U. loans funds to GreekNet project

$350K loan to pay$350K loan to payfor new technology$350K loan to payfor new technologyin Greek houses In the University's first financial commitment to the Greek system in two years, University President Judith Rodin agreed Friday to loan $350,000 to fraternities and sororities for a specific housing initiative. The loan will fund the GreekNet project, providing telephone, video and ethernet connections to all 24 University-owned and University-affiliated fraternity and sorority houses. When Rodin and Provost Stanley Chodorow first came to Penn two years ago, they instituted a moratorium on capital facilities construction, including Greek housing. This limited any funding of capital projects to a case-by-case basis. Friday's loan marks the first time a Greek-related project had been approved. Rodin said she was "delighted to authorize" the loan for GreekNet. She added that many people convinced her "this was the right time" for the project. InterFraternity Council President and College senior Josh Gottheimer, Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta and Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Scott Reikofski all advocated funding the initiative, she said. Gottheimer praised the decision as "monumental" for the Greek system's future. "The University has shown that it considers living in fraternity and sorority houses part of the Penn experience," the Alpha Epsilon Pi brother said. "These steps to modernize our houses put us on the cutting edge of Greek life around the country." The renovations the funding will enable will connect each of the 24 Greek houses to University emergency response personnel. In addition, the wiring system will allow Greek houses to install panic buttons as a part of the Safe House initiative -- an effort to designate on- and off-campus fraternity houses as safe havens for students. Moneta said the GreekNet project "stands out" as a progressive safety and academic initiative. "There was a strong consensus that bringing high-tech wiring into University houses is in everybody's best interest," Moneta said. "It makes sense to get [GreekNet] started as soon as possible." Reikofski said he expects a timetable for the installation of GreekNet by later this week. The program will allow fraternity and sorority members to "stay in touch technologically," Reikofski said. Rodin emphasized that the moratorium on housing projects was not limited to Greek capital expenditures. "Rather than invest without a true analysis, we held a moratorium on all housing issues," Rodin said. Moneta said the issue of the moratorium has become "overblown," adding that it was based on the University's "belief that we had to catch our breath" on funding capital projects. Lifting the moratorium on further projects is currently under discussion, according to Moneta. Friday's decision opens doors for discussing other Greek housing issues, including house renovations, Reikofski said. IFC Judicial Manager and College senior David Lewis said the recent financial commitment indicates a clear shift in the University's support of the Greek system. "For a long time, Greeks were considered almost non-University students," the Sigma Alpha Mu brother said. "But Greeks have become an integrated component of the University." And Gottheimer said recent initiatives by the Greek system -- including the 21st Century Plan for Greek Life, the formation of an Anti-Hazing Commission and the Safe Houses project -- demonstrate that the system is "in line with where the University wants to go," Gottheimer said. And Lewis said the GreekNet project highlights the University's partnership with the Greek system. "We've worked very hard to reaffirm our standing on this campus and this decision shows our efforts are now being appreciated," he added. The five fraternity houses not included in the GreekNet plans are Lambda Chi Alpha, Phi Kappa Psi, Psi Upsilon, Lambda Phi Epsilon and Acacia. The decision does not affect BiCultural InterGreek Council fraternities and sororities because they do not have University-affiliated houses. The loan -- to be repaid within five years -- will add to the more than $350,000 already raised by the Greek system over the last five years, Gottheimer said. Panhellenic Council President and College senior Jessica Schreck, a Sigma Delta Tau sister, was unavailable for comment.