Sorority members may face a price increase next fall.
The sorority houses were built in 1998, but sororities have never received a price increase. Each sorority pays $200 a month, but the proposal would increase it to $500 a month.
The proposed price increase began with Lee Hall, former director of first-year experiences and disability services coordinator, before she retired in October 2014.
Hall reviewed the contracts because she wanted the opportunity to improve the houses, said Dr. Liz Donnelly, acting vice president for student affairs and dean of students.
With the proposed price, half of each month’s funds would pay for the house. The other half would go into an account for improvements in the long run, Donnelly said.
Whether or not chapter dues would increase to pay for the houses is up to the sororities.
“It is great that we are making advancements for our houses and things like new, more secure doors are needed, but fully increasing the price in one year will be extremely taxing on our members,” said Nicole Wilwert, dance pedagogy junior and Alpha Chi Omega president. “Chapter dues will have to go up.”
Some sorority members understand why they may pay more.
“I know that one fact of life is that you have to pay for things such as utilities,” said Sarah Massey, elementary education sophomore and Gamma Phi Beta. “Our sorority houses belong to us as a sisterhood. When we agree to join, we agree to pay for it and take care of it.”
Although Massey understands, she said she is still unhappy with the proposal.
“I think the financial problems with OCU are definitely not rooted in the Greek system,” Massey said. “If it is just another way for them to make more money for their school from our private organizations’ pockets, then that isn’t fair. That is why we pay tuition.”
Wilwert said she is concerned for Phi Mu.
“They are a newly charted chapter with a smaller number of members,” Wilwert said. “Their dues would need to be outrageously high to accommodate for the price increase.”
The proposal isn’t finalized. Donnelly said she is unsure when or if it will be, but is hoping it’ll be finalized for the 2015-16 academic year.
The final decision is up to the Panhellenic advisers, who are all chapter alumna who have monthly meetings.
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