Dartmouth Fraternity House That Inspired “Animal House” In Jeopardy
Former Dartmouth University fraternity Alpha Delta just can’t win right now.
Not only was the house that inspired “Animal House” unjustly kicked off campus earlier this year, but now they’ve been forced to file a lawsuit against Hanover, New Hampshire as the city’s zoning commission works to remove them from their house.
The fraternity lost recognition from Dartmouth in April when it was accused of branding pledges with fraternity letters. The pledges, police found, branded themselves and the university president even described it as “self-expression,” not hazing.
Regardless, the fraternity still got the boot and Hanover is trying to kick them while they’re down.
From The Valley News:
After losing its ties with the college … Alpha Delta received notice from the town that it had also forfeited its status as a student residence. About 18 fraternity brothers living at 9 East Wheelock were ordered to move out.
Representatives for the fraternity unsuccessfully argued to the Zoning Board of Adjustment that the mansion should be considered grandfathered as a student residence, as it has hosted students since before the town adopted its relevant zoning ordinance, they said.
The fraternity, which is the third-oldest on the campus of one of America’s oldest standing colleges, has been intact since the 1840s and has lived in that location since the 1920s — before the town’s first zoning ordinance in 1931.
It was also the inspiration of “Animal House” after writer Chris Miller submitted his memoirs about his pledging experience there.
As you can see, there’s a lot on the line. Lose this house, lose a massive amount of history. If all the remaining members are forced to move out, the $1.35 million house will likely have to be sold to another fraternity.
The zoning board disagreed with Alpha Delta’s ‘grandfather’ argument and voted 3-2 to dismiss it in June.
But wait… there’s hope!
Board member Katherine Connolly seems to be in the fraternity’s corner, telling the New Hampshire Union Leader, “As far as I’m concerned it’s not only grandfathered, it’s great-grandfathered.”
Alpha Delta has also filed a suit with Grafton County Superior Court and the case could take about a year to be resolved. No word on what will happen to the house in the meantime..
[via The Valley News, Union Leader]
Image via YouTube
This is actually news worthy… Bout fucking time.
10 years ago at 4:06 pmThe pussification of America continues.
10 years ago at 4:06 pmThis needs to be the rallying point of Greek life everywhere. Losing the inspiration for Animal House would be a travesty. #SaveAD
10 years ago at 4:07 pmThey took the bar the whole bar
10 years ago at 4:09 pmThey even took the stuff we didn’t steal!
10 years ago at 4:17 pmIn every article that has to do with anti-Greek life it is either involving a ‘student leader,’ a union, a school board, or a feminist. All liberal of course.
Hopefully we start winning again fast or else the Greek way of life, and even more, the American way of life may just end up as periods in history.
10 years ago at 4:15 pm#MakeCollegeGreatAgain
10 years ago at 4:31 pmNot really true. I hate truly left liberals too. However I know for a fact most of the administration at my school is very conservative. They (unprofessional I think) do not mask their political leanings. But these administrators nonetheless are constantly trying to hinder our Greek life with rules and regulations regarding parties, alcohol, ect. Don’t use “liberal” like a buzzword otherwise you use credibility to use something that deserves true criticism.
10 years ago at 5:44 pmIt’s an issue of risk for the universities. All anyone wants to do is cover their own ass so they only see fraternities as a liability that brings negative exposure. I blame the media for this mostly so fuck liberals.
10 years ago at 6:44 pmI’m a fucking liberal. I believe that men should be able to do what they want without interference from government and that includes college/university administrators. I believe that you should have the right to do what you want with your body, love who you want, and not be challenged for it. I believe you ought to have the right to worship as you please, believe what you please, and do anything you please without government interference as long as you do not hurt others. I don’t want the fucking government telling me much of anything. I carry a Glock everywhere I go, and I encourage others to do so.
Now, you may see me as not a liberal. So we are talking semantics.
I hate the media, liberal and FOX. They all suck. Why don’t we talk about the real issues, letting people choose what they do without government interference so long as it does not harm anybody.
When fraternities go too far and pledges are harmed, there are civil and criminal laws that cover that. Let’s let them work. But when people pledge a fraternity they ought to realize that they are going to be hazed. I am in favor of making this known to them ahead of time so there is no mistake. If they agree to accept hazing, then there should be no interest in that from the university.
It is time to stop the college and universities from imposing their politically correct rules upon their customers. And yes, students are customers. It’s time we asserted this and started enforcing our rights as adult men against an institution that wants to rule us without the power to do it.
10 years ago at 6:23 amRather than cramming all these thoughts into a comment, why don’t you put it into a column and submit it to TFM.
10 years ago at 6:50 amI would never get it published by TFM. It would be a waste of time. They don’t like people like me.
10 years ago at 3:44 amSounds like you’re a libertarian…
10 years ago at 9:15 amThat pretty much sums me up.
10 years ago at 3:45 amBeing someone who studied classical politics, I still don’t understand how people who want to ban everything they don’t like, get away with calling themselves liberal? They’ve bastardized a word that originally meant open minded, and possessing a live and let live attitude. They aren’t even liberal, they’re cultural fascists.
10 years ago at 7:54 amComing from a guy from a union family I’m pretty sure most labor union members could give a fuck less about what’s going on in the Greek world
10 years ago at 8:43 amIt sounds like Katherine Connolly’s grandmother was conceived in that house.
10 years ago at 4:31 pmSteve smith going to go off in frantasy football (frat fantasy football) tonight.
10 years ago at 4:55 pmHey man have a Reese’s. Don’t mind the bleach smell, that just means it’s fresh from the factory.
10 years ago at 5:09 pmNo one asked. No one cares.
10 years ago at 6:03 pmTry harder sdh266^
10 years ago at 6:08 pmNo
10 years ago at 6:08 pm#DeportPoloBackToCanada
10 years ago at 6:33 pmMore proof that the progressive (read regressive) left hates history and seeks to destroy anything of historical value that they do not like.
10 years ago at 4:58 pm“A fraternity from the 1800s at one of the oldest schools universities is as culturally significance as the museum in Cooperstown, NY. Just because you don’t understand it or agree with it does not mean you can shut it down.” ^ that is the same logic liberals use to condone Muslim and other cultural clubs at universities.
10 years ago at 5:47 pm“Schools universities” sorry I went to usc.
10 years ago at 5:54 pm“branded themselves”
10 years ago at 6:10 pm