|
Post by okinawatyphoon on Jul 26, 2009 18:39:59 GMT -5
The charter was revoked after a drug violation in January 2005 but re-colonization can begin this fall. I'm sure the University deemed it imperative to demo the house before such a recolonization could occur and perhaps, interfere for their plans for Mound Street. Thanks for addressing the reason that they were kicked out, but maybe you can clear this up for me. Popular rumor has it that the house was not able to be habitable again, which is why it was torn down. I have been told that when the Phi Delts were kicked out, they poured concrete into the plumbing system, which would make it impossible to fix. Is there any truth to that?
|
|
|
Post by vuphidelt on Jul 26, 2009 22:56:24 GMT -5
No, there's no truth to that... The bathroom drains were blocked off because an Alumnus with a contracting business was rehabbing the bathrooms in late 2004. (I actually have pictures of this). $60K worth of new windows and other improvements had been installed less than a year before the house was shut down in 2005. We have an alumnus that lives in Valpo that was acting as a de-facto steward and overseeing these improvements. That said, after seeing the posts on this board, I looked up the old police report and although drugs were part of the problem, the larger issue seems to have been a party in early 2005 where 50 or so underage people were caught in the house and breathalyzed by the police (after being tipped off by and informant). This came on the heels of another alcohol violation so nationals pulled the charter for 4 years. Since we were over a barrel, we sold our remaining interest in the house to the university about a year ago (or so ?) so there is cash in the bank if anyone knows students that would want to begin a recolonization effort this fall. Of course, this would be a huge effort but one hell of a resume builder upon graduation!
|
|
|
Post by okinawatyphoon on Jul 28, 2009 20:23:32 GMT -5
Also recently destroyed: the MLK House near the Law School. After being vandalized and damaged by fire, this ugly house was torn down one week ago.
|
|
|
Post by agibson on Jul 29, 2009 2:38:32 GMT -5
Vandalized?
And what's the replacement? Union space?
|
|
|
Post by okinawatyphoon on Jul 29, 2009 9:13:38 GMT -5
Vandalized? And what's the replacement? Union space? Here's an article about the fire that mentions the vandalization as well. And as far as a replacement, I don't think there is one yet. _________________________ ‘Suspicious’ fire at VU’s MLK Cultural Center concerns leaders Community leaders are commenting on the fire Tuesday night that damaged the former Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Center at Valparaiso University, which has been called "suspicious." "We are conducting a thorough analysis of this situation and trying to determine if there is some sort of pattern of racist motivated events is occurring here," said Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas. "Whether done by a single person or group, there are some similar types of actions between various events." Jose Arredondo, co-executive director of the Race Relations Council of Northwest Indiana deplored the incident. "It's unbelievable in this day and age ... if in fact somebody did set it," Arredondo said. On Wednesday fire officials said they will continue to investigate the cause of the blaze. "The fire is suspicious in origin simply because I can't place a heat source where the area of origin is," said Assistant Chief Dan Lamb of the Valparaiso Fire Department. Lamb said it didn't appear accelerants, like gasoline, were used, but rather it appears someone started the fire using existing materials in the building at 606 Freeman St. The fire was discovered about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday when fire and smoke were seen coming from the building. Lamb estimates the fire was burning for about 20 minutes before finally being discovered. Firefighters contained the fire to the room of origin and a hallway, but the rest of the building sustained heat and smoke damage. The damage estimate is $25,000. Although there had been racial vandalism inside the building a week earlier, Lamb said he didn't see any signs that racial words were written or spray painted by whoever started the fire Tuesday night. The building was no longer in use, but was named the Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Center and was once used by minority students at VU. Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call the fire department at (219) 462-8325 or the WeTip crime hot line at (800) 78-CRIME. It isn't known whether the fire is related to some recent incidents of racial vandalism in Valparaiso and unincorporated Porter County. "We're checking with other jurisdictions to see if they are related in any manner," said Porter County police Lt. Chris Eckert. "We're looking into every possibility at this point," added Valparaiso police Sgt. Michael Grennes. "It's troubling when you have these type of incidents take place in your community. One is too many, let alone as many as we have been having."
|
|
|
Post by agibson on Jul 30, 2009 1:47:42 GMT -5
Here's an article about the fire that mentions the vandalization as well. And as far as a replacement, I don't think there is one yet. Ah, OK, "The building was no longer in use". I was never inside the place. But my general sense, ten years ago, was that international students (and others?) could hang out there, they hosted parties, etc. I wonder if that sort of space had disappeared some time ago? Or was somehow absorbed by the new union.
|
|
|
Post by okinawatyphoon on Jul 30, 2009 19:46:01 GMT -5
Here's another view of the MLK House. As far as international students and others having a place, they now have the international & multicultural suite in the new Union, which has a lot of space and a full kitchen for those kinds of things.
|
|
|
Post by okinawatyphoon on Jul 31, 2009 19:56:29 GMT -5
On a different note, I had no idea that the streets on old campus had bricks under them! I thought all the bricks would have been taken up, but they just put pavement over them I guess. This picture is at the intersection of Greenwich and Union streets.
|
|
|
Post by vu72 on Jul 31, 2009 20:07:20 GMT -5
Yes, in my day the streets were mostly brick. jj will have to tell us when they were laid but I think the students did lay the bricks probably in the 40's or so.
|
|
TD
Recruit
Posts: 42
|
Post by TD on Jul 31, 2009 22:04:45 GMT -5
I've started reading the board again after being away for a while which was my own way of sensoring myself. It really didn't deserve a thread of it's own. Here's a look at when VU was planning for a "new" union in 1953. Keep that in mind when you think about how VU got along with the old union for so long. collections.valpo.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/yearbooks&CISOPTR=3193&REC=5 (page 19) I'll keep looking for a picture of when VU students moved the bricks from near the old chapel to another location. I know for sure the students did the brick moving on their own.
|
|
TD
Recruit
Posts: 42
|
Post by TD on Jul 31, 2009 22:08:44 GMT -5
|
|
TD
Recruit
Posts: 42
|
Post by TD on Aug 1, 2009 0:16:02 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by jj on Aug 1, 2009 7:14:00 GMT -5
Welcome back TD and thanks for the memories. Saw myself in the Theta Chi picture in the 1953 yearbook. My wife is also pictured in the Gamma Phi group. There wasn't much racial diversity on campus in those years,but things have gotten better. Go Valpo!
|
|
|
Post by vu72 on Aug 1, 2009 9:47:05 GMT -5
A welcome back and thank you from me also TD. What great memories those pictures bring back! I remember most if not all of the old campus buildings described. I lived in Dodge Hall while the new PHi Psi house was under construction and in both the old and new Phi Psi house. My freshman year was spent at Werenberg, at the other end of the planet. The "plans" for old campus. as discussed in 1978 sounded pretty good. Instead, they pretty much tore everything down. To this day it is a beutiful piece of dirt with great, giant trees. The idea of a performing arts center was a good one. New campus is great but to me, still alittle sterile. You can't grow big trees "over night"!! In genereal I think the right decisions were made because most if not all of the old campus buildings were badly constructed or just plan unsalvagable. Most lacked real character as well. There were some that would be great to have but fire took some anyway. Hopefully the Board will take under advicement what to do with old campus. There could be several great uses for this area. Finally, it was great to look back at some of the names who were students and have since contributed so much to the University. In looking at the 1953 Phi Psi picture, you see names like Howard Claussen (yes that Claussen, of pickle fame). Bill Efrig (music)Doug Seltz (now a judge) and others who have been very successful.
|
|
|
Post by okinawatyphoon on Aug 1, 2009 19:15:14 GMT -5
Here's just another closeup of the corner of Greenwich and Union:
|
|