Category: Housing Groups

What is a Housing Group? Men have a unique opportunity at Grove City College to join “Housing Groups” (also known as “Independent Men’s Residence groups”). In addition to fraternities, these groups provide a crucial communal presence in the residence halls by their continued involvement throughout all of campus. These groups work individually as well as with other organizations on campus to host events, participate in Intramural sports, and live together in what is called “Block Housing”.

Rho Rho Rho: The Tri-Rho housing group, commonly referred to as the “Rhos,” was established in 1974. The group’s official colors are maroon and gold and their mascot is a lion. Living in Hopeman Hall (a men’s dorm on campus), they pride themselves in being highly involved in campus activities both as a group and also as individuals. As a group, the events they put on annually include:

• The Tri-Rho Hymn Sing
  • An annual event where Rhos gather together with “Rhoses” (female friends of rhos) and host a worship service
  • Through this event, the Rhos are the only group of its kind to offer chapel credit at an all-campus event.
• Leaf Rake
  • Rhos go through the community providing community service every fall semester, raking leaves for free.
• Open House
  • The Tri-Rho open house is the first rush event of the year where the Rhos open their doors and purchase Chinese food, welcoming prospective Rhos who have potential interest in joining the group.
• Rho Sit
  • An event held spontaneously throughout the school year where the Rhos bring their couches out from their halls and put them on Lincoln lawn. The Rhos welcome friends to join them in playing spike ball and cornhole as they enjoy the weather.
• BYOM
  • Once a month, the Rhos open their dorm rooms and invite friends to “bring your own mug” to the hall to partake in coffee and tea as they share good conversation and delicious cookies.
• Nugfest
  • Every spring the Rhos partner with a fraternity on campus known as the Okies. The two groups plan and carry out the event known as Nugfest in which they purchase thousands of chicken nuggets and hand them out to people on campus.
• The Annual Tri-Rho Extravaganza
  • The Extravaganza is the arguably the most anticipated, but objectively the most heavily attended, event on campus. The Rhos go to great lengths to make this event “extravagant”. Hosted in February, the extravaganza is a dance where the Rhos have a coat check, door prizes, mocktails, cheesecake, shrimp cocktails, a photo booth, and a senior surprise. The best part about this event is that it is completely free of charge.

If you open up a new internet tab and Google “Housing Groups” you will quickly become confused about what a Housing Group is and if it is what Google says it is (which it must be, Google is never wrong) then I am sure you are wondering why I am currently writing a blog about them as a student at Grove City College. To clear the air, no I am not writing about either a) any of the various companies that came up in your Google search with the words “Housing Groups” in their name or b) Housing associations (which if you were wondering are private, non-profit organizations in Ireland and the United Kingdom that provide low-cost “social housing,” according to Wikipedia).

So, if these Housing Groups that I write of are neither a nor b, then what are they and how are they relevant to Grove City College? Housing Groups here at Grove City College are campus recognized groups which provide the males on campus a way to serve both students and the community and also allow them the opportunity of fellowship and brotherhood. A bit more simplified way of saying this is that Housing Groups are similar to fraternities in that they are a group whom live together on campus, but they differ in that they are both less expensive, generally, and they do not require their rushes to go through Greek Unity Week.

I, myself, am in the Housing Group known as Sigma Phi Omicron. On campus we are known as the Crons. In being a member of the Cron Housing Group, I have participated in putting on multiple Omicron Lawns (a tailgate event that we put on before a Grove City College football game every year), Grove City College Family Feuds (a campus wide Family Feud-like event where people can come and watch or participate as part of a group), and have helped set up and run at least a half dozen blood drives on campus.

In being a member I have spent the past two and a half years with the group. Aside from the events and service we have done as a group, we also are highly involved in one another’s personal lives. We do the small things from getting meals together and Thursday wing nights at Rachel’s Roadhouse to planned group events like weekly Bible studies and Cron worship. Other perks of Housing Groups that I have observed include connections. A personal experience that I have is while at the most recent Grove City College career fair I spoke with an alumnus from the Sigma Phi Omicron Housing Group which led to further interviews and in turn supplied me with an internship offer.

All of this said, being part of a Housing Group has helped me grow as an individual both spiritually and physically and has supplied me with the opportunity to form lasting and growing relationships. In joining a Housing Group or any group on campus, you are able to find your place on campus. The Sigma Phi Omicron Housing Group just happened to be my place, but as a perspective student and a possible future student I encourage you to explore your options and to find yourself!