Boise Council OKs Fraternity House in Southeast Boise

By Brad Hem, The Idaho Statesman, Boise

May 18–The Boise City Council voted 3-2 late Tuesday to allow the Boise State University fraternity Kappa Sigma to continue operating a house for up to 10 members, despite objections from the Southeast Neighborhood Association.

Neighborhood leader Fred Fritchman said the fraternity does not fit in with the otherwise single-family residential neighborhood, and he raised concerns about the group throwing loud parties and littering.

Both Kappa Sigma’s national organization and BSU have put the fraternity on probation for throwing a large party where about 30 underage people were cited for drinking.

Representatives from Kappa Sigma said the fraternity has cleaned up its act and no longer allows alcohol on its premises as a condition of the probation. Violating probation would mean the fraternity would lose its charter.

“Our past is spotty, but we’re changing direction,” chapter President Russ O’Leary told the council.

A slim majority of the council sided with the fraternity, saying the group appears to have improved its behavior.

Council members Maryanne Jordan, Jim Tibbs and David Eberle, who voted for the fraternity house, said that having the city regulate the use of the house would subject it to greater control.

Eberle and other council members scolded BSU for failing to designate on-campus property for fraternities and sororities, forcing those groups into surrounding neighborhoods.

Tibbs disclosed at the debate’s onset that he is a former member of Kappa Sigma, and some of the fraternity’s members helped with his campaign last year. The council determined Tibbs’ relationship with the group did not constitute a conflict of interest.

Mayor Dave Bieter and Councilman Alan Shealy were absent.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Idaho Statesman, Boise

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