Theta Chi presents plans to CACC Planning Committee
Much like several other San Diego State fraternities, the Theta Chi fraternity house consists of a couple of converted single-family homes. The parking is limited, the meeting rooms are small and personal space seems to be a foreign concept.
But the fraternity brothers' modest way of life could change drastically over the next two years.
A monthly meeting for the Planning Committee, a division of the College Area Community Council, was held at 7 p.m. on Monday at the College-Rolando Library at 6600 Montezuma Road. Treanor Architects presented committee members and guests with plans for a new Theta Chi fraternity house. Not only would the brothers who want to live-in all be in one home, they will have private parking, a three-story house and the most modern Greek residence at SDSU.
Jim Boggus, vice president for the CACC and Project Area Committee, said this new fraternity house is part of the Redevelopment Plan that the city of San Diego, CACC and PAC approved in 1993.
Boggus, the president of the Alumni Interfraternity Council, said the plans are preliminary. For now, however, the plans include a three-story house with an underground parking garage that accommodates 26 cars. There are also seven street-level parking spaces and the house is equipped with an elevator from the garage to the top floors where there is room for 38 of the 80-plus members to live in the house.
Those in attendance cited concerns about outsiders gaining access to the fraternity house through a stairwell that is in the plans to be built from the street level into the garage.
"The concern was that people who have access to the garage can have access to the fraternity chapter house," said Doug Case, the coordinator for the center of fraternity and sorority life. "Much like what happened on Fraternity Row, people find their way into the garage and they gain entry to it."
Case said suggestions for preventing the problem included a locking-card access to the garage and the elevator.
These plans are subject to change, however, because Boggus said the architects are scheduled to present the plans to the PAC, City Planners and Redevelopment Agency. After which, they'll fine-tune the plans to create blueprints with the feedback they've received, he said.
"It's a nine-month process," Boggus said. "This is the first time they are presenting plans to the community."
Boggus added that May 2008 would be the goal date to begin construction on the house, located on the corner of 55th Street and Lindo Paseo Road, and that it would take about a year to complete.
-Compiled by Assistant City Editor Stephanie Nehmens
Sorority shows some love and plans charity event
Valentine's Day is the time for cards, secret admirers, chocolates, flowers and sweethearts - and the Upsilon Kappa Delta sorority is making it a two-day celebration this year.
The sorority is having its ninth annual Sweetheart Auction at 7 p.m. on Feb. 15 at the Back Door in the lower level of Aztec Center.
To raise money for charity during the event, which is open to the public, the women will auction off baskets and men will auction their time and service.
"Each basket has its own theme," said Maria Sanchez, the events coordinator for Upsilon Kappa Delta. "Such as a movie night, which will include DVDs and movie tickets."
Sanchez, who is a criminal justice junior, said there will be a raffle in addition to the basket and service auctions.
"You have service with them (the men)," said Beckie Cecil, the president of Upsilon Kappa Delta sorority. "If you want to go to a movie with them or if you want him to wash your car.
"It has to be something you guys agree to."
The Sweetheart Auction is designed to raise money for Upsilon Kappa Delta's philanthropy, the San Diego Girls' Alliance, which is a non-profit organization that helps young girls by mentoring them, giving them advice and encouraging them to continue on to higher education.
"We do monetary donations and we hang out with them a lot of the time," said Cecil, a liberal studies senior. "We're trying to get girls interested in going to college and doing other things with their lives."
-Compiled by Contributor Nicole Bissett
Greek life offers benefits
For more than 200 years, students and alumni have enjoyed the benefits of the college Greek life.
"They do lots of leadership activities, sports activities and social activities as well," Case said.
Aside from social benefits, which can include lifelong friendships, Case said many alumni make connections for internships and jobs.
"I still keep in touch with the men that I was involved with as an undergraduate," Case said. "I still see them on a regular basis."
Anna Nguyen, a member of Sigma Phi Omega and the president of the USFC, said being a part of her sorority changed her school life for the better.
"When I first came to SDSU, I didn't know anybody," said Nguyen, a sociology senior. "I lived in the University Towers my first year, so I would go to school, go home, and that was pretty much my life."
Nguyen said when she pledged her sorority, she got to know more people on campus, as well as learn the San Diego area better.
"I'm currently living with three other of my sorority sisters," Nguyen said. "We can count on each other for anything. We'd only known each other for maybe a few months, and we decided to live together. We have that kind of trust."
-Compiled by Contributor Nicole Bissett
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