On Sept. 17, the house at 851 E. 15th Street in
Eugene, Oregon was bustling—Tri Deltas, moms, dads, boyfriends and brothers all
toted box after box and suitcase after suitcase over the threshold as 54 Theta
Delta sisters moved into their new home.
When the Theta Delta chapter at the University of Oregon was reinstated in January of 2010, the question of where the women would reside was raised. Tri Delta's National House Corporation (NHC) had the answer—they rented a house on the University of Oregon campus for the chapter to live in.
NHC worked tirelessly throughout the summer to prepare the residence for the fall move-in date. By the end of August, NHC designer David Williams and Director of Properties Erin Dunn, Texas/Arlington, had arranged each piece of furniture and put the final touches on accents and paint.
But it wasn't until the Theta Deltas arrived that the house officially became a home. Move-in weekend was a busy two days. The sisters first had to check in with the house director, Deb Chapman, or the collegiate house manager, Kaitlin Jones, to receive their room numbers and paperwork to fill out. Just like if they were moving into an apartment, the women had to take a damage inventory of their rooms and submit a list of repairs to be made. Once technicalities were taken care of, they unpacked and settled into their new living quarters, and the weekend was topped off with a fun root beer float party.
The following weekend, Theta Delta hosted an alumnae brunch,
where local alumnae members toured the new home, met the collegians and offered
support. The alumnae also brought old chapter collectables as gifts to be
displayed in various rooms.
"We feel like this chapter will be successful because of the local alumnae support," said NHC Senior Director of Operations Jennifer Thomas, Texas/Arlington. "And we know the chapter is excited and eager to collaborate with the alumnae on events."
Alongside the alumnae gifts, there are several features which make the house uniquely Theta Delta. The "Theta Delta" study room offers a quiet place for the women to focus on their academics, and also displays old knickknacks from the chapter's early years, including the original charter and a Delta Delta Delta Class of '64 plaque. The study also houses a wooden crest gifted to the chapter by the Eugene Alumnae Chapter.
In the dining room, large iron letters spelling out "Delta
Delta Delta" adorn the wall and were a gift from the chapter's alumna
advisor. Even
the property owners, Frichette Schaefer, LLC, showed their support by having an
outdoor light in the shape of the Stars and Crescent badge made for the home.
It hangs on the outside of the house above the porch, welcoming the sisters to
their new home.
The house, however, is much more than just a place to live; it's a place for the Theta Delta members to build their Tri Delta family.
"I could not be more excited about all of the opportunities this house will provide for the women of Theta Delta," said Erin. "It's not just about providing a healthy and safe environment that will perpetuate a positive collegiate experience, but it's also about providing a refuge where these women will build and enhance their bonds of sisterhood."
