For many college students, living in a house with friends is the time of their life. After school, many never come back to that house. But on Saturday, hundreds of University alumni will return to visit theirs one last time.
Beginning tomorrow at noon, the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity will hold a closing ceremony for its house that has served the Bowling Green chapter for over 40 years. The ceremony is expected to draw over 200 alumni that will return to campus to visit the house one last time.
The Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house, located right next to Sig Ep, will hold its ceremony later in the afternoon, expecting an additional 260 alumni
Both houses are scheduled to be demolished sometime in the next few months, along with Rodgers Quadrangle, to make room for a new residence hall.
While Phi Kappa Tau will begin its official ceremony in Olscamp Hall at 4 p.m., the fraternity is also holding a charity event beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the house. To support its national philanthropy, Phi Tau's event, "Hole in the Wall for Hole in the Wall," will give students and alumni the opportunity to personally take part in demolishing parts of the building using a sledge hammer for $1 per swing. The first hour will be open to the campus and general public to attend. At 2:30, the event will close to the public as alumni and current fraternity members will have their opportunity to take a swing or just say goodbye.
All the money raised will go toward the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps, an organization that provides camping opportunities to children with severe illnesses.
Susan Ballard, assistant director for alumni and development, said while the houses are being torn down, the chapters are not going away by any means, and the University plans to eventually build new fraternity houses.
"It will be a wonderful weekend for the alumni and also for future members looking forward to their new home," Ballard said.
Director of Residence Life Michael Griffel helped coordinate the ceremonies by helping bring back the alumni to visit the fraternity houses one last time.
"I think most people would agree that a fraternity is much more than just a house, but these two houses have really meant something important to the people who have lived there over the years," Griffel said.
According to Tim Smith, who has been the chapter advisor to Phi Kappa Tau for 35 years, both the Phi Tau and Sig Ep houses were actually the original Rodgers residence building. When the current Rodgers Quad was built, the two houses became extensions of Rodgers until 1958 when Phi Kappa Tau moved in. The Sig Ep fraternity later moved into the other house in the late 1960s.
University President Carol Cartwright, who will speak at Phi Kappa Tau's official ceremony, said the University is very committed to Greek life.
"We know that many of our students value the opportunities that are presented by participation in Greek life," Cartwright said. "We also regard our Greek chapter houses as part of our extensive network of learning communities."
Smith also said that many of the alumni coming back to visit are taking the ceremony to heart.
"It will be a reconnecting and emotional experience," Smith said. "Most of these guys have had a lot of unique experiences in those houses."
Beginning tomorrow at noon, the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity will hold a closing ceremony for its house that has served the Bowling Green chapter for over 40 years. The ceremony is expected to draw over 200 alumni that will return to campus to visit the house one last time.
The Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house, located right next to Sig Ep, will hold its ceremony later in the afternoon, expecting an additional 260 alumni
Both houses are scheduled to be demolished sometime in the next few months, along with Rodgers Quadrangle, to make room for a new residence hall.
While Phi Kappa Tau will begin its official ceremony in Olscamp Hall at 4 p.m., the fraternity is also holding a charity event beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the house. To support its national philanthropy, Phi Tau's event, "Hole in the Wall for Hole in the Wall," will give students and alumni the opportunity to personally take part in demolishing parts of the building using a sledge hammer for $1 per swing. The first hour will be open to the campus and general public to attend. At 2:30, the event will close to the public as alumni and current fraternity members will have their opportunity to take a swing or just say goodbye.
All the money raised will go toward the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps, an organization that provides camping opportunities to children with severe illnesses.
Susan Ballard, assistant director for alumni and development, said while the houses are being torn down, the chapters are not going away by any means, and the University plans to eventually build new fraternity houses.
"It will be a wonderful weekend for the alumni and also for future members looking forward to their new home," Ballard said.
Director of Residence Life Michael Griffel helped coordinate the ceremonies by helping bring back the alumni to visit the fraternity houses one last time.
"I think most people would agree that a fraternity is much more than just a house, but these two houses have really meant something important to the people who have lived there over the years," Griffel said.
According to Tim Smith, who has been the chapter advisor to Phi Kappa Tau for 35 years, both the Phi Tau and Sig Ep houses were actually the original Rodgers residence building. When the current Rodgers Quad was built, the two houses became extensions of Rodgers until 1958 when Phi Kappa Tau moved in. The Sig Ep fraternity later moved into the other house in the late 1960s.
University President Carol Cartwright, who will speak at Phi Kappa Tau's official ceremony, said the University is very committed to Greek life.
"We know that many of our students value the opportunities that are presented by participation in Greek life," Cartwright said. "We also regard our Greek chapter houses as part of our extensive network of learning communities."
Smith also said that many of the alumni coming back to visit are taking the ceremony to heart.
"It will be a reconnecting and emotional experience," Smith said. "Most of these guys have had a lot of unique experiences in those houses."
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