AOPi to move into house next month

Few sorority hopefuls picture themselves living in a residence hall. But Eigenmann Hall was home to more than 100 Alpha Omicron Pi members last semester, and will be for another month.\nAOPi was recolonized last year after a four-year absence from IU. The sorority was taken off campus in 1996 by its national organization.\nSenior Somer Wilson, a former AOPi president, said many minor incidents added up, which is why AOPi's charter was removed. But the plan was always to return.\nLast week, the sorority participated in its first formal recruitment since the sorority left campus. During last year's recruitment, AOPi only participated in the 19-party segment because it was too difficult to complete the recruitment without continuing members, said president Laura Miller, a senior.\nMiller said the house participated in 19-party to inform women that there was an AOPi house. Interested members were individually interviewed by alumnae and national sorority members.\n"(Recruitment) went really well this year; we got good returns and as many women as we wanted," Miller said.\nEven without a completed house, returning members said they were excited about how the week unfolded.\n"Rush was awesome, and a lot of (women) said they couldn't believe how great we had done," sophomore Jaime Kivett said. "Everyone was so excited, and we got back 100 percent of the girls."\nThe long-awaited house, located at 1415 N. Jordan Ave., is expected to be finished by the end of February. More than $3 million dollars was raised through the efforts of alumnae and the Alpha Omicron Pi Foundation for the purchase of land and construction of the new house. The sorority decided not to keep the former house on 10th Street because of limited space and seclusion from other sororities.\n"It's probably best that the (old) house was kicked off campus because grades weren't up to standard and it made the house look really bad," Kivett said. "We have a new house and don't really even want to be associated with the old one. It's good to start things new."\nThe IU chapter of Beta Phi was founded in 1916, but members of last year's house were responsible for writing new bylaws and house rules. AOPi was the first recolonized fraternity or sorority since Alpha Xi Delta's return in 1986.\nWith membership totaling 159 as of Sunday, Kivett said she is excited about the sorority's house and new members.\n"The sisterhood, friendship and diversity is what drew me to the house," said Kivett. "And the fact that our house has become so close by living together in Eigenmann, we are not cliquey; we are one group and everyone is involved."\nMiller said she is especially proud of the new chapter's development.\n"We accomplished a lot this year and we're really proud for our first year back," she said. "I think the next year is going to go great. I'm excited we have a great group of new women"