Absolutely not! We have members with majors ranging from Biology and Engineering to English and German to Music and Art History. While many of our members are drawers, painters, and musicians, we also have members who consider martial arts, culinary arts, or scrapbooking their art. We also house those who simply enjoy the arts!
"It takes all kinds. So do we."

A haven for artists was created in 1989 in Mitchell Tower of the Schaefer House down in the land of the Edens: Arts Theme House. Stepping inside ATH, you discover a college dormitory unlike any other. Fiddle tunes dance in the air, a Beethoven piano concerto floats to your ears; harmonizing voices sneak out from behind closed doors. In the suites, doors are covered with aesthetic decorations, and the walls of the commons rooms are plastered with poetry, short stories, chalk drawings, posters, and quote boards. Members are found singing together songs that pop into their heads, playing board games, reciting poetry, sharing about their lives, laughing their heads off, or discussing philosophical concepts. Everyone is welcome: artists and those who are simply art lovers; writers and dancers; musicians and actors; martial artists and culinary artists. ATH possesses a climate of acceptance with members of all majors and religious preferences. This house is filled with old friends, newcomers, and even some alumni, forming a group that enjoys creating and appreciating art together.

Yes. All selective living groups have their rush periods at the same time, at the beginning of the spring semester. Selective house rushes are usually less formal than Greek rushes, in that you're welcome to rush as many or as few as you want at the same time.

All selective housing agreements, for RLHS purposes, are considered two-year contracts. Many of our members who rush as freshmen choose to continue living in the Arts Theme House their senior year because of its fun atmosphere and the friends they make, but others choose to live off-campus or on Central their senior year. A member who rushes as a sophomore must live in the Arts House for their remining two years. Semesters spent abroad or as an RA count as part of those two years.

Most definitely! Your semesters as an RA count as semesters living in the Arts Theme House for RLHS purposes, and then, if you choose not to be an RA again the following year, you can come back to the Arts House without rushing again.

Yes! Because sororities are non-residential at Duke, you can belong to both a selective living group and a sorority.

E-mail our president, Caroline Schermer or either of our rush chairs, Tomi Adewale and Cory Massaro, with any questions you may have.