Panhel rush comes to close as 315 women get bids

Fewer women rushed than in the past several years. At the same time that the Green Bay Packers defeated the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl, 315 women experienced victories of their own after receiving bids to pledge Greek organizations. With a quota set at 42 women for each of the University's eight sorority chapters, the Panhellenic Council's rush period ended Sunday night. At 4 p.m. the rushees streamed into the Bodek Lounge of Houston Hall to receive their bids. Later that evening, they attended house parties hosted by their new "sisters." Panhel Vice President for Rush and College senior Florence Legaspi said this year's rush "went very well." But only 520 women registered to participate in rush, a decrease from last year's 560. Of those who rushed, 315 received bids. Over the past few years the number of women seeking membership in Greek organizations has steadily declined. Phi Sigma Sigma President and College senior Stacie Brensilver attributed the trend to differences in each freshman class. But according to Panhel Rush Assistant Vice President Jen Wigman, interest in Greek life declined after the University lost the Kappa Delta sorority in 1994. The Alpha Chi Omega sister and College junior added that during the early 1990s -- when the University featured nine active sororities -- interest in Greek life peaked, and pledge classes consisted of approximately 50 girls each. "We're kind of coming back to where we were," Panhel President and College senior Jessica Schreck said. The Sigma Delta Tau sister added that in comparison with other schools, the University's Greek system remains "fairly" strong. But Schreck said many students still don't consider rushing because they are unaware of the kinds of experiences offered by sororities. "It's really a shame because Greek life at Penn has given me so much," Alpha Phi President and College senior Janis Felderstein said. But Wigman added that although the initial number of women participating in rush has decreased over the past few years, the percentage of rushees who pledge remains relatively similar. "Our presence is just as strong," she said. Sigma Delta Tau President and Wharton junior Katie Deutsch said "Panhel is [still] the largest women's organization on campus," and its members are typical "Ivy League women" who are intelligent and active on campus. Schreck added that smaller pledge classes allow for more chapter unity. "It was amazing," said Legaspi, an Alpha Phi sister, about how close the rushees had become. "There were girls hugging, crying and kissing each other" after receiving bids. Most rushees made the decision about where to pledge based upon how well they related to each chapter's current sisters, but for each one the experience was different. College freshman Melissa Gluck said before receiving her bid from Chi Omega, she was "a little nervous." But College freshman Meghan Butler -- who will also pledge Chi Omega -- was not particularly worried about Bid Day because she said she thought she "clicked with the girls really well."