Last year, the Delta Zeta chapter was added to the Greek system on the University of Idaho campus, making it the first sorority in 15 years to be chartered at the UI. This year, the chapter has begun the long process of solidifying architectural plans, confirming interior design plans and constructing a new house.
Anthony Outman | Summer Arg
The Delta Zeta sorority house will be built in the purple parking lot behind the Student Union Building. Construction on the house is planned to begin in summer 2014.
Delta Zeta took a step forward last year and purchased a piece of land, which currently serves as a UI parking lot. The new house will occupy what is now the parking lot west of the SUB, next to the Sigma Nu fraternity.
Delta Zeta sorority plans to break ground on their new house starting summer of 2014 said Kristin Campbell, president of the UI Delta Zeta chapter. Campbell also said the Delta Zeta chapter has been doing great in the dorms, but having a house on campus will increase the publicity of the chapter.
Many new chapters find it difficult to recruit new members, however, Campbell said the chapter should not have a problem recruiting women to join the house.
“It will be a little bit easier, if anything, to do the recruiting from a brand new house just because it’s an exciting thing,” Campbell said. “We really lean towards lots of women that fit our values and fit in with the members we currently have.”
Twenty parking spots will be lost due to the construction of the new house said Carl Root, director of University Parking and Transportation Services. The parking lot is a purple lot, which is reserved for members of the Greek system specifically.
Root said in building a new Greek house the demand for purple spots will go up, and that approximately 60 percent of Greek members own cars and purchase parking permits.
“If the demand for purple ever outreaches the supply, we have some other ideas we can pursue. I think in terms of supply and demand we’ll be OK,” Root said.
Campbell said Delta Zeta national headquarters bought the lot because it is the best fit in the community, and would work best with the designers and architects. Delta Zeta has commissioned Castellaw Kom Architects, an architecture firm based in Lewiston for the project.
The Delta Zeta national headquarters could not be reached for comment on the state of construction or involvement in the construction process.
Ryan Tarinelli can be reached at [email protected]