'Greeks on the Walk' attracts frosh

Lollipops and couches littered Locust Walk Tuesday, as Penn's fraternities and sororities showed off Greek life to hundreds of curious freshmen. As part of this year's Greek Week festivities, the crowd of mostly freshmen browsed the memorabilia and photo albums on the various chapters' display tables. "Greeks on the Walk" was intended to show fraternities and sororities not just to prospective rushees but to the whole University community. "Visibility is the main benefit of 'Greeks on the Walk'," explained College senior Lisa Hernandez, a Pi Beta Phi sister who co-chaired this year's Greek Week. "When we're in our houses, we're not always so visible." Fraternity and sorority members also gave interested students more information about Greek life in general. The Greeks addressed questions focusing on recent administrative actions and Liquor Control Enforcement raids intended to cut down on underage drinking at fraternity parties. "They're there for everybody's protection," said Engineering junior Howard Emerson, a brother in Alpha Tau Omega. He added that ATO throws few parties because the fraternity is composed primarily of athletes-in-training. Freshmen also questioned last year's establishment of spring rush for men and women. College junior Jessica Manela, also a Pi Phi sister, called the system ideal because first semester students need to get adjusted to college. College sophomore Bruce Smith, a member of St. Anthony Hall, also voiced approval of the prohibition on first semester rushing. But he called the two-week spring rush period a disservice to those who had not shopped around fall semester. Some Greek members discussed the reforms proposed last spring by the InterFraternity Council, the Panhellenic Council and the Bicultural InterGreek Council. The 21st Century Plan for an Ivy League Greek System would grant academic awards to high-achieving fraternities and sororities, mandate Greek community service and assign Greek faculty advisors. Wharton sophomore Neil Pope, an ATO brother, said while the intentions of the plan are good, "some of the policies give us less freedom to do what we want." But most Greeks who lined the Walk on Tuesday had not heard of the plan or knew of it only in the abstract. Others were simply indifferent. "Let them do what they want," Smith said. "I'm not too worried about grades. I just don't care about grades, really." Freshmen seemed generally receptive to fraternities and sororities, if indecisive as to which ones they preferred. "I'm undecided," said Wharton freshman Rayne Steinberg. "I'm definitely going to watch [all the fraternities closely], though." College freshman Anthony Schiller added that he and Steinberg would base their decision primarily on the quality of a fraternity's parties and whether they liked other freshman pledges.