The fate of the coffee-colored house on the corner of 15th Avenue and Alder Street has been confirmed for another year following a confirmation on Monday that its current residents, University of Oregon fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi, will continue living in the house for another year.
Confusion regarding the future of the ”Mocha Mansion,” which is owned by alumni of UO fraternity Phi Gamma Delta, has been circulating since Fiji was reinstated on campus last spring after a 15-year absence.
Esponda, a national property management company that specializes in fraternity houses at the national level, has confirmed that AEPi has signed a contract to stay in the house.
“AEPi will be in the house next year,” Rob Derdiger, managing director at Esponda, said. “They have a lease agreement with the property manager and have the place secured for the next year. It’s all just contract agreements.”
Rumors regarding the house have been circulating for as long as Sam Gutin, current president of AEPi, can remember.
“I’ve been hearing rumors about the house since my freshman year,” he said. “I was concerned at first but honestly, hard work is rewarded. I’ve had faith in Nationals.”
Josh Losner, AEPi’s former president, has full faith in Esponda’s ability to negotiate the living agreement between the fraternity who owns the house and its current occupants since the very beginning.
“They are well-qualified individuals. They have been doing this for years and I trust them because they have never let us down and they’ve never let anyone else down nationally,” he said. “They’re that good.”
As far as the rumors on campus are concerned, both Fiji and AEPi seem to be doing their best not to address them.
“Rumors are rumors. I just tell my guys to be the bigger man,” Gutin said. “Just let the events unfold and everyone will appreciate it. Don’t give false information or make promises that you can’t keep or don’t know enough about.”
According to Gutin and Losner, AEPi is also convinced that Fiji members are not the ones behind these rumors.
“You know, we hear these rumors … I don’t think it’s Fiji spreading them. I know the leadership of Fiji and I can’t imagine that they would say anything,” Losner said. “I respect how they do things. They are wonderful guys.”
Until recently, AEPi was unsure as to the future of the house. However, Gutin had prepared himself and his brothers for any outcome.
“There are many great chapters that don’t have houses,” Gutin said. “Sigma Nu, Kappa Sig, Pi Kapp, they have all grown immensely without houses. It’s a nice place to congregate, however it is not absolutely necessary and I think the chapters that don’t have houses have really proved that.”
Moving forward, AEPi will continue to focus on being the best chapter that they can be without the fear of having to find a new house hanging over their head.
“Not much will be changing, but there definitely is a sigh of relief to have it confirmed, but we always kind of knew,” Gutin said.
Phi Gamma Delta could not be reached for comment.