Blog

Cal Poly Fraternity and Sorority Life have a new event registration procedure. This change comes after the City met with Cal Poly and the Interfraternity Council to inform them that fraternities operating in R-1 and R-2 neighborhoods were illegal. Fraternities are allowed to operate in higher-density R-3 and R-4 zoned neighborhoods with a conditional use permit.

On August 28, 2024, Cal Poly said it was updating its Party Registration Policy and Guidelines for Greek Life, which were put in place as a result of the Deferred Recruitment Compromise. It claimed that the Deferred Recruitment Compromise is outdated yet the terms of the Compromise that are favorable to the fraternities remain in place, such as Cal Poly supporting continued recruitment of new fraternity Chapters.

In the same correspondence, Cal Poly stated:

“Cal Poly has no control over the location of chapter houses or other houses used by fraternities.” 

The New Event Registration Procedure removes the satellite house definition and mentions that all off-campus events with alcohol must be held at a residence, including a chapter facility or a third-party venue. The new procedure doesn’t change much from the replaced Party Registration Policy and Guidelines except it removes the definition of what constitutes a satellite house. The definition of a satellite house in the old policy was:

A satellite house is any residence where the majority of occupants are members of the chapter for the purpose of this policy

Cal Poly Greek Life knows fraternities operate illegally in R-1 and R-2 neighborhoods such as the Alta Vista neighborhood. By definition, “operation” means holding fraternity events or gatherings. There are 19 fraternity chapters registered with the IFC; only 6 have main chapter houses operating legally with conditional use permits in the correct city zone. 9 fraternity chapters have their main chapter house operating illegally in low-density R-1 and R-2 neighborhoods. All fraternity chapters have multiple fraternities or residences operating illegally in the city neighborhoods. Is it ethical, therefore, for Cal Poly to hide the locations of their fraternity houses from the City and the neighborhoods?

Watch what they do, not what they say

Meeting

In 2023, the City hired a new Community Development Director who oversees the San Luis Obispo Community Development Department. She also oversees code enforcement and the issuance of conditional use permits for sororities and fraternities. Under her direction, code enforcement met with Cal Poly administration and Greek Life. The focus of the meetings was to explain the laws prohibiting fraternities and sororities in R-1 and R-2 neighborhoods. They also did a presentation at a Greek life event.

Transparency?

Shortly after the meeting, Cal Poly informed the City that it would no longer keep track of its satellite houses. This ultimately torpedoed transparency and ensured that the city would not know their locations.

On August 28, 2024, Cal Poly said:

“The Deferred Recruitment Compromise is not a binding agreement nor does it last indefinitely.  It was a solution to issues pertinent at the time.  As other policies and legal requirements evolve, so too do the requirements for fraternities.“

Cal Poly also said it was updating its Party Registration Policy and Guidelines for Greek Life. Would this remove the requirement that parties be held at registered satellite houses, and is Cal Poly changing its long-standing policy of documenting where fraternity parties are happening? Was this in response to the City telling them the fraternities were operating illegally in its neighborhoods, such as ours? Once again, the “partnership” with the community that Cal Poly claims it is committed to seems one-sided.