Pi Phi to host rush at PiKA

Pi Beta Phi, the University's newest sorority, will conduct its spring rush from the Pi Kappa Alpha House on Spruce Street, a Pi Phi official said Saturday. And the sorority may sign an agreement allowing it to live in the house while PiKA serves its current two-year suspension, she added. "We're working with the PiKA Housing Corporation in drawing up a contract to see if we will lease from them," Pi Phi Resident Graduate Consultant Ann Rossi said. PiKA is currently serving a two-year suspension for hazing violations. The former fraternity brothers, who were all placed on early alumni status, are not permitted to live in the house during the suspension. Rossi said she thinks the use of the house for rush will benefit the sorority. "I think it's a definite asset to have a structure that we can rush out of," she said. She also said she was hopeful that Pi Phi would be able to work out the agreement so that the sorority could live in the house. "We'd be very excited to get a house so soon after colonizing," she said. The sorority colonized at the University last fall, conducting a special fall rush. Wharton senior and former PiKA officer David Doft said that although he had only heard rumors about Pi Phi's planned occupancy of the PiKA house, he thinks it would be a good idea -- at least for the PiKA Housing Corporation, which presumably would receive rent from Pi Phi. Doft added that he doubted Pi Phi would want to live in the PiKA house for more than one year. "I coudn't see why they would want to live there for more then one year," he said. "It's not a nice house." "The only advantage is that it sleeps 41 people," he added. "It's not a nice house, that's what it comes down to." Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta said he also had heard about the plan. He said he thought it would be beneficial for both Pi Phi and PiKA. "It's better to not have the house just sit fallow," Moneta said. "And if it allows a sorority to gain a foothold in the Penn community and become stronger as a result, I'm all for it." Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Tricia Phaup could not be reached for comment this weekend.