Frequently Asked Questions

History Questions

Q: There are far fewer fraternities at Dartmouth now than there were 40 years ago. Why did other fraternities fail?
A: Like many northeastern schools, Dartmouth's Greek system is far different than it was 40 years ago. Over the years, houses have been dissolved due to lack of interest, been derecognized by the College, moved, or completely revamped. Several fraternities now exist as co-ed groups. The number of fraternities on campus has been relatively stable for the last fifteen years or so and participation in the Greek system is as strong as it ever was (over half of eligible students choose to join). In fact, the percentage of students who join has increased in the last 3 years.

Q: How many living alumni of our chapter are there? For how many do we have good addresses?
A: There are ~1300 living alumni of the Psi Epsilon Chapter of Zeta Psi. We have valid mailing addresses for almost 1200 of them, and email addresses for over 700.

Q: Is this the first time Zeta Psi has been in trouble?
A: No, Zete is the second oldest national fraternity at Dartmouth and has had its ups and downs in over 150 years of existence. During the Civil War and late 19th century, the house did not exist on campus. It was revived in 1920 and has existed at its current location on 8 Webster Avenue since then. Zeta Psi has periodically been in trouble with the College since 1920, but no more than any other Greek house.

Q: I heard that Phi Delt has recently returned to full-standing despite their de-recognition. What lessons can we learn from their experience?
A: Phi Delt has become a model member of the Greek community following its four-year de-recognition. Their example proves that houses can change their culture and come back stronger than ever. We have had discussions with leaders of their alumni association and with leaders of several other alumni associations to gain insight into their success, especially during the last few years as the Greek system has become more community service-oriented.

Q: Is the toilet in the basement still known as "Walter"?
A: Of course…some things in life are eternal.

Money Questions

Q: If I give money now, on what will it be spent?
A: Not on beer, paddles, or ping-pong balls. All donations have been earmarked for the Housefund which pays for insurance, utilities, house maintenance, and the feasibility study being undertaken to determine the viability of renovating/rebuilding the house.

Q: I've heard we're trying to raise $100,000 right now. How long will that keep us afloat?
A: The $100,000 will keep us afloat for the next 2 to 3 years while the re-recognition efforts are under way.

Q: Is it true that Zete is conducting a capital campaign? How much are we trying to raise?
A: While no definite decision has been made on the necessity of a capital campaign, Greg McElroy (the President-Elect of Zeta Psi International), has been engaged to conduct a feasibility study to determine how much we "could" raise. Should such a campaign be undertaken, the amount raised would depend on what we decide to do with the physical plant. Estimates of what we can raise range between $900K and $1.3MM.

Q: Why was I told that Zete needed to raise $100,000 to get the College to re-recognize us?
A: This is false. The $100,000 is necessary to maintain the fraternity during these critical next few years. The money has no bearing on the College's decision to re-recognize or not.

Real Estate Questions

Q: How large a house (measured in square feet, bedrooms, deck space, pong tables, whatever) would Zete need to be a leader among Dartmouth fraternities?
A: Houses vary tremendously on campus and the importance of square footage is dwarfed by the need for practical, usable space that meets the needs of 21st century Dartmouth students. That said, the house needs to have enough beds to pay back its debt yet be small enough to remain fully-occupied throughout the year. That balance seems to be somewhere between 18 and 25 beds. If we renovate the existing house we would need a small addition to reach that size. A new house would be custom-built to the right number of beds and right square footage.

Q: How realistic is it that a revitalized Zete would fill anywhere from 18-25 bedrooms?
A: After the first few years of recognition, it is a very realistic goal. There has always been a strong appeal to living in Greek houses because of the autonomy and camaraderie such an experience provides. If a new, larger house was built at 8 Webster Avenue, the draw to rush Zete and live in the new building would be quite powerful. Furthermore, student housing is at an absolute premium on campus. If we were building a new dorm on the property, we could expect high rents and immediate occupancy. A fraternity necessarily has a longer timeframe to consider.

Q: Did we decide to renovate the existing house or rebuild the house entirely?
A: No decision has been made and there is strong debate from both sides.

Q: What are the pros and cons of each option?
A: Renovation would be cheaper than rebuilding and would maintain the look and feel of the fraternity house that all living Zete alumni remember and love. However, we would be confined by the existing floorplan and bed count (unless we do an addition). Rebuilding would allow us to build the best Greek house on campus with ample living space, recreational space, and bedrooms. However, it would cost considerably more than renovating and would have none of the imbued memories of the old facility.

Q: What would each of those options cost?
A: Current estimates are $750,000 for renovation and $2-3 million for rebuilding.

Q: How much money would we need to raise for each option?
A: We have estimated that half the monies would have to be raised through contribution.

Q: How much money would we need to borrow for each option? And how large a loan could we service?
A: Our operating budget estimates indicate that the cashflows could service the loan required to build the house, provided we fundraise half the construction cost. Those operating budget estimates also provide a reserve fund for maintenance.

Q: Who's designing a new house, if we pursue that option?
A: Frank Gehry has been approached, but his "titanium-sheathed, swirl-box" was deemed too radical for Dartmouth's campus. As such, other architects are being pursued.

Q: How old is the building at 8 Webster Ave?
A: Our present physical plant was built in the early '20s.

Q: Why exactly do we have to rebuild or renovate the house?
A: There are several reasons to rebuild or renovate the house. First, the building has deteriorated badly and while it is not necessarily a recruiting liability, it certainly doesn't help attract the number of high-quality candidates a vibrant fraternity requires. Second the roof, heating, plumbing, and electrical systems have long exceeded their lifespan and are in need of replacement. Third, we have inordinantly high utility costs due to the aged sysems and a lack of insulation. Fourth, today's building codes generally require that if you do more than a cosmetic renovation you are required to bring the entire building up to current code. So if we replace those systems, we would also be required to meet ADA, fire alarm, and life safety code. All of these factors combine to push us towards a large-scale renovation or a rebuild.

On-Campus Questions

Q: What is the function of Dartmouth fraternities today?
A: Much the same as it always has been, Dartmouth fraternities are the primary social outlet on campus. They also serve as a welcome housing alternative to dorms and are the leaders on campus in terms of educational programming, non-profit fundraising, and building awareness of social issues.

Q: Do prospective new brothers of fraternities really pay attention to the condition of the house, the size of the house, or the size of rooms in the house?
A: While the primary concern of new brothers is whether a house is the right "fit" for their personality and interests, the condition of the physical plant is crucial. A run-down, dilapidated house could certainly turn away potential brothers who are "on the fence".

Q: What kind of demand is there for what effectively would be a new fraternity? That is, would Zete likely succeed if we, say, built a new house and created an endowment for its maintenance?
A: Yes. Zete has always attracted a "different" sort of brother; one who often chooses to either join Zete or not rush at all. We are positive that the demand for a house like Zete, which can offer an alternative to the other houses on campus, will be high.

Q: What exactly is the Student Life Initiative, and how does it impact Zeta Psi?
A: The SLI was enacted in 1999 to revamp the student experience at Dartmouth. While the initiative had many goals, the largest uproar was caused by what the students perceived as attacks on the Greek system. Zete was de-recognized during the SLI commotion when the administration's sentiment towards the Greek system was at is nadir. The SLI has recently been all but removed as a driving force on campus and the atmosphere towards Greeks is stronger than is has been in nearly a decade.

Reinstatement Questions

Q: Given that Zete has survived without official College reinstatement, why should we make sacrifices to get it again?
A: From a purely practical standpoint, recognition will allow us to be sustained indefinitely from a financial perspective since the room rent we would be able to charge would offset all of our expenses. More importantly, if Zete is to make a positive impact at Dartmouth College again, we need to become a recognized institution in the eyes of students, alumni, faculty, and the administration. Only then can we really begin contributing to the College.

Q: I read that Dartmouth has "opened the door" to reinstatement. Does that mean we're guaranteed to be reinstated? If not, what does it mean?
A: No guarantees have been made by the College, but administrators have pledged to work with Zete to bring the house back to campus. A number of issues must be worked out before this can occur and it will take time to resolve all of them.

Q: What will prevent Dartmouth from "de-recognizing" Zete arbitrarily after we reinvigorate the fraternity?
A: In our discussions with the College, we will insure that any future sanctions against Zete will be done fairly, equitably, and with due process.

Q: Are any of the Zete brothers who were on campus at the time of the de-recognition currently at Dartmouth?
A: No. All of the Zetes who were students at the time of the de-recognition graduated years ago.

Q: I read that the student Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC) has veto power over recognition of any new fraternity, including returning fraternities. Will the IFC vote on our application, and how can we be sure it will vote in our favor?
A: IFC recognition is an important part of the process of returning to Zete to campus. While no guarantees can be made that the IFC will vote in favor of Zete's application, the fraternity should be able to meet and exceed all criteria for a new or returning fraternity on campus. It is difficult to envision a scenario where the IFC would deny Zete's application.

Q: How long could it take for Zete to be re-recognized?
A: Estimates vary tremendously depending on what is done with the physical plant. Realistically, the house will not be recognized until the Fall of 2008 at the earliest, and possibly not until the Fall of 2009.

Q: What does the new College Trustee, Todd Zywicki Class of '88 and brother Zete think of our de-recognition and chances of re-instatement?
A: Todd has made Zete's reinstatement a plank of his trustee platform. Although there are a number of other issues he is working hard on as a Dartmouth trustee, Zete is foremost in his mind. He is very optimistic that Zete will be re-recognized in the not-too-distant future.

Q: What is the future of the house if we are not re-instated? Would we tear-down the house and build a monument?
A: If recognition becomes impossible, the Alumni Association would consider other options regarding the house's future. However, there is no reason to believe that the house will not eventually return to campus at this stage.

Tax Deductibility Questions

Q: Are my donations to Zete tax deductible? Are efforts being made so future donations will be tax deductible?
A: Currently, donations to Greek houses are not tax deductible. Efforts are being made to determine whether or not future donations to the house could be tax deductible depending on what the funds are earmarked for. A 501(c)3 non-profit entity has been created to receive such funds down the road.