PKT Becomes First Fraternity With On-Campus Residence

For the first time in school history, an Old Dominion University Greek society has opened an on-campus residence.

At a ribbon-cutting Aug. 22, members of the Gamma Tau chapter of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity opened a four-bedroom residence in the Powhatan II Apartments on the west side of campus.

The Davis House apartments are home to 12 members of the fraternity; PKT members renovated a fourth apartment as a chapter room, which was used during fall rush.

Don Stansberry, ODU associate dean of students, and Dan Dauer, professor of biological sciences and the chapter’s faculty adviser, attended the opening ceremony.

Dauer, who pledged Phi Kappa Tau when he was an undergraduate at ODU, said the fraternity is a group of stellar young men.

“The chapter at ODU strongly supports scholarship and finished the spring semester with the highest GPA among ODU’s nine IFC fraternities – six men were on the dean’s list and nearly half the chapter of 34 brothers have a GPA above 3.0,” Dauer said. “The chapter has also received awards for its commitment and accomplishments in community service.”

According to Stansberry, there is more student interest in ODU’s Greek community every year.

“We will continue to grow our community as long as the students request more opportunities,” he said. “I do think that as we continue to become more residential-focused, students will want a more traditional college experience … and that includes Greek life.”

Stansberry said the campus benefits from a thriving community of fraternities and sororities, “by the energy and commitment to service these groups bring to campus.”