
For Penn’s eight Panhellenic sororities, the average new pledge class size increased by five women per chapter — invigorating new interest in introducing a ninth Panhel sorority chapter at Penn.
Each chapter has an average of 50 women per new pledge class, according to former Panhel Vice President of Recruitment and College senior Tori Searl.
According to Panhel President and College junior Darby Nelson, “it makes sense” to consider expanding the Panhel family.
The extension will be proposed to Panhel and sororities on campus this semester, according to Nelson.
“I strongly believe in catering to the surge in interest in the Greek community,” she said, adding that sororities hope to “provide the same individualized attention” that each member received in previous years.
Alpha Chi Omega Recruitment Chair and College senior Amelia Bailey also sees merit in starting a ninth Panhel sorority at Penn because it will allow more people to live in sorority houses.
“It’s a great way of getting close to girls in different years,” said Bailey, who has lived in her chapter’s house for two years.
“Living in a sorority house is also a great way to transition from living in dorms to off-campus living,” she added.
According to Bailey, Alpha Chi Omega gave out 49 bids this year — an 11-percent increase from 2009.
Following a 20-percent increase in the number of bids given out this year, the Chi Omega sorority is looking to accommodate the housing needs of its members.
Eligibility to live in the Chi Omega house — where there are fourteen spots available to underclassmen — has traditionally been determined on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Recruitment Chair for Chi Omega and College senior Meagan Sloan expressed confidence that a new system would be developed to accommodate the housing needs of sorority members, many of whom will ultimately choose to live in college houses or off campus.
She also added that her sorority would remain a tight-knit community despite more incoming freshmen and sophomores. They plans to organize more events to ensure that new pledges get to know their “big sisters.”
“We see the increase in numbers as a great thing,” she said.
According to outgoing Phi Sigma Sigma president and College senior Elise Hellman, Panhel will have to look at more than just recruitment numbers when trying to determine the feasibility of starting a new sorority chapter at Penn.
“We currently have an even number of sororities,” she said — which makes it “much easier to organize events such as powderpuffs.”
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