At universities across the nation, creating physical spaces for marginalized students has become increasingly prevalent: Brown University introduced the Harambee House for Black students in 2019 and the Latinx House for Latinx students in 2018. At Yale University, the Asian American Cultural Center sponsors student groups, hosts events and fosters community for Asian students. Montclair State University offers the Stonewall Suites for LGBTQIA* students, and Wesleyan University offers the Womxn of Color House. At Washington University, we fall behind. Currently, the Hamsini House, a house dedicated to Black students and students of the African diaspora, and the Women’s Building—a single wheelchair-inaccessible building which houses the Office of Student Success, the Pride Suite and suites for sororities—are the only spaces on campus designated for historically oppressed communities. It is embarrassing that Washington University currently offers zero dedicated buildings for students of diverse racial, socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds: Turning over fraternity houses to underrepresented students is a necessary first step to reverse this trend.

In our community-wide conversation about the future of fraternity and sorority life, one of our priorities must be spatial equity. Both a letter by members of Deneb STARS and a petition from the Abolish Greek Life movement discuss the importance of re-allocating fraternity housing for low-income, BIPOC and LGBTQIA* students, who have historically been denied space on campus. We agree. The root of many of the problems in fraternity and sorority life, including alcoholism, hazing and interpersonal violence, occur because fraternity houses are geographically accessible spaces controlled by fraternity men. Fraternity houses also allow fraternity members to control the campus social scene by controlling everything from drinks to music in parties that are centrally located on campus. Re-allocating housing takes away this unjust and inequitable monopolization of social capital and allows for the creation of gender-inclusive, affordable spaces for marginalized communities.

Equalizing control of on-campus residential spaces also offers a system of spatial reparations for students of color, LGBTQIA* students and low-SES students who have been historically denied space to gather, build community and host events. With the increasing spotlight on racial inequity, violence against queer and trans folk and systems of classism within our country and our university, we must be intentional about the distribution of space on campus. The only group that currently has their own dedicated housing on campus are fraternities. Fraternity housing offers a variety of perks and benefits, ranging from cheaper annual costs to common spaces that enable community-building and programming. Fraternities, at their core, are also just an extracurricular group on campus, made up of disproportionately privileged, wealthy white men. Much like how a cappella groups, Campus Y and political organizations don’t have their own houses, fraternities shouldn’t either.

By instead providing these spaces to underserved student communities on our campus, we show that our dedication to anti-racism, inclusivity and equity are not just performative, but genuine. Students of color, low-income students and LGBTQIA* students have for far too long been denied the opportunity to have a place on this campus where they can feel fully safe and welcomed. We are calling on the Wash. U. administration to take concrete steps towards reallocating fraternity housing for the same marginalized communities our school has failed to serve for too long. These changes will be the first step in building a Wash. U. that is equitable, inclusive and works for all students.

TO SIGN ON AS A CO-AUTHOR/SUPPORTER:

Tinuola B. Adebukola President of WashU Women & Non-Binary Association (WNMA)

Aaliyah Allen, President of QUEENS

Max Jenkins, Pride Alliance Co-President and Transcending Gender Facilitator

Lane Bohrer, Transcending Gender Facilitator

Bridget Tyree, President of WU Ace&Aro

Maia Bender-Long, President of Title Mine

Efua Osei, Editor in Chief of RIZE Magazine

Emily Regan, former Women’s Panhellenic Association President

Matthew Berman, former Interfraternity Council Director of Social Justice

Maya Horn, former Diversity & Inclusion Chair of Pi Beta Phi

Russell Beckham, President of the Black Men’s Coalition (BMC)

Jessica Yu and Emma Wong, Asian Pacific Islanders Demanding Justice (APIDJ)

Onyi Onyeador, President of TRUTH

Mia Hamernik, student organizer and member of the DENEB Stars

Kiki Kozol, President of The Women’s Network: WashU

Alitzel Yepiz, President of the Association of Latin American Students

Brianna Meyer, Student Leader of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

Chudi Mbanefo, President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

Candace Hayes, Former President of Title Mine and Know Your IX Ambassador

Miriam Silberman, Speaker of the Congress of the South 40

Isabelle Jefferis, President of Lambda Q and former member of Pi Beta Phi

Caitlyn Johnson, President of Sisters of Color

WashU for Undergraduate Socioeconomic Diversity (WUFUSED)

All members of Ekta

Gaby Smith, Speaker of the Student Union Senate

Nkemjika Emenike, SU Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair

Ranen Miao, Student Body President