November 10, 1944
Arizona’s fraternities will survive this war just as they did 1917-18, but the problem this time is much more complicated than in the last war. In 1917 there were just three fraternities at the University of Arizona and none owned it’s own home. Today there are 11 active fraternities and before the war all owned their own homes. The size of the present chapters ranges from three to twenty.
The oldest two fraternities on campus, Kappa Sigma and Sigma Alpha Epsilon, recently sold their houses. Alumni are now planning to construct new homes as soon as possible after the war ends. Both houses have been taken over by the government and are now housing war workers.
FIVE HOUSES
The local chapters still own five houses although they are not being operated on the same basis. The Delta Chi house is now the Waves barracks. Delta Chi is now composed of four actives and seven pledges.
Two other active houses now have women living in them. They are Sigma Chi and Phi Gamma Delta. Sigma now has four actives and twelve pledges. Phi Gam twelve actives and ten pledges. Both plan to open their homes in the fall of 1945. However, this naturally depends on the progress of the war and the number of civilian men students registered.
PHI DELTS
The Phi Delts this year have 10 active members and 11 pledges, according to Harry Bagnall, vice-president. It’s home is now leased and is largely rented to Navy wives, Bagnall said. Phi Delt plans to open its house second semester unless the navy stays on after Dec. 20.
Sigma Nu is the only fraternity open on campus. The organization now numbers ten members and ten pledges. Sigma Nu has been renting rooms to non-fraternity men in order to take care of the overhead. The fraternity plans to expand and its house will stay open.
PI KAPS
Pi Kappa Alpha now has three members and five pledges. They occupy part of an old fraternity home at 81 North Euclid avenue.
The remaining three fraternities have never owned their homes and have no plans to operate houses at the present time.
The post war era will present new difficulties for the fraternities. Eleven homes were occupied at one time and only four of the larger ones will be available. Suitable buildings near campus are hard to find. Therefore some of the original groups will not be able to open their homes for several years after the war.
