On Tuesday evening 56 members of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity were asked to gather up their belongings and relocate for the remainder of the semester. University officials and fraternity members began questioning the safety of the building after Monon weekend.
Myrna Hernandez wrote a email to the faculty distribution list, saying ATO members were removed from their building due to safety concerns related to the physical structure of the building. The Office of Campus Living and Community Development sent the email to inform faculty about ATO's housing disruption.
According to chapter president Mike Perry, upgrades will be made to the support joints in a localized section in the West side of the house.
University officials required that the remainder of fraternity members move into Bloomington Street Hall after 19 members moved into The DePauw Inn.
“This was a decision from the University administration after engineering consultation along with ATO alumni and member leadership,” said Perry.
Thursday afternoon Myrna Hernandez released the following University statement:
The University decision to relocate the ATO students to Bloomington Street Hall was required solely because of structural issues with the ATO house discovered by residents that had led to safety concerns with the building.
The University cannot approve students living in residential facilities that we cannot be confident are safe. The ATO chapter plans for the required renovation work to begin as soon as possible, with the expectation that students will be able to return once it has been completed. In the meantime, these students will remain at Bloomington Street Hall and will eat their meals at University dining facilities.
Some members of the fraternity declined to comment.