Warning signs restricting access to Alpha Tau Omega's house were still posted on Wednesday as fraternity President Alex Brown prepared for a Recruitment Week open house.
Even though their house is uninhabitable, the fraternity has set up a make-shift Rush site each night in front of the damaged fraternity house using a mid-size white canopy, some long tables and plastic folding chairs.
"It's kind of hard showing (the pledges) the outside of the house and not being able to show them the inside and what it has to offer," Brown said.
The three-story brick building, at 251 W. Grand River Ave., was deemed unlivable on Aug. 28 after Brown discovered that a support beam had twisted and broke through a drywall covering and pushed out a wall in the basement.
Twenty-one of the fraternity's members were left homeless. They were provided rooms in the Kellogg Center for three nights through the American Red Cross. They are currently living at University Village with help from Alpha Xi Delta, the women's fraternity headquartered in Indianapolis that owns the house.
"It's temporary. You have a bed, a couch and a bathroom, so you can't complain," Brown said. "We'd rather be in our own house though."
The lack of a house hasn't affected the amount of rush pledges, Brown said.
"We've had a decent turnout so far," he said.
The Interfraternity Council had a small involvement in helping the fraternity adapt to its recruitment, said President Mahfouz Ackall.
"We sat down and went over options about what they could do for recruitment," Ackall said. "They have it figured out, and everything seems to be going well."
It's unclear when Alpha Tau Omega will have a place to call their own again.
Howard Asch, director of code enforcement and neighborhood conservation in East Lansing, said he's waiting to hear from Alpha Xi Delta, who has the responsibility of fixing the damaged building and bringing it up to code.
"Once they decide to repair the damages and make the house safe again, we will be able to go through and issue the proper permits," Asch said.
Brown said he remains optimistic that the fraternity will have a home by the end of the month.
"We're not sure if they're going to fix it or not yet," Brown said. "We're either moving back into the house or moving into another house."
Fellow fraternities have helped out, Brown said.
"Other fraternities have called us and asked if we need space in their house," Brown said. "Everyone's been pretty supportive."
Members are working to go about business as usual.
"It's rough," said Matt Feinbloom, an Alpha Tau Omega member. "We're dealing with it. We're making the best of what we have."
The recent move hasn't caused problems in the group, said David Marks, a member of the fraternity.
"We're still very close-knit," Marks said. "We'll be back on our feet shortly. I'm optimistic about everything."
