Our Urgent Need
W
hile the Beta Nu experience is certainly more than the bricks and
mortar of the chapter house, our home plays a significant role in
the development of our sisters. It serves as a symbol of our shared
values and goals.
Built in 1951, with updates in 1992 and 2003, 55 East 15th Avenue has been
a part of Beta Nu's legacy for 62 years and is showing its age. At the same time,
several shifts in the culture at Ohio State mandate that we renovate and expand
our home. Therefore, it has become clear that we must make a major investment
in our chapter home if we are to remain competitive and financially sound, provide
a quality living environment, encourage personal and academic excellence, and
foster sisterhood.
The Ohio State University Board of Trustees recently approved a sophomore
on-campus living requirement which is scheduled to be implemented by 2016.
The good news is that living in a Greek facility will be the only exception to this
requirement. However, chapters must meet certain standards to be an approved
alternative housing option for second-year students. In addition, the Board also
approved the Second-Year Transformational Experience Program (STEP), which
focuses on enhancing student learning outside of the classroom. Much of this
programming takes place in the residence halls, and Beta Nu will be the first
chapter approved to not only house second-year students, but also host STEP in
our facility. Only a handful of chapters will have this opportunity. Beta Nu must
make changes to our facility in order to meet these second-year living standards
and gain the competitive edge we'll have by hosting STEP at Kappa.
