SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – In the middle of Syracuse University’s Greek Row is the house belonging to the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, otherwise known as FIJI. However, they won’t be there for long. An end of their 5-year lease meant FIJI had to pack their bags and find a new house.
As of next year they will be living on 1105 Harrison, which may sound familiar to many, and for good reason. Phi Gamma Delta’s new house definitely comes with some baggage.
The brothers of Phi Gamma Delta were forced to settle on 1105 Harrison, otherwise known as the former house of Theta Tau.
Yes, that Theta Tau, the engineering fraternity that infamously made headlines last year for the extremely racist, sexist, and homophobic video that got their house kicked off campus. Many people say it will be hard to not associate the house with the video.
“I think there’s definitely going to be people that don’t go or who feel weird going especially in the beginning,” said Greta Masi, a sorority member at SU. “It’s so new and its so fresh its only been about a year, so I think going back to that house, everyone’s just gonna be there thinking about everything that happened and all the things that were said and done.”
However, many Phi Gamma Delta brothers believe their fraternity can put a positive spin on the situation.
“I really don’t think it affects us at all because that’s not something we endorse,” said Justin Paura, the Vice President and Treasurer of Phi Gamma Delta. “I think that if we make significant strides and prove that we are above the horrible things that happened in there that it’ll be beneficial and in the end, forget the bad that happened there and hopefully look at all the good.”
It won’t be easy, but FIJI has high hopes that they can avoid the ghost of Theta Tau.
