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Pi Kappa
Alpha Fraternity |
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Pi Kappa
Alpha Fraternity |
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State of the Chapter08/01/1998 We have GOOD news, we have BAD news, but most importantly we have a PLAN. You may interpret any of these news items differently based upon your perspective. 1) We are out of the TKE property and longer have the financial burden of an overpriced, 65 bed facility. However, we have a financial debt to the TKE's because we could not fill all the beds. 2) By Sept. ALL dorms and 2 fraternities will have computer hookups in each room. We know what we need to do to be a competitive facility. We are late in the game. 3) Our option to purchase the 1525 East Drachman property(our old house) still has 2 years to go. We have some time to gather financing and design it how we feel is most competitive for today's college student. It costs money. It MAY not be open for August 30th Rush and is back away from the main campus by the Medical School. 4) The old Pike house is currently a step backward as housing facilities go. 5)Kappa Alpha just received $1.5 million from the estate of an alum and are negotiating to purchase the TKE house. 6)Pike is now the oldest (1924) continuously operating fraternity at the U of A (ATO closed this past May 1998). The Greek system is changing and not very strong at the U of A. THE PLAN: I) Rush is being organized by the chapter to take place in either the Student Union or the Drachman property. II) Adam Karon has been spearheading the effort to clean up both the TKE property(to reduce cost) and the Drachman property(For eventual move in). III) Appraisal was made on July 22nd by the University to fix the option purchase price. We should have a figure by the 14th of August. IV) We will be meeting soon to negotiate with the local bank for loan consideration. V) Actives are going to be interviewed to gain commitment and desire to work to regain a dominate position on campus for Pike. WHAT WENT WRONG-1995 The house had 200 actives, grades were good, campus standing was excellent and the chapter had won the SMYTHE Award (given for one of the 10 for the strongest PIKE chapters in the nation) in 4 out of the last 5 years. The chapter BELIEVED their own publicity and stopped achieving. They pledged the wrong type of young man and lost the sense of values and hard work that got them to the top. We have all heard -"it is easier to climb to the top than to stay there". The Gamma Delta Housing Corporation reached too far in moving from the 42 bed Drachman facility to the 65 bed TKE house that was nearer to campus, but much more expensive in regards to rent and maintenance. They got caught up in the dream and lost sight of financial requirements necessary to make it work. Most of all, the lack of alumni support in Tucson for the chapter and the new house move - sealed the doom of both. We should not forget that one or two chapter advisors can't do the job by themselves and that 18-22 year old young men don't have all the answers that they think they do.
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