Chapter House

History

The current house at 2510 University Ave is the second home to the Delta Mu Chapter. The first house was built in the 1920s and survived until the 1997 Red River Flood. After the flood, the house was able to reopen temporarily, but plans began to refurbish or replace the house. By the summer of 1999 the damage from the flood was bad enough to force the complete closure of house and the fundraising efforts kicked into high gear. After insurance proceeds and the major fundraising effort, the current house was built. The chapter was able to move back in as the finishing touches were being put in place in the beginning of 2001, with the Grand Opening and Dedication taking place over Homecoming later that year. There are numerous special touches in the new house to callback to the old house that so many alumni called home. Most notably, there is a section of bricks above the fireplace that are from the original bricks of the old house. 

Layout

The Delta Mu Chapter House is a three story + basement structure, it consists of 13 bedrooms with a total capacity of 36 brothers. Most rooms are designed to house 2 members, there are also two triple rooms on 2nd floor, and one quad room (traditionally called The Gym from the old house) on the top level. The basement, has a large meeting room, side room, bathrooms, storage rooms, and mechanical/electrical rooms. There is a handicap accessible room on the first floor, which when not occupied is designated to be available for visiting alumni wishing to stay. Also on first floor are the dining room, kitchen, library, and Viking Room (common area). Second and third floors are the suites/bedrooms. Third floor also has access to the front balcony. 

Finances

In addition to the insurance proceeds and alumni donations, commercial financing was used to accomplish the building of the "new house". As of Spring 2021 there is still approximately $240,000 due on that financing. This debt is serviced by rent payments from the undergraduate members and chapter. 

Operations

The undergraduate chapter manages the day to day operations of the house. The volunteer Housebuilding Association Board (HBA) manages the ongoing property needs and capital improvement projects, as well as leases the individual rooms to the members. HBA collects the individual rent amounts from all in-house members. The undergraduate chapter sets in-house and out-of-house dues to cover utilities and other expenses from operating the house.