If one has ever visited a university campus in the south, they are likely to catch a glimpse of a line of large houses home to chapters of nationally-recognized sororities and fraternities. These houses, depending on the institution, may appear three or four stories high with sprawling entrances and pillars welcoming members inside. However, this dynamic does not exist at many colleges and universities, including Villanova. Many students believe this is due to Pennsylvania’s brothel laws, but this is a myth.
Although many people believe that brothel laws in Pennsylvania prevent universities in the state from setting up official sorority housing, these laws are a myth. Although brothel laws do exist in Pennsylvania, the laws define brothels based on what happens within a residence, not solely based upon the number of women living there. Brothel laws are separate from zoning restrictions, which do hold the power to limit the number of men and women who can live within a single residence.
“Sororities at many schools in the United States have accepted that this fake [brothel] law is real and take precautions to follow it,” a post on HerCampus.com stated. “This rumor has caused many female college students to make adjustments to their living situations.”
Her Campus once reiterated that Brothel Laws, such as the ones present in Pennsylvania, are unrelated to the establishment of sorority housing. Whether or not an institution implements Greek life, housing is primarily dependent upon zoning laws.
According to the Pitt News, the Brothel Law myth has become so popular that when five separate sorority members at the University of Pittsburgh were asked why there are no sorority houses at Pitt, all five responded with something along the lines of, “It’s that brothel law, right?” Her Campus refuted these popular beliefs. Another reason more than 100 institutions across the United States do not have sorority houses, despite having on-campus sororities, is in order to make joining one more affordable for students. Dues for sororities and fraternities across the United States can range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars per semester, which is not economically feasible for many students. Institutions’ decisions on whether sorority and fraternity housing is implemented goes far beyond brothel laws that people automatically consider.
The myth surrounding Pennsylvania’s brothel laws often distracts from the real reasons why certain universities choose not to embrace Greek housing. While many students believe these laws are the sole reason behind Greek housing, there are additional factors at play. Making Greek life financially feasible, zoning laws and the desire to create inclusive environments free from the traditional Greek system play roles in shaping universities’ Greek life housing policies. As universities continue to evolve, the decision to forego Greek housing may begin to drift away from state laws and become more about a broader commitment to redefining student life.