Fraternity Row, a campus icon

COLLEGE PARK, Md.For decades, Fraternity Row has stood as the

heart of Greek life at the University of Maryland. With 14 Georgian-
style chapter houses and a large athletic field in the center, Fraternity
Row is truly an iconic part of the universitys campus.

Fraternity Row was constructed in the early 1950s due to the need for
housing after World War II. Each house has an identical Georgian
exterior, with the ability to
house up to 40 members.

Fraternity Row represents

the University's unique
commitment to Fraternity
and Sorority Life and the
life changing potential that
brotherhood and sisterhood
can have on not only those
who participate, but the
campus and community as
a whole, says Bob Nichols,
Associate Director of the
Department of Fraternity
and Sorority Life.

Since the 1950s, there have been

Fraternity Row features 14 Greek chapter houses. Photo
Credit: Lucas Thompson 34 chapters that have had the
privilege of having a chapter house
on Fraternity Row. The interior of each house is customized to the style
of the chapters choice.

I have been at the University of Maryland for just over 13 years, says
Nichols, While the iconic presence of the Row hasn't changed that
much since it was built, the interiors of the houses and their
memberships have changed year over year.

Today, the houses on Fraternity Row are much more high tech and well
decorated than when they were first constructed.

Today you will find the houses filled with wood floors, high end
furnishings, historical and unique pictures and decorations and much
more that makes each house unique to that chapter, says Nichols.
Fraternity Row is the cultural center for fraternity and sorority life at
Maryland. Chapters frequently host philanthropy events, play sports,
and just hang out on the large athletic field in the center of the houses.
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It is a representation of our community, says Eliza Elliot, a member
of Gamma Phi Beta, its a good place for Greek life to gather together
and be supportive of other organizations.

By having my house on the row I am able to form relationships and

friendships from people from other chapters, says Alex Mendal, a
member of Alpha Epsilon Phi, There are times when I am sitting in the
middle of the row with some friends and people from other chapters
will come join, even if theyre complete strangers.

Many consider having a house on Fraternity Row as a major advantage

in recruitment, philanthropy, and overall relevancy.

Having a house on the row definitely improves the profile of a

chapter, says Michael Strayhorn, a member of Beta Theta Pi, People
associate chapters with their houses and the row is so iconic that it
really helps.

Overall, Fraternity Row is a campus icon, representing a centralized

location for the Greek community to come together.

[Fraternity Row] enables us to form a tight-knit community, says

Mendal, it gives us that opportunity to form these friendships that we
wouldnt normally be able to create if we didnt have the row.

For more information of Fraternity Row, and Greek life at the University
of Maryland in general, visit the Department of Fraternity and Sorority
Life website at greek.umd.edu and university archives at
lib.umd.edu/univarchives.

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