Members of Kappa Alpha Order pose for their last photographs at the house Monday evening. (Casey Lee)
A band of brothers, clad in red and yellow, no longer gathers outside the double doors of the Kappa Alpha Order house between classes. The infamous cannon is nowhere to be seen. Cars decorated with KA decals remain parked out front despite the vacant rooms inside.
In the wake of KA’s removal from campus, all 18 members residing in the house were told they would have until Monday at 3:30 p.m. to pack their belongings in boxes and move into a dorm or find housing elsewhere.
“It feels as though we’re being treated not as people, but as criminals,” said Wes Davidson, a sophomore, former KA who was told to vacate the house. “It’s unbelievably terrible that they are taking us from our house, removing our charter and saying KA’s are no longer in the Greek organization and you’re forcing me to live like a freshman.”
Originally, SMU administration told the house members they would have to be out by Feb.14, but extended the move-out date upon learning some students were trying to find off-campus locations to move into.
“Nothing was offered as far as helping us move,” explained Davidson. “[SMU] said that’s it, you’re out.”
Students were told they would be placed in dorms throughout campus and given a new roommate, but would have no say in the matter. No other help in regards to transporting belongings was extended by the university.
Resident Life and Student Housing explained the relocated students would be offered whatever rooms were available.
“It’s your sophomore year, the year you live in the house,” said Davidson. “What guy who has been living in a fraternity house next to his best friends wants to go from having a constant connection with all of your fraternity brothers and living within this social network to having everything completely dropped?”
Possible dorms for students included Cockrell McIntosh and Virginia Snyder.
While each member living in the house was guaranteed a bed on campus come Saturday night, they would not be refunded their room and board expenses should they choose to move off campus. In a struggling economy, those students who opted out of the on-campus arrangements would not only be approximately $2,500 in debt, but are also faced with the problem of finding affordable housing in surrounding neighborhoods.
Students will, however, be refunded the dues paid to their national chapter.
Last week, according to Davidson, it was unclear if these men would have to pay for a new meal plan upon settling in their new home. With the house chef losing his job, the students are given the option of dining at Umphrey Lee.
“It is my understanding they will not have to pay for a meal plan beyond what they had paid to KA for meals already,” said Steve Logan, executive director of residence life and student housing.
In a press releas issued Feb. 9, Dr. Lori White said, “We will do all we can to assist current members and new pledges in making the transition to other housing, and we express our heartfelt support for each individual student.”
However, according to Davidson, nothing was done other than ensuring the former members that they would have a bed to sleep in this week.
Situated next to where the Bush Library will be built, Davidson said it seems too coincidental his house was the one to be kicked off campus.
“It’s liability,” said Davidson. “You feel like you’re taking fault so the rest of the university can look better. We’re not criminals, we’re not bad people.”
Alsowithout a job are the house mom of 12 years and the KA chef. While Davidson believed both would be compensated through the end of the semester, they have not been guaranteed new jobs, but the house mom will be allowed to stay in the house till May.
When Beta Theta Pi was kicked off campus, the house became the RLSH office, but no word has been said of what will become of the KA house.
“We’re not bad people,” said Davidson. “It’s unfortunate that this had to happen to us.”
