UPDATED: Feb. 18, 2013, 4:53 p.m.

Phi Delta Theta chapter has purchased Pi Beta Phi house and will move in as early as June 1.

The Pi Phi chapter, also known as the New York Alpha chapter, announced last fall it will close at the end of the spring semester. The chapter faced several recruitment challenges during the last few years and was unable to build membership despite its work with local alumni.

Members voted to relinquish the Pi Phi charter at a fall chapter meeting. The fraternity’s Grand Council voted at its October meeting to allow the chapter to operate until the end of the school year.

Phi Delta Theta returned to SU’s campus after a 20-year absence. Before becoming an official fraternity in September, Phi Delta Theta became a recognized colony in December 2011.

Anthony Greco, vice president of public relations for the chapter, said alumni have done “a lot of the leg work” in terms of negotiating with Pi Phi. He added there is “a lot of back and forth” between the two organizations, and that no definite timeline is set.

The funds from the sale will be placed into a Pi Phi restricted funds account for the next 20 years and can be used in the future if the Pi Phi chapter re-colonizes on the Syracuse University campus, said Eily Cummings, marketing and communications director at the Pi Phi headquarters, in an email.

“These women have shown tremendous strength and poise throughout this process,” Cummings said.

Although the chapter relinquished its charter, the remaining undergraduate members will have alumna status and receive all of the benefits.

Tracy Gensler, an SU and Pi Phialumnus, said she and her fellow sisters were in constant communication with the Pi Phi headquarters about the status of the chapter, and were mailed a letter about the selling of the house. Gensler said she commends the efforts of the current sisters and local alumni.

“We’re all really, really sad about the sale of the house. We often talked about meeting at the house for a reunion,” she said. “It’s just so hard to believe that the house won’t be owned by Pi Beta Phi anymore.”

Published on January 28, 2013 at 12:25 am

Contact Meredith: mhnewman@syr.edu | @MerNewman93