Spring Break
Zetas leave house over safety concerns
By: Chris Hokanson
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: News
Instead of spending the rest of the semester at their sorority house, the 40 members of Texas A&M's chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha who reside in the house are moving into a hotel.
The sorority members were cleared out of the Athens Street building because of structural and safety concerns.
The house, built in 1982 and owned by the Zeta Tau Alpha Housing Corp., was deemed unsafe by a local structural engineering firm, said Zeta Tau Alpha Corp. President Julia Hill. The displaced sorority members will live at the Hawthorn Suites at the corporation's expense for the rest of the semester.
"Our No.1 priority has always been the safety and security of our members who live and meet in our housing facilities," Hill said.
Hill said the structural engineering firm is conducting a report, so moving residents provides room and time for the engineers to work. A final report about the house's condition will be published in April, Hill said.
In the meantime, members of Zeta Tau Alpha will have their events and activities on campus. Scheduling those events on campus hasn't been easy, said Ann Goodman, director of Greek Life at A&M.
"This came pretty quickly, so it's a little bit of a challenge scheduling a location where 200 plus girls can meet," Goodman said. "With the expect of a few dates, we've found suitable locations for all of their events."
Goodman said she is going to propose that Transportation Services rearrange a bus route to accommodate them for the safety of the residents.
Nick Zungla, marketing coordinator for the Department of Greek Life, said he and the department staff are encouraging other student organizations with houses to inspect their houses as a preventative measure. Because of previous environmental problems in the area, Zungla said, those organizations should work with their national organizations and the University to maintain safety at their houses.
The sorority members were cleared out of the Athens Street building because of structural and safety concerns.
The house, built in 1982 and owned by the Zeta Tau Alpha Housing Corp., was deemed unsafe by a local structural engineering firm, said Zeta Tau Alpha Corp. President Julia Hill. The displaced sorority members will live at the Hawthorn Suites at the corporation's expense for the rest of the semester.
"Our No.1 priority has always been the safety and security of our members who live and meet in our housing facilities," Hill said.
Hill said the structural engineering firm is conducting a report, so moving residents provides room and time for the engineers to work. A final report about the house's condition will be published in April, Hill said.
In the meantime, members of Zeta Tau Alpha will have their events and activities on campus. Scheduling those events on campus hasn't been easy, said Ann Goodman, director of Greek Life at A&M.
"This came pretty quickly, so it's a little bit of a challenge scheduling a location where 200 plus girls can meet," Goodman said. "With the expect of a few dates, we've found suitable locations for all of their events."
Goodman said she is going to propose that Transportation Services rearrange a bus route to accommodate them for the safety of the residents.
Nick Zungla, marketing coordinator for the Department of Greek Life, said he and the department staff are encouraging other student organizations with houses to inspect their houses as a preventative measure. Because of previous environmental problems in the area, Zungla said, those organizations should work with their national organizations and the University to maintain safety at their houses.
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