"Based upon research, what we have seen at other campuses, and greek life generally being under the gun, we felt that the creation of theme housing at RPI was not necessary," said IFC Executive Vice President John Muller.

Another concern expressed at the meeting was the correlation between declining greek membership and houses in conjunction with an increase in theme-based housing at other campuses.

In an unofficial vote, the IFC reached a consensus that theme housing represents a threat to greek housing. "We see anything that improves the social life at RPI as good, but we don’t want this used by Residence Life or anyone else to bash greeks," said Ray Lutsky, IFC vice president for public relations.

Before moving forward to formally protest theme housing, the IFC sent two representatives to the weekly theme house meeting.

When first learning of the IFC discussion and consensus, theme house organizers were surprised.

"We had no idea that greeks would feel threatened by us, given their strength at RPI," said Chris Puleo, a theme house organizer.

"We aren’t looking to destroy greek life, but theme housing is imminent so we’re going to have to coexist, and I think we can," said Brian Reece, the other theme house organizer.

At the weekly theme house meeting the IFC representatives repeatedly expressed their desire for cooperation.

"Most greek houses started as theme houses. You are proposing to do many of the same things that we do—the main difference is that we have letters and you don’t. Personally I want us to work together," said Muller.

He went on to propose that the IFC and theme house exchange reps, and have a written relationship.

"Given things that happened nationally, locally, and recently at RPI we were very concerned. But before we did anything official we wanted to see if our interests lined up with theirs, " said Lutsky.

While theme houses have flourished nationally in recent years, relations between greeks and campus administrators have become increasingly strained.

Union College’s Board of Trustees recently approved the takeover of five on-campus greek houses, which will be included in a campus initiative to create 19 theme houses.