share interests.

It also provides an opportunity of living in the sorority or fraternity house which Isabel Donovan, a sophomore double majoring in psychology and Spanish, says is an essential part of being in a sorority.

“Living in a sorority house is one in a lifetime chance for most people,” Donovan said. “So I say why not give it a chance? I think it is important for girls to live in the house because it helps build relationships, and it allows girls to see what it’s like living with other people.”

Living in the houses is a big change from living in the dorms on campus.

Dorm life consists of making daily trips to the dining hall, sharing washers and dryers, whereas life in AOII consists of having two chefs and house boys who help the chef, two washers and dryers on each floor except the main, access to the kitchen, fridge, a mini fridge, juice machines, coffee maker and more. They also have a living room area with a TV and a library that serves as a hangout area or study area.

House life in a sorority provides the same amenities as dorm life but with the luxury of having it in a more private space and sharing it with fewer people. BRENNA LUMLEY/THE STANDARD Sigma Nu is one of many fraternities that fines members who live elsewhere when there are empty rooms in the house.

However, it has its trade-offs. If enough rooms are not filled in the sorority or fraternity house, monthly dues will go up for each individual.

Devin Busk, a junior studying finance and a member of Sigma Nu, said this rule applies to both sororities and fraternities.

“We can handle a few vacancies but after a certain point, it will raise dues substantially,” said Busk.

For some, like Donovan, this is not a problem they seem worried about when asked about the possibility of raised dues if enough rooms are not filled.

“Yes it’s true cost would go up, but why wouldn’t you want to live in a mansion with tons of other girls in the same sorority?” Donovan said.