Fraternity leaders react to new ban

Despite a ban on new fraternity and sorority housing in Gorham and stricter regulations for the current houses, members of Greek Life at USM contend that their bad rap is not deserved, while some neighbors want a more permanent solution.

After a lively town council meeting on Oct. 5, which included speakers from the university, fraternities and sororities, and neighbors of off-campus Greek houses, the council voted 4-2 with one absence in favor of an amendment to the town’s Land Use and Development Code that excludes Greek housing from the realm of “acceptable use” of land.

The Council also voted 5-1 to approve a proposal regulating existing fraternity and sorority houses. It requires a license to operate Greek housing in town and lays out guidelines under which the license may be revoked. They voted 5-1 in favor of the proposal to regulate existing fraternity and sorority housing.

“Many individuals in these groups have put a lot of personal time and effort into working on improving town relations in the months leading up to this event,” said Jason Saucier, the new USM Greek Life adviser. “I believe the actions of the town council are reactions to a past history and not a reflection of the current leadership’s actions.”

Several Gorham residents spoke out in favor of both proposals including Scott Files, whose Preble Street residence has been in his family for three generations. Files expressed frustration at what he perceived as inaction on the part of USM. “They don’t do anything,” said Files. “They pay lip service, but they don’t do anything.”

“We do not agree that there has been total inaction on the part of the university,” said university spokesman Bob Caswell. “That said there is a long, long history of complaints about noise and vandalism in the Elm and Preble Street neighborhood. Given that long history, you can understand the frustration that people who live there must feel. Given that frustration, you can also understand the reaction that the town council took earlier this month.”

Files said he was glad the resolutions were passed, but doesn’t expect much to change. “The issue will not be completely resolved until those [fraternity] houses are gone,” he said.

The zoning amendment — first proposed at the council’s July 6 meeting — was opposed by Councilors Noah Miner and Matt Mattingly. Miner also opposed the amendment to regulate Greek housing.

“I don’t think banning fraternity houses is going to be a solution to the problem,” said Miner. “The problem we have is noise and behavioral issues, and it is very hard to legislate behavior.”

The two current fraternity houses, Sigma Nu and Delta Chi, will be subject to the new regulations which require each house to acquire a license every year by Aug. 1.

The license fee is $25 and the houses must successfully pass their most recent Life Safety Code Fire Inspection conducted by the Town of Gorham’s Fire Inspector and have all of the property taxes on the facility fully paid.

They also cannot have recorded more than 5 responses by the Gorham Police Department requiring police action in the preceding license year.

Fraternities must notify the Gorham Police and Fire Department before events with more than 15 guests, in order for the fire department to inspect and determine the maximum capacity of the event.

Students from the Sigma Nu and Delta Chi fraternities and the Alpha Xi Delta sorority spoke against the amendments, citing reduced cost of living among other positive aspects of off campus Greek housing. They were joined by Bruce Roullard, a resident of Gorham and a member of the board that manages the property that houses the Sigma Nu fraternity.

USM’s fraternities are not alone in having public sentiment turned against them. Across the country, fraternities and sororities have gained a reputation for Animal House style partying, and towns and schools have at times responded harshly.

In 2006 to 2007, for example, the University of Massachusetts Amherst demolished a significant portion of its “Frat Row,” a street adjoining the university which was known for its numerous fraternity houses.

John Turner, president of Delta Chi, said that this attitude towards fraternities is unfair. “No one talks about the thousands of dollars we raise for charity. The only time we get coverage is when it’s negative.” Turner pledged Delta Chi’s intention to abide by the new regulation, but remained skeptical that they are the solution to the problem. “USM students will still come to the fraternities wondering ‘Where the parties at’,” said Turner. “These groups will continue to be intoxicated, walking through neighbors’ yards and vandalizing properties. They will not gain admittance into our house but I am sure they will look somewhere else.”

Dan Santos, president of Sigma Nu, argued at an earlier planning board meeting that fraternities get the blame for all students’ partying.

The lasting effects of these ordinances are yet to be seen, but Saucier was optimistic, saying that this is certainly not an end to USM Greek Life. “There are many great student leaders in these organizations.” Saucier said he was very excited to be working with these leaders to “work on the growth and success of Greek organizations.”