Fraternity reclaims old turf

After a two-year suspension and a year of rebuilding its membership, a fraternity chapter at the University of Massachusetts will move back into its former house at 118 Sunset Ave.

Alpha Tau Gamma (ATG), the fraternity associated with the UMass Stockbridge School of Agriculture, has tried to get its old domain back since 2005, when it was suspended for a house fire, health and other building code violations.

The house’s current residents are the brothers of Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi), who started renting from the house’s owners, Alpha Tau Gamma’s parent organization, Alpha Tau Gamma Inc. in June 2005. AEPi, an international Jewish fraternity, will leave when its lease is up, said Michael Wiseman, UMass’ fraternity and sorority director.

The brothers of ATG will re-occupy the house June 1, according to its website, Alphataugamma.org.

Wiseman said ATG is allowed to re-establish itself and move into its old building because it has fulfilled the terms of its suspension. He also said AEPi will likely not have their own house next year and that its members must decide to live in dormitories or off-campus apartments.

There are not enough houses to accommodate all the fraternities and sororities at UMass; only 12 of the school’s 37 Greek chapters have houses, he told The Daily Hampshire Gazette in Northampton.

The Gazette reported that ATG’s neighbors on Sunset Ave. were unsuccessful last summer when they tried to talk town and University officials into removing the fraternity. Neighbors also made two attempts since 2003 to buy the house and remove the fraternity themselves. These plans were nixed, however, because of the costs of purchasing the building and its two acres of land, according to the Gazette.

ATG now has about 25 active members, Wiseman said. He estimated that the house on Sunset Ave. can hold about 22 or 23 people.

Domenic Poli can be reached at dpoli@student.umass.edu.
 

Comments

1 comments

stockbridge

Wed May 6 2009 17:39

STOCKBRIDGE!!!!! DRINK BEERS

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