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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 9, 1998)
Member says memories will survive house’s move CLOSING from page 1 years as part of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s master plan, which administrators presented Thursday. Though all members have special memories of die house, Elliott feels especially close to the issue because of her family’s history. The sorority had an emergency meeting Thursday to explain the news. After hearing one sentence, Elliott ran out crying and went to her room, the same room where her mother had once lived. She called home, but had to hang up because she couldn’t breathe or talk. Like most of her sorority sisters, after an emotional reaction, she real ized the positive sides of the move: one, the university will help pay to build a new house with modem com forts; and two, die plans that require the sorority to move will improve the campus for everyone. “I think with my heart, then I think with my head,” Elliott said. Elliott knows why her heart flooded when she first thought of los ing the house. Many small reminders evoke sen uiucuuu icelings aooui me nans ner mother, sister and grandmother roamed. For instance, sometimes while waiting for a date in die foyer, she’ll realize her mother had been in the same place waiting for her father, and she’ll think, “This is where she was standing. This is where they got to know each other.” And, as a constant reminder, the gold lyre Alpha Chi Omega pin she wears is the one her grandmother wore 60 years ago. Allison’s mother, Barbara Robbie Elliott, reacted to the news much like her daughter because of her deep attachments - she had been president of die chapter in 1969. “It’s real emotional,” Barbara said. “At first you think, ‘They can’t do that... How could you tear down a house to put in grass?”’ Barbara is an active alumna who often visits die house during sorority events and home football games. “It’s a neat feeling,” she said. “The stairs creak the same; it kind of smells the same. “It’s a neat tradition and heritage to have.” She remembers the house’s old kitchen, which has remained mostly unchanged. She remembers the house’s flat roof, where she and her sisters would sunbathe. Barbara knows that when she vis its die new house, she won’t feel that same nostalgia, but she will feel good knowing that the women are creating CC Its real emotional* At first you think, 'They can V do that. .... How could you tear down a house to put in grass?9 99 Barbara Robbie Elliott Alpha Chi Omega alumna the same memories she experienced. “If it has the greek letters on the door and some of the same familiar objects, all those tilings still happen.” Linda Schwartzkopf shares a similar opinion. Schwartzkopf is the director of Greek Affairs and an Alpha Chi Omega alumna. Schwartzkopf said the sorority’s history offers good advice to today’s members. In 1926, the sorority had the foresight to move from its old house to its current one. “I think we need to have the same vision that those women had back then,” Schwartzkopf said. But her first reaction was word for-word the same as Barbara’s - “They can’t do that.” Schwartzkopf’s mother, also an Alpha Chi Omega alumna, echoed the response as well. But after digest ing the details, they became excited about a new house and a better cam pus, she said. That’s where Allison is tom. As much as she wants the old house preserved, she knows a new house will be attractive to rushees and better for new members. Air con ditioning, suite-style bedrooms and bathrooms and extra phone lines for computers are among the amenities members have considered. James Griesen, vice chancellor for student affairs, said sorority members are responsible for design ing and building the new house according to their own desires. Depending on how much the sorority is willing to pay, members could have the new one built with the same his fAPlA no 4-La aimwam4 ama La said. Alumnae and members have sug gested that the furniture and decora tions, maybe the stairway railing, be transplanted into the new house. Some have talked about using bricks from die old house in the new one. The biggest concern members have, particularly alumnae, is that the university pays enough money for the old house so the new house can be as nice or nicer. They wonder if, once the house is built, they will have enough money to pay for the new car pet, paint, wallpaper and other fur nishings. The new house most likely will be bought with a combination of funds from sorority donations, loans to the sorority and the amount the university pays for the old house, Griesen said. Griesen said the university will pay an amount based on valuations from appraisers. That value, he said, will be derived from the house’s mar ket value and its earning potential - the amount of money the house could earn through leasing and rent. Whether that amount will pay for half, all or little of the new house depends on the value of the old house and the cost of the new one. “The variables are unknown,” he said. If the sorority and the university can’t agree on a price, the university could go to court to acquire the land, Griesen said. But, he said, he hopes the two sides can cooperate to reach an acceptable agreement. Griesen said part of that agree ment will include swapping land: the sorority’s lot at 716 N. 16th St. for the empty lot on the northeast comer of 16“ and R streets, where a park now stands between Kappa Delta and Pi Beta Phi sororities. Although specific measurements have not been made, Griesen said they appear about the same size* If that lot is not acceptable, the univer sity can offer other spots farther east on R Street. In a way, Allison finds it ironic that the new house may move just a few blocks away. Har fomihr inAxroH frAm tViair r\\A home in Omaha to California years ago. When they returned, the house they moved into was just blocks away from her old house. It didn’t matter that they lived in a different house, just like it won’t matter when her future Alpha Chi Omega sisters move into a new house. “It’s my family that matters. It’s Alpha Chi that matters.” Though her mother cherishes the sorority’s 72 years of tradition at 716 N. 16“ St., Barbara said 92 years of deeper tradition has its address in die hearts of Alpha Chi Omega sisters. ^“Sisterhood is more than brick and mortar,” she said. “It’S long-term friendships, so I guess it doesn’t mat ter where it happens.” Union Board delays vote on policy UNION from page 1 proposal. Peter Murphy, a UNL student who spoke at the meeting, said he opposed the policy because the line between students and non-students does not make sense. “Why do you think people who have a student ID are not going to be dangerous or disrupt people?” he asked. Sara Russell, president of the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska, said elimi nating one group of people would not improve the union’s atmosphere. She urged the board to look for another alternative. “You can’t solve die problem by elimination of a group of people,” she said. ASUN voted to oppose die pro posed policy Wednesday. Nebraska Unions Director Daryl Swanson, who is on the board of directors of Daywatch, said people have complained to him about not feeling safe or comfortable in the union because of the homeless and transient population. None of those people spoke at the meeting, he said. “This is not Daryl’s issue,” he said, “but a student issue.” Swanson said he had been ready to take die advice of die Union Board on Tuesday on how to handle the issue, had they voted. He said students pay $78.25 per semester to use the union and they should feel safe using it. Swanson said he feels the union is a safe place to be and that it does not have a record of violent incidents. Swanson said only about five of the 20 transient and homeless people who frequent the Nebraska Union cause problems. He said the disor derly conduct increases at night, which was the reason for the 6 p.m. limit. Swanson told students at the « You can’t solve the problem by elimination of a , group of people ” Sara Russell ASUN president meeting about a recent incident where a night manager was threat ened by a homeless person, who was arrested. He said problems with non-stu dents drinking alcohol and vomiting made the job of being a night manag er sometimes unpleasant. “If you cleanup vomit in front of the big-screen television a couple times, that gets pretty tiresome,44 he said. past and WlgE "Tap dancing will never be the same again. *■* -The London Time* M ^ primary care clinic * pharmacy * Health education classes * caring staff * counseling &. psychological services * allergy * HP* ALL ABOUT A health presentations * dental * optom etry * physical therapy * dermatology * HEALTHY I 1|_ * student involvement * occupational education internal IEALTH CENTER Supporting Sr Promoting a Healthy You! CaU472-5000 for an appointment or more information. .. "■ /
