New frat Ph Kappa Phi, with house, is ready to go

The Interfraternity Council's newest chapter is already formed and ready to go. And they even have a house. Pi Kappa Phi, recognized by the Interfraternity Council last November, will officially receive its charter during the second week of April. But the group is already prepared to move into its house, a 22-bedroom twin at 4040 Walnut Street. "About 16 founding brothers got together and decided that there wasn't anything on the campus that we really wanted," said Pi Kappa Phi president and College sophomore Morris Beyda. "We recruited another 21 guys, we got ourselves together and got a house." The group, which currently has 38 members, will move into its house in June. Pi Kappa Phi Social Chairperson and Historian Andrew Beckman said the new fraternity hopes to attract a "universal crowd" to its parties. "We're basically looking to draw everyone," the Wharton sophomore said. "We're not looking to be elitist, either." Beckman said some fraternities are more socially active than others, adding that he wants Pi Kappa Phi to be one of the most active. "Next Thursday, we're running a party at the Chestnut Cabaret," he said last night. "It's like an open party for the whole school. We're going to have a few sororities come. It's basically our way of throwing a party because we don't have a house." And though Pi Kappa Phi is new, it has already immersed itself in University controversy, taking a strong stand against the Commission on Strengthening the Community's recommendation that all rush activity be moved to the first semester of sophomore year. "It almost directly relates to what's going on with our lease," Beyda said. "We feel going to a sophomore rush is unnecessary because freshmen should be able to join any extra curricular activity they want. "And it has been my experience that when you join a fraternity you do not exclude yourself from other activities," he added. Beyda said it was "condescending" to tell "Ivy League students what to do." He added that his chief concern with the movement of rush is economic, however. If sophomores would not be allowed to live in the fraternity house, fraternities may risk losing a good portion of their revenue.