A sorority that plunged a suburban street into chaos after busing a bunch of girls to a rental property has defended its decision.
Alpha Omicron Pi held a recruiting event on Sunnyside Drive in London, Ontario, Canada, last weekend, much to the chagrin of the local neighborhood.
In a statement, the president of the local chapter based at Western University said they had informed the homeowner what they planned to do with the house.
“When reserving event spaces, our chapter has been transparent about our needs for a venue and will be respectful of that space,” said Sabina de Crescentiis. CBC:
“When reserving event spaces, our chapter has been and will continue to be transparent about our needs for a venue and will be respectful of that space.”
Alpha Omicron Pi, seen here, held a recruiting event on Sunnyside Drive in London, Ontario, last weekend, much to the chagrin of the local neighborhood.
The sorority’s move angered neighbors after images emerged showing a long line of students outside the rental property.
Authorities in the Canadian city are currently investigating the property that has operated as a short-term rental for more than two years.
Images shared on social media by local Chris Prater show a long line of students outside the rental property for the event.
Earlier this week, owner Jithin Das, a local real estate agent, told CBC that he had not been informed about the move to bus hundreds of young women to the property.
He said: “I am working with Airbnb and they are investigating how it happened.” We didn’t know this was going to happen.
Council president Sabina de Crescentiis, seen here, said they had informed the owner of the house what they planned to do with the house.
‘They didn’t tell me. They said that between 30 and 40 girls would come in shifts. I am so sorry to the entire neighborhood and community.’
The sisterhood president, from Crescentiis, also told the outlet: “Before booking this residence, we shared with the owner that there would be several groups of 30 to 45 women at a time entering and leaving the property throughout each day “.
The president reiterated that the event was an opportunity for those who wanted to join the sorority to meet other people.
He added: ‘Our event was planned not to serve alcohol. We did not use the pool and we were very aware of the noise ordinances so as not to disturb the neighbors.
‘Our events concluded at 5pm every day. “We regret having been an ignorant party in this ongoing dispute.”
The owner, Jithin Das, a local real estate agent, said he had not been informed about the move to bus hundreds of young women to the property.
According to local Chris Prater, who filmed the girls’ long queues, they had been left on a full bus.
He said: ‘It’s not what you want in a residential area. It is not an appropriate use of the house. It’s a traffic problem, it’s noisy and we just don’t sign up for that.
‘They would drop them off, get some instructions from other girls in the driveway, enter the house and stay inside for about an hour before coming out singing and singing their sisterhood song.
“Then they waited in the driveway for about 25 or 30 minutes before another bus came, dropped off more girls, and picked up the ones already inside.”
While Marion Warren told CTV News that neighbors have complained for years about different groups that rent the house for short stays.
The home was purchased in March 2020 for $673,000 and was last listed last year for $1.2 million.
She said: ‘This weekend was horrible. They were dropping off school busloads of young girls who were apparently being interviewed at this sorority house.
Warren also spoke to CBC and said there were constantly new cars in the driveway and noise from the pool in the backyard filtered into the street.
Other neighbors told the outlet that it often attracts large groups or several families at a time. A stripper once showed up at a bachelorette party, one person said.
The home was purchased in March 2020 for $673,000 and was last listed last year for $1.2 million.
An Airbnb spokesperson said earlier this week: “Airbnb prohibits parties and we have suspended the guest’s listing and booking while we investigate the reported behavior.”
