Real-Life Inspiration For ‘Animal House’ Might Lose Their House And It’s Got Nothing To Do With 0.0 GPA

The Alpha Delta house at Dartmouth University, an inspiration for the 1978 classic flick Animal Houselost an appeal “after a committee withdrew the fraternity’s recognition as a student organization.”

The frat was already kicked off campus early in the year for an incident involving branding members. Dartmouth brass stripped the frat of all college-affiliated privileges after catching wind that some of the newest members of the house had burned brands into their body. The school called it hazing but the house, through an attorney, called it “a form of self-expression” and stated that it was a matter of choice and no house member was branded without their own approval.

Losing their campus affiliation is only the start of the issues for Alpha Delta. Now they’re fighting for their beds. Literally.

Hanover administrators say that the loss of college recognition means that, under town zoning ordinances, the fraternity may no longer serve as a residence — a distinction that could hurt the organization’s ability to operate independently. At stake are thousands of dollars in rent, the bulk of the $360,000 in annual revenue that keeps the frat running — something the fraternity plans to do despite the college’s sanctions and the town’s actions, said its alumni adviser John Engelman, a 1968 graduate.

Alpha Delta has numerous wealthy alumni and they actually own the house.  In 2014, the joint was assessed at more than $1 million.

The deck is stacked against the place but they do have one possible wild card — the president of Dartmouth is alumni and a former brother in Alpha House.

[via Valley News]