Delta House seeks Council's approval

Author: Lea Calderon-Guthe

The Community Council held its second meeting of the year on Oct. 1 to consider the reinstatement of Delta House, a social house that has been suspended since the spring of 2006.

Chris Angelini '08.5, president of Delta House, and Tarrah Bowen '08.5, vice president of the organization, explained their proposal and answered questions. The Community Council then opened the floor for discussion and put the issue to a vote.

With nine in favor, two against and three abstaining from the vote, the Community Council voted to recommend to President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz that Delta House be allowed to host parties and begin the pledge period.

Delta House was suspended after several violations of school policy involving alcohol, party-hosting and damage to school property linked to a 2006 party, in addition to a probationary period in 2005. The behavior trends evidenced by these violations were the Community Council's main concern in deciding to reinstate Delta House, so House representatives had to show that their plans for the future would produce the desired changes.

"I don't think [accountability] is an issue just for Delta," Associate Vice President of College Advancement Operations David Donahue said. "I think that's an issue for all the social houses. My experience is that the leadership is usually really good, really understands what Community Council expects and tries to do a good job, but sometimes the membership just is not that in tune."

The word "accountability" came up numerous times, and many faculty members on the Council wanted to know how Delta House will hold its members responsible for their actions.

In response, Bowen cited the new House Manager position that will come into existence if Delta House regains its residential status. The manager would be responsible for monitoring property damage and serving as a liaison between facilities staff and house members to ensure proper communication and consequences in the event of excessive damage. She also mentioned more house meetings to deal with discipline internally.

"Each member is accountable for their own actions," said Bowen. "The house as a whole would be also responsible for those actions, so we would have some kind of meeting to come up with what some course of action, either disciplinary measures or what [rules] should be put in place."

Angelini and Bowen brought with them a typed manifesto explaining their newly revised mission statement and goals as an organization.

Both in the manifesto, which every Community Council member received, and during the meeting, Angelini and Bowen strongly emphasized Delta House's renewed commitment to community service. The House will require pledges to complete a community service project as part of the process, and it will continue to participate in the local flag football league.

Delta House has already begun to implement their new service goals during their period of suspension by helping with the flag football league, sponsoring a child's Christmas through the VSO Giving Tree, making valentines for the elderly and participating in a car wash to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Service was not the only aspect of Delta House that needed revamping. Angelini and Bowen also mentioned strict adherence to College party and alcohol policies Delta House now requires all members to undergo alcohol preparedness training, but several Community Council members questioned whether the training and promise to crack down on bad behavior during parties would be enough.

This intensive overhaul of Delta House's policies would appear to set a new precedent in the social house world, but whether or not more houses will follow remains to be seen. As Student Co-Chair of the Community Council Eric Hoest '07.5 said more than once, Delta House should not have to set outrageous goals above and beyond the rest of the social houses to impress the Community Council. Instead, they should work towards becoming a sustainable, healthy organization. Nevertheless, without significant signs of change, the Council would not have recommended the House's reinstatement.

"My sense is that the Council is supportive but also wants to set a high standard for all the social houses," said Donahue.

Next week, the Council plans to discuss Sigma Moo, the newly proposed social house, and the sexual harassment policy.