Nestled between South Quad and West Quad is a house that remains a mystery to many students. Its large, brick frame and massive white columns have the appearance of an old-time Southern estate, despite being surrounded by plain-styled dorms on two sides. It gives off the essence of exclusiveness and grandeur, and while it may not be the home of an obscure University administrator, a unique campus group resides inside.

The mansion is home to 25 University law students, all members of a law fraternity called Phi Delta Phi. The first legal and professional fraternity established in the country, Phid has now expanded to over 130 chapters, called inns, at law schools. The University of Michigan chapter, founded in 1869, is the only one with its own house.

Phid took the house over in 1914, when it was an all-male fraternity complete with in-house cooks and cleaners. This setup evaporated several decades later, though, when women were first allowed into the fraternity in the 1960s.
Ten years before that happened, though, Phid House itself almost disappeared. The University tried to claim ownership of the home in order to tear it down and build South Quad in its place. But Phid alumnus and former mayor of Ann Arbor, William E. Brown, Jr., was able to convince the University not to tear the house down. That forced the University to build South Quad into an irregular shape surrounding Phid House.

Despite being coined a fraternity by name, Phid House is quite different from the Greek system variety. For one, Phid has evolved to be a sort of cross between a fraternity and co-op, which contributes to the community dynamic that draws many members to the house. Each fraternity member has house duties, like cleaning the kitchen and common areas, and everyone is responsible for preparing his or her own food, diverging from Phid’s history of having cooks and housekeepers. Also similar to a co-op is the inexpensive rent — Phid president Robert Escalante said resident members only pay $400 a month.

Despite sporting Greek letters, Phid House doesn’t often host riotous keggers — law students can’t often spare the study time. This more subdued atmosphere is what Escalante called the house’s “law school personality.”

Phid House does host one big blowout each semester, though, which allows for many members of the Law School community to let their hair down for one night. To the chagrin of undergraduate students, however, Phid limits these bi-annual parties to graduate and professional students in order to prevent underage drinking at the house, Escalante said.

But with the dorms so close, Phid House isn’t always successful in keeping eager freshmen out. Many an undergraduate have walked past those white columns, or snuck in the back door of the house after being rejected once.

Members of Phid have a system of weeding out the non-grad students, which includes having bouncers at their parties and trying to figure out who may be beer-thirsty undergraduates by quizzing them with questions that are likely to trip them up.

“(We) had to throw them out of the house, but (it) isn’t fun,” Escalante said, referring to a party last year at which members of Phid tossed out several undergraduates. “Everyone wants to get into the party.”

The rejected undergraduates can’t be too hurt, though, as most don’t seem to realize anyone even lives at 502 East Madison Street. Phid member Kate Mitroka said this is due to the studious nature of law students and the fact that undergraduates and law students tend to exist in different spheres on campus.

“I think that sort of inherent distinction between the two groups just sort of means their own lives and centers of gravity are sort of distinct,” said Mitroka, who recalled times as an undergraduate here when she wondered what went on inside the mysterious brick abode she now calls home.

Despite hosting the future lawyers of the nation, Phid house has faced its share of obstacles, including the threat of eviction posed last year. Escalante attributes this brush with homelessness to a lax attitude toward city regulations, which tend to slip the minds of Phid members who are busy working toward their degree.

Phid House provides something different to those looking to do more during law school than hole themselves up in the library. It offers a support system and sense of community for its members, which includes law students of all three years, ranging in age from 20 to 35. The members’ diverse backgrounds and life experiences are a draw for many.

“The idea of being around people who have different perspectives and come from different walks of life makes your living experience more robust and more fulfilling,” Mitroka said.