4A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY APRIL 25, 2005
GREEK SECURITY
Greek houses face burglaries Greek chapter houses have been burglarized 134 times in the past seven years. Below are the locations of the chapters and the number of burglaries that have occurred since 1908
The annex of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, 407 W. 17th St., was broken into four times this semester. The chapter spent $100 to install five-inch pins that push through the window to the window sill for more security.
Securing
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Pi Kappa Phi fraternity enacted a policy in the fall that fined members $50 for going onto the fire escape. The policy prevents people from entering through open doors from the fire escapes.
"I want to be able to go to bed at night knowing that I'm safe and no one's wandering around the house that shouldn't be here," said Zack Zimmerman, Pi Kappa Phi president and Wichita junior. "If there's any way I can ensure my safety, then I'm going to do it."
Even though the system cost $10,000, Phillips said it was worth it.
Pi Beta Phi's security system was installed Feb. 16 in the front and the back of the house. While the sorority hadn't had any recent break-ins, members wanted to make sure they could prevent them and wanted to update the technology.
Benefits of Increased Security
"We haven't heard of any incidents at all since the security device was put in," Phillips said. "Being alone during late hours feels very secure in the house, as if I was in my own home in Texas."
The sorority has had few security problems.
Since 1998, the house has had one burglary and one theft.
"In sororites within the greek system, security is a must," said Katy Ibsen, Pi Beta Phi president.
The new system is easy to use, and it won't freeze up in the
winter because it has a covering that protects it. Members of Pi Beta Phi enter a personal code and put their palm on a scanner before the door will unlock.
The system logs when mem-
The system to bers enter the house, which helps the investigation of thefts and break-ins, Phillips said.
"If something was stolen or a guy was found walking around, you can go into the history of the program and question the people that came into the house during a similar time to see if they know any thing," Phillips said.
The Statistics
Lawrence Police Department
records show that 134 burglaries were reported in 30 fraternity and sorority chapter houses since 1998. Fraternities reported 89 incidents, while sororities had 45.
Break-ins are included in the burglary numbers, Capt. Dave Cobb, Lawrence Police Department, said.
not present and their things are stolen. On the other hand, in a robbery
a burglary is when a person is
someone physically took something by force, he said.
The Lawrence Police Department has received 3,622 calls from 28 chapter houses since 1998 — 2,426 from fraternities and 1,196 from sororities. However, not all calls were about security problems. For example, 500 calls were about towing cars.
What Other Chapters Are Doing
On Feb. 12, sometime around 4 a.m., a man got into the Sigma Delta Tau sorority house at 1625 Edgehill Road. Since then, the chapter has increased security around the house, particularly at night.
Stefani Gerson, Overland Park junior, was in her room on the second floor when the intruder came in. She saw a light from his cell phone and jumped up. The man quickly ran down the stairs and out the back door.
Even though that shook Gerson, she was more worried about other security issues.
"Walking up the hill is a bigger fear than the actual house," Gerson said. "I really don't feel any less sate in the house because of that."
The sorority does not have a parking lot, so members park down the hill from their house. The walk up the hill is very dark at night. Gerson said.
On March 5, the sorority installed 12 solar light fixtures on the walkway to the house.
The 12 lights cost $100, but may not offer enough security.
"I'm thinking about replacing those with spotlights so they can be even brighter," Gerson said.
She said before the lights were installed, she ran up the hill talking on her cell phone.
"In the house, I feel safe," Gerson said. "Outside during the day, I feel perfectly safe. Outside at night, I don't feel safe."
Sigma Delta Tau president
Marisa Vraha naaed installing