The new Delta Zeta house, standing at about 19,000 square feet, has finished being constructed at an estimated cost of $4.5 million and is located in the center of Greek Village. 

Shelly Brown Dobek, director of Fraternity and Sorority life, projects that the entire project lasted almost three years from design to completion, while the construction of the house lasted only 18 months. Dobek discussed how the price of this house reflects all of the other amenities the Delta Zeta house has to offer.

“The program that they support is bigger than just the number of beds,” Dobek said. “There is a commercial kitchen in these facilities that will feed 160 women three times a day, as well as provide housing for the 40 women that live there full-time. And then there is programmatic space for the organization to have their events.”

According to Dobek, the house was funded by the National Housing Corporation, an organization that owns all Delta Zeta housing properties on all campuses across the country.

“The university has done the infrastructure work, so that means going in and preparing the lot and getting all of the sewage, gas and electricity set up,” Dobek said. “The women pay rent, and parlor fees and meal plans, and this money goes back to the National Housing Corporation to help settle that debt.”

There is currently a master plan in the works which aims to redevelop the entire Greek Village. Dobek talked about the building of a Greek life community center as a possibility in the master plan.

“The master plan does have a couple of amenities in it, and one of those is a community center,” Dobek said. “The village will act as a hub for the more than 50 Greek life organizations on campus. The community center will include programmatic space, a small kitchen and some offices.”

Delta Zeta’s President, Caitlyn Fincher, a fourth-year studying psychology, expressed her excitement over the new house.

“I think there has been a lot of excitement in general, because anytime you move into a new space it is kind of refreshing,” Fincher said. “[Delta Zeta] is doing a lot to change how our chapter is viewed on campus and what we expect from our members, so it is in an interesting time to move into the house because a lot of other changes are happening.”

Jenna Loehrer, a third-year studying business administration, is the vice president of finances for Delta Zeta. According to Loehrer, members have been looking forward to this new house since the sorority was founded.

“It is something that has been a goal of ours, and our nationals have really worked with us to make it happen,” Loehrer said. “It is also just a unique way to get our girls engaged and now we have a lot more space where we can come together as a chapter and all hang out together.”

Loehrer explained how she thinks the new house will help recruit members in later years. 

“I only have one year left in it; I will probably be there every day just to enjoy it,” Loehrer said. “It is a unique experience that our girls can have, and I think it will really help with recruitment. It will be a fun way to switch up the way we do things and to bring new ideas into how we’re functioning as a chapter.”