Fraternity and sorority members will be welcomed into the spring semester with the new Greek Life Community Center.
The $5.1 million project spans 8,900 square feet. Located at the corner of Davis Drive and Greek Row, the center creates a place for Fraternity and Sorority Life to gather, create and socialize.
The center addresses campus space challenges by bringing together 30 organizations, offering meeting facilities, banquet space, ritual rooms and more.
The institution wanted to focus on increasing participation in Greek life programs, said Drew Miller, Student Affairs senior vice president and dean of students. Having a healthy Greek life program adds a significant amount to campus life for institutions, impacting the community through philanthropy and community service projects to the retention and completion rates of Greek-affiliated students.
Miller said the space is made for students. They've been involved and vocal about their needs and hopes for the space, as well as resources the university should implement in undertaking this project.
“Students have been involved from the early stages of the process, contributing ideas about what the spaces should include and defining the building’s purpose,” Amanda Perez, director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, said in an email.
Construction began about a year ago, renovating and adding to a vacant fraternity house, Miller said. The building will be ready for use by the spring semester.
“Having a dedicated space for the Fraternity and Sorority Life community is essential, especially given the limited space on campus,” Perez said.
This space will support the many programs and events hosted by the community and help alleviate the demand for other student spaces. She said it will also foster stronger community relations, encourage growth and build connections with the chapter houses on Greek Row.
The new center offers multiple meeting rooms with flat screen TVs, a library, a lounge and open spaces for students to study and hang out. There will be a kitchen area and a programming space.
The craft room will be a place for Greek students to make banners or paint the letters that sit outside their houses. During a tour, Perez said she hopes this space will encourage other houses to spend time together as well.
“A big part of Greek life is academics and making sure our students are being academically responsible,” Miller said. “So they were able to incorporate some intentional study spaces to help enhance that aspect of the experience.”
What they call the Legacy Hall is fully dedicated to events and meetings. The hall can hold 100 people and can be made into two separate rooms with a sliding door.
“We have other socials that we do within the community that we can start to bring over here, which I think will help alleviate some space because the [University Center] is so well utilized,” Perez said.
Outdoor seating and a fireplace on the patio will allow events like the Greek barbeque event and other outside gatherings to take place.
“This hopefully will create a sense of belonging within our students,” Perez said. “This is one of their homes on campus.”
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