Council considers KDR, Delta cases

Author: Andrew Fuller

Members of the Kappa Delta Rho (KDR) and Delta social houses met with the Community Council on Feb. 26 to discuss unresolved issues regarding their status for 2008-2009. The Community Council unanimously approved recommendations to President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz that Delta regain residential status and be situated in Prescott House and that KDR be approved for next year with stipulations.

Since its spring of 2006 eviction from Prescott House, Delta has been denied residential status. Seeking a return to Prescott, Delta appealed to the Council for the reinstatement of its residential status, arguing Delta was prepared to fill Prescott House and prevent a reoccurrence of past situations.

"We have overwhelming interest - over 30 people expressing interest in living in the house. We definitely have the numbers to fill Prescott," said Delta President Chris Angelini '08.

When Council member Michael Glidden asked whether the house had an individual capable of overseeing the management of the property, and inquired whether such a person would be living in the house, Angelini replied that Delta had not yet selected a specific member to conduct oversight, but that such a move is planned.

Angelini said that Delta was committed to engaging in a dialogue with Facilities Services about avoiding damage to whatever facility Delta is able to occupy, and that the house's leadership has proposed a discipline board to oversee residential members. The board would have a formal role and the ability to demand both community service and the payment of fines, among other penalties, from individuals. Omega Alpha is the only other social house to have a formal discipline board.

Council member Doug Adams commended the Delta plan, saying that "Delta's (discipline board) is the strongest structure to be laid out."

After unanimously approving a recommendation that Delta recover its residential standing and return to Prescott House, the Council discussed the approval of KDR as a social house for the upcoming year. Glidden released the Subcommittee on Social Houses' stipulations regarding an approval of KDR. The subcommittee's recommendation included a demand that KDR lower the annual damage to its house to under $750. The report pointed out that much of KDR's damage fee stems from its annual pig roast, and the report requested that KDR meet with the Inter-House Council (IHC) before the pig roast to discuss the planning of the event. Glidden said that the subcommittee's intention is not to encourage any IHC micromanagement of KDR's pig roast, but rather to foster a discussion between IHC members and KDR that would confirm that adequate planning had been done in preparation for the affair in order to reduce the likelihood of damage.

"I think reducing dorm damage is completely feasible. We'll do what we need to do," said KDR member Nicole MacMillan '09.

Before the Council signaled its approval of KDR, Council member and SGA President Max Nardini '08 praised the final report. "I think this looks great," said Nardini. "It acknowledges that IHC is equipped to provide further consultation. It provides concrete things that we can look back at."