Panhel to apply for nine houses under the house model

For the first time in almost 60 years, sororities could have a place to call their own.

Later this month, nine sororities will be applying for individual houses—or sections—under the new house model, which will begin Fall 2012. The chapters in the Panhellenic Association are following the same application process as other selective living groups seeking space under the new residential model.

“What our women will be asking for are nine equitable houses, meaning the houses should be the same as far as number of beds and common room size,” said Panhellenic Association President Jenny Ngo, a senior. “Right now we’re asking for medium to large houses, with approximately 40 beds.”

With the implementation of the house model drawing near, Ngo said she has concerns about potential class division that might be felt by current sorority members.

“This is a transition period­—there will be problems,” Ngo said. “We’re taking the risk of Panhel-affiliated women not being able to be as close to their non-affiliated friends as they are used to already. However, there are so many more pros that we have discussed that they outweigh the initial growing pains.”

In his time at Duke, sororities have not had individual sections because no sorority has asked for one, Joe Gonzalez, associate dean for residence life, wrote in an email Monday.

“It appears the sororities made an agreement some time ago that unless each chapter requested housing, no chapter would make a request,” he said.

According to the Duke house model website, some parameters for selective living groups in the house model include the possibility of being located on West or Central campuses and meeting the class distribution requirements of 25 percent seniors, 25 percent juniors and 50 percent sophomores, among other standards.

Various chapter presidents declined to comment or could not be reached.

The house model was originally intended to provide independents—not greeks—with a stronger sense of community, said Clarybel Peguero, assistant dean of fraternity and sorority life.

“Once the opportunity came to have new houses, some groups took advantage of that,” Peguero said.

Some of the pros of Panhel chapter housing, Ngo said, include equitable housing on campus, an increase in Panhel unity and a step toward gender equality.

“Equity is a core principal with the house model, including in relation to gender,” Gonzalez said.

Panhel wants to empower women, Ngo said, adding that she believes the house model will give sororities more control of their perception on campus by providing them a space for which they are accountable.

A mixed Panhel house was approved in Jan. 2010 and granted space on Central Campus. This was the first Panhel-affiliated space in 59 years—when sororities had housing on East Campus, Ngo said, adding that the section on Central did not work out due to a general lack of interest.

A persistent rumor around campus as to why sororities do not have housing is the alleged existence of a state brothel law, suggesting that a group of girls living together constitutes a brothel.

“It’s a rumor that has existed on a lot of college campuses,” Peguero said.

Editor's Note: The previous version of this article was not the final version to make it into print Wednesday. The earlier articles said houses in the house model could be located on West or East campuses, however, this was corrected in editing to reflect the accurate statement fact of West or Central campuses. The article was accurate upon press time.