house on umd frat row goes to τκε

Most universities have frat rows of some kind, but the University of Maryland’s is particularly posh. A traditional horseshoe lane just inside campus is lined with thirteen neoclassical manses, complete with white pillars and brick façades. But when No. Three Fraternity Row became available after the local Delta Tau Delta was evicted, only two chapters applied. The winner was Tau Kappa Epsilon, only three years back on campus after a ten year hiatus and two years after unsuccessfully applying for No. Six, vacated by an ousted Beta Theta Pi. The winning edge over the other contender, Phi Kappa Psi? The Tekes’ strong membership role and clear documentation of finances and social calendar. Numbers, organization and good chapter operations trumped a avowedly “troubled past with the university.” Food for thought to exiled chapters contemplating how to turn themselves around.