ODU Fraternity Opens First Greek Residence on Campus

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

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

Don Stansberry, ODU associate dean of students, and Dan Dauer, professor and eminent scholar of biological sciences, who acts as the chapter's faculty adviser, attended the ceremony and offered their congratulations to Phi Kappa Tau.

The Davis Building apartments will house 12 members of the fraternity, and will have a fourth apartment as a chapter room, which members are renovating for use during fall rush.

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."

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

"Our groups are focused on service, leadership, scholarship and community - all positive factors for the students and the community."

Dauer said the men of Phi Kappa Tau hope they are joined soon on campus by other fraternity and sorority residences.

"Fraternities and sororities offer students the opportunity to become members of a cohesive group with common principles and purposes," he said.

"In addition, student retention rates and graduation rates are higher for members of fraternities and sororities than the general student population. Members of fraternities and sororities are loyal alumni with lifelong commitments to their alma mater, strengthened through the additional bond to their college chapter."