Frats, U. disagree on party funding

Despite IFC threats to close Greek parties, officials will not budge. Administrators who want the InterFraternity Council to stop charging admission to Greek social events say they cannot change their stance -- despite the IFC's proposal to close its spring parties to non-Greeks. IFC presidents offered the threat during a meeting Wednesday night, claiming their houses cannot afford to throw free parties. IFC leaders are currently planning to develop GreekCards to defray costs for next fall's parties. "While that's all well and good for the fall, we have four months of the spring right now," Tau Epsilon Phi President Jason Judd said. The College junior explained that the financial burden of throwing free parties for the remainder of this year is too great for the IFC to bear. Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta said he understands the economic difficulties involved with not charging for IFC parties, but added that the administration could not change its position. "That becomes their decision," Moneta said of the idea of barring non-Greeks. He explained that he knows Greek institutions might find change difficult especially when some of them are more than 100 years old. But he added that the University "positively can't change" its decision, which is in line with a Pennsylvania law making it illegal for fraternity parties to charge admission. Judd said the administration's decision is unfortunate because "the Greek system is the only true provider of a solid social life." But Moneta said students "can't expect Greeks to be the entire social engine," adding that he would work with the Social Planning and Events Committee to organize events in lieu of fraternity parties. Over the past year, a committee of IFC representatives and University administrators have met to negotiate this issue. The amount of time they have invested is indicative of both parties' "genuine interest in finding a solution," Moneta said. He added that if the IFC implements its decision, the negotiations will still continue. And Moneta noted that Penn's Greek system is one of the "finest" in the country, calling this issue "just a bump in the road that we have to overcome." IFC President and College junior Josh Gottheimer -- who presented the administration's position to the IFC presidents -- explained that the Greeks were hesitant to make Wednesday's decision. "I'd rather have a social atmosphere that included non-Greeks," Judd added. But he also explained that judging by his own fraternity's budget, brothers could not afford to pay enough supplemental dues to raise the $75,000 to $90,000 that would be necessary for the IFC to throw free parties this spring. If administrators and Greeks cannot develop an alternate method of financing social events, Judd said, fraternity brothers would enjoy multi-chapter parties as well as events with Panhellenic Council chapters. "What affects them affects us as well," said Panhel President and College senior Jessica Schreck. She explained that sorority presidents had supported the IFC all along. College sophomore Bree Goldman, who is not Greek, said although she attended fraternity parties every week during the beginning of her freshman year, she didn't think her social life would have been affected if she hadn't been allowed at IFC's events. But she added that the parties allow freshmen males to experience Greek life before they decide to rush. Judd, however, said he didn't believe this issue would lead more freshmen who are currently rushing to pledge a fraternity so they could attend parties. Freshmen who pledge are usually looking for more than a chance to attend social functions, he explained.