Greek buildings should be used correctly

As fraternity buildings have been taken off campus, the question of how the new space should be used is inevitable. Greek life began to exist at FIU in an effort to give the university a more traditional feel. Fraternities and Sororities are, after all, an integral part of the American college experience. 

This experience often includes living on campus. In the United States, this is seen as a rite of passage; a moment in which a child leaves home and becomes an adult.

Fraternities and Sororities are the natural result of students living together for a long time, sharing bonds and interests.

But Florida International University is anything but a traditional university. Our school subverts all he clichees. We are fundamentally a commuter school. Most of our students do not live here. 

This doesn’t mean that Greek life shouldn’t have a presence here. Traditional or not, we are an American school and we share the traditions of the American university.

But we should tailor that prsence to the needs of our students. University authorities have already taken notice of these needs, and have taken concrete steps to make sure that the physical space previously reserved for Greek life buildings be used for something that further benefits the university as a whole.    

One of the structures, Greek house two, is already being taken for the establishment of the Decision lab and the Academy for international disaster awareness. 

A wise choice. However, the fate of the other building, Greek house one, is still uncertain. 

Of the many things it can be used for, we believe there are two uses that would be most beneficial for student life.

One great use can be the construction of new dorms. This would likely be the easier alternative, since it wouldn’t require a complete reimagining of the space in question. 

New dorms may help to bring down room and board prices, as well as provide cheaper alternatives for those students who have to live near campus, and were forced to  rent more expensive apartments off campus. The increase in students who live on campus could strengthen our Greek life, and render us a more traditional school. The other option is to increase parking.

Needless to say, this is one of the more frustrating aspects of our university. Making parking easier could help students’ performance, since they could arrive earlier to campus, study more; and in general increment their attendence.

So that these changes would be good both for Greek life as well as for FIU as a whole. It may seem strange to say that in the midst of having a building taken away from them. But part of what makes us FIU is subverting the obvious.

Photo by Florida International University at FIU Flickr