Subject: Legislation for Theta

 

Dear Kappa Alpha Theta Sisters,

Kappa Alpha Theta truly needs your support and immediate action. We are asking you to write letters in support of the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act of 2007 (CHIA) (S. 638/HR. 643). Even if you have written letters in the past, we need your participation again to encourage lawmakers to pass this into law.

Collegiate enrollment is rapidly rising at a time of already severe housing shortages on campuses. Not-for-profit housing fills the gap by providing a critical source of additional, affordable housing for college students. For example, fraternity and sorority houses across the country now house more than 250,000 college students. Kappa Alpha Theta alone has over 7700 students residing at 79 chapter houses across the country.

Our housing stock is in need of significant capital improvements of safety systems, technology enhancements and comprehensive maintenance. Under current tax laws, we cannot use tax-deductible charitable contributions to our foundation for building, improving, or renovating our student members' housing. Conversely, universities may use such tax-deductible contributions to build and maintain their student housing. Contributions to local house corporations are generally not tax deductible. This disparity in the tax laws means KAQ’s housing – and other not-for-profit student housing owners – cannot access the capital funding needed to quickly make the needed improvements.

Keeping all not-for-profit housing operating safely and effectively will help meet a Congressional goal of making college more affordable for today’s students. Fraternities and sororities are the nation’s largest values-based organizations on college campuses today and the nation’s largest student landlord outside of the host institutions themselves. Passing the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act of 2007 will allow more students to live safely and affordably in KAQ’s houses.

While CHIA already enjoys the support of 35 Senators and 172 Representatives, we still need more support and effort from our members to help pass this bill in 2008.

Please write letters of support today. Follow the two simple steps below and help us pass the CHIA into law before the end of 2008.

Thank you in advance for your support!

Loyally,

Deborah B. Allen
Fraternity Vice President Public Relations
Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity

How to Write a Letter and Help Kappa Alpha Theta

STEP 1: Register your information at the Fraternal Caucus website. Once you are at this site click on the Register tab in the upper right hand corner of the site’s Home page. Please make sure to list your Kappa Alpha Theta affiliation as part of the registration process. Right now the third largest group registered is those who forgot to list their affiliation!

STEP 2: Once you have registered at the Fraternal Caucus website, on the right hand side of Home page is a link to the “Legislative Action Center”. Click on this link to read more about these important actions and follow additional links to write your legislators directly from this site. It’s fast and it’s easy! We really need your help RIGHT NOW!