Changing of the Guard
After several meetings with the Dean of Students Office at The University, a handful of members, still desiring to keep the tradition of Steel House alive began the daunting task of finding a new home for the Women of Steel. In the spring of 2008, advisors worked alongside with Bruce Pitman (Dean of Students) to secure a contract with the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house, which had been vacant for two years. Although the fraternity eventually plans to come back to campus, they were interested in renting their facility to the Women of Steel. That lease expires in the spring of 2012. By then, the Women of Steel will need to have a new facility.
Advisors raised money from former residents to help furnish the facility (located at 620 Idaho Avenue) and provide the initial start-up items to run the facility. Over the spring and summer of 2008, additional residents were recruited. The Dean of Students Office agreed to sponsor Steel House as an on-campus living group.
The advisory group incorporated themselves as Steel House Inc. So they could legally run the facility and manage the house. This provided the Women of Steel the umbrella they needed to be considered an on-campus living group. Steel House Inc. Took over the responsibilities of running the house. They agreed to handle the finances while the Dean of Students Office provides institutional structure and an official connection with the University of Idaho. The connection with the Dean of Students allows Steel House to be a University sponsored organization.
The Ethel K. Steel House scholarships are still available to residents. The main goal of Steel House is still educational. The house (physical facility) provides a place for the women to live on campus while attending The University. In working with Steel House Inc. And the Dean of Students Office, residents of Steel House fulfill all that Ethel K. Steel intended for the original house. Steel House remains a place where residents live as a cooperative group of women while attending school. Steel House also provides a place where women can live more economically than the dorms, a sorority house, or even off-campus. Without the lower expenses offered by Steel House, many students would not be able to attend The University.
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