By Matt SpectorContributing Writer
Question: Who makes Northwestern’s sororities tick, ensuring that dinner is served, common rooms are comfortable and houses are clean?
Answer: House mothers, who work behind the scenes to keep sorority members happy and healthy, and develop a positive environment for living and learning.
“From the way the houses were organized, all the sororities have house moms,” said Elizabeth Frantz, a Weinberg junior and a member of Delta Zeta. “They’re supposed to be there to take care of the girls – take care of the house.”
BJ Riedel of DZ, Chris Ellis of Pi Beta Phi and Rica Reed of Delta Gamma are all house moms, also known as house directors. Contrary to the title, house mothers do not pack bag lunches for the women or change their sheets. Instead, they act as the liaison between sorority members and maintenance and dining staffs.
“Mainly, my job is caring for the facility and overseeing the support staff, the cleaning people, the kitchen help,” Ellis said. “That goes into making it a pleasant place for the girls to live.”
Reed said she would liken her job to that of a small hotel manager or running a small YWCA. Still, the house mothers interpret their jobs differently.
Riedel argues that she’s a “house director” rather than a house mother.
“I’m a mother. I’m a grandma. Been there, done that,” Riedel said. “I take care of the house – all repairs, cleaning and plumbing.”
Frantz, the house manager of DZ, is responsible for maintaining a dialogue with Riedel throughout the year.
“(Riedel is) in charge of our financial stuff,” Frantz said. “She’s our link to maintenance or if we have any problems with the house.”
House mothers have their own furnished quarters in each sorority. Ellis lives in the house all year, but Riedel and Reed have residences elsewhere.
“House directors are always the first ones in and last out, whether it be holiday or summer or the start of school,” Reed said.
Each house mother works tirelessly to make her house as welcoming as possible, Reed said. Her DG women and their guests know to call her “Mom Reed.”
“It’s kind of unique because you’re not a mom, you’re not a counselor, but you have to be all these things and a friend,” Reed said. “A house mother has to be the type of person who cares about what happens to these girls.”
Riedel said her opinion of sorority houses and sorority women in general has changed during her tenure.
“They’re helping themselves and contributing to their education,” Riedel said. “DZ has changed my perception (of sororities) for the better.”
Ellis, Riedel and Reed said they also make an effort to support the members in their endeavors the way their real mothers and friends would. Reed said she likes to go to their functions, whether they’re in a play or performing music in an NU orchestra.
“If somebody’s in something and I know it, I’ll go,” Reed said. “They’re so appreciative of someone coming because they’re in something.”
But the house mothers do not spend all their time caring for the sorority houses and their occupants.
Riedel is involved with religious activities on and off campus as the sponsor of Northwestern’s Christian Science Organization.
Ellis said she stays up-to-date with Greek life outside of the house as a member of the Greek Task Force.
From making sure the water runs to making sure the girls keep their cool during midterms, house mothers are an essential part of sorority life on campus.
“My primary interest is in the girls and their welfare,” Reed said. “You develop attachments. These are your girls.”
Reach Matt Spector at [email protected].
