FARMHOUSE
QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK
(From recent Inside FH newsletters)
Housing
- "Our chapter has recommended/requested that a few women be allowed to live at the chapter house this summer. As an advisor my question concerns what effect women or any other non-member or non-pledge living in our property might have on the risk management/liability status of the chapter or the corporation. What's your opinion or guidance on this item?"
QUESTION OF THE WEEK? --- Our chapter has recommended/requested that a few women be allowed to live at the chapter house this summer. As an advisor my question concerns what effect women or any other non-member or non-pledge living in our property might have on the risk management/liability status of the chapter or the corporation. What's your opinion or guidance on this item?
It's fairly common for chapters to utilize non-members as summer boarders. The key is that every non-member who lives there in summer must make a sizable refundable security deposit ($200 or so) plus sign a housing contract that specifically states that no alcohol/drugs/smoking/etc. is allowed in the chapter house and that they'll be immediately evicted if they are found to have violated that agreement. The Association has a lot more power to hold chapter members accountable to policies (the ability to terminate their membership). It's very important with summer tenants that they understand what our rules are up front and agree to abide by them, while at the same time understanding the serious consequences for violating.
Most chapters that allow male summer boarders only allow close friends of the Fraternity members or older students on exchange to the university to live there.
I believe Iowa State is the only chapter that currently allows female summer tenants. They don't allow any male non-members to live in the house over the summer. One floor of the house is designed entirely for female tenants (most are friends who live in sorority houses, which close during the summer) and one floor for FH guys. The chapter has very firm rules for when and where the FH guys can go onto the women's floor. The ladies also must sign housing contracts and agree to the house rules, as above.
Iowa State has done this for several years now and it's worked well for the chapter/association, generating some additional revenues.
If adequate safeguards are in place to ensure the safety and security of the ladies, and brothers who live at the house during the summer understand the absolute importance of not violating the privacy of the ladies, I can see such a plan working smoothly. As a new father of a daughter, I'd think the biggest issue would be designating a specific restroom and shower facility for ladies and having some kind of locking mechanism in place to ensure that the ladies are safe.
FRMT doesn't require any additional insurance for such summer arrangements - but from a liability standpoint, I think it has to be made perfectly clear to members what the expectations are. - JG
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