ByGeorge!

Sept. 17, 2003

Toast of the Townhouses

GW Community Celebrates Opening of New Facilities

By Greg Licamele

The building was blessed, the ribbon was cut and open houses were conducted as the greek letter communities celebrated Townhouse Row on Sept. 4, beginning a new chapter in this form of student life that dates back to 1862 at GW.

Five sororities and three fraternities now call the new building on 23rd Street home. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony and Masonic blessing, University President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg said this project was 15 years in the making. He expects this building to lead to a more robust greek life at GW.

Robert A. Chernak, senior vice president for student and academic support services, challenged all 1,500 students who are members of greek communities to extend their outreach.

“What I’m hoping for is that the greek world contribute not just in the successful ways you have in the past to GW and DC, but also in ways that are bolder, purer and more successful,” Chernak said.

Norm Pentelovitch, president of the Interfraternity Council, said while colleges across the country are providing less support to greek communities, GW is clearly an exception.

“We have been given an important opportunity to redefine what it means to be a member of a greek organization at an urban college campus,” Pentelovitch said. “With a lot of hard work and some luck, I believe we can make all of our organizations stronger and can be a model greek community for universities throughout the country.”

Chernak said the entire greek community should not look at Townhouse Row as a final step, but rather as a stepping stone for a potential Townhouse Row 2.

During the celebration, the cornerstone of the new building was declared level, square and plumb by members of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia Free and Accepted Masons as they performed the traditional Masonic cornerstone laying ceremony.


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Related Link

Archive: Townhouse Row Set to Open Sept. 4

GW Home Page Sept. 17 Cover