Store closes door to non-Greeks

After a two-month absence, Going Greek has once again posted a sign that forbids non-Greek members from entering. Located on the 3900 block of Walnut Street, the store specializes in Greek-lettered paraphernalia. The sign was removed in the beginning of September after a Daily Pennsylvanian reporter questioned the store manager about the sign's message. The posting currently reads: "Only people associated with fraternities and sororities allowed inside." Going Greek Inc. Operational Manager Laurie Rosenthal said the sign is a safety precaution against thieves. "People were coming in who weren't in fraternities or sororities and shoplifting," she said. Rosenthal said last week that the store on Walnut Street is the only one in the chain that prohibits non-Greeks from entering. She gave no indication that the sign would be removed in the future. She added that a similar sign was initially put up in the New Brunswick, N.J. Going Greek location after it was robbed. But when Rosenthal was interviewed in the beginning of the semester when the sign was first posted, she said it would most likely be taken down sometime in the fall. In September, then-store manager Jonathan Paul said the sole intention of the sign was to discourage browsers who were unlikely to purchase merchandise. He added at the time that 80 percent of the store's business comes from orders placed by area Greek chapters. Scott Reikofski, acting director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, said he does not understand the purpose of the sign. "I think it's silly," Reikofski said. "There are a number of people who might be buying things for friends or brothers or sisters. I have no idea what the motivation is for having it up there." The store, which is licensed by numerous national Greek chapters, is part of a 13-store chain with locations in the Northeast and California.