Report: IFC, BIG-C grades drop below U. average

Only Panhel surpassed the undergraduate average of 3.16, according to the OFSA report. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs released the Greek system's fall 1996 academic standings yesterday, indicating that Panhellenic Council members fared better overall than the University's average undergraduate student, while the InterFraternity and BiCultural InterGreek Councils performed below the average student. Panhel and IFC chapters both earned slightly higher averages than last semester, though the BIG-C saw a drop in its average. Fraternity and sorority members earned an average GPA of 3.21 -- slightly higher than the previous semester's 3.20 -- which beat the general undergraduate average GPA of 3.16 and the non-Greek average GPA of 3.15. IFC President and College junior Matt Baker called the results "excellent," saying he was very pleased. The Alpha Chi Rho brother added that these statistics help dispel stereotypes of Greeks as "dumb jocks" with a penchant for alcohol. Panhel members were the most successful of the three organizations, with a chapter average of 3.34 -- a small increase from last year's 3.33 -- and higher than the general female average of 3.20. OFSA Director Scott Reikofski said Phi Sigma Sigma held the highest Panhel chapter average. "We were surprised, because it's usually us and [Sigma Delta Tau] competing for number one," Chi Omega President and College and Wharton junior Meka Millstone said of her sorority's second-place finish. Reikofski added that because Panhel as a whole historically has such high GPAs, a National Panhellenic Conference Scholarship Coordinator said the sisters stand a good chance at receiving national awards this spring. And Panhel President Jessica Lennon said the sororities will compete for awards at the Northeast IFC and Panhel Conference. The College junior added that she expects that many Panhel sisters have the 3.50 GPA required for entry into Gamma Sigma Alpha -- the national Greek honor society which will soon colonize at Penn. "They do some things very well, including academics," Baker said of the Panhel's success. The IFC chapter average was 3.12 -- the same as the all-male average -- and is up from last semester's 3.09. And Baker said he expects next year's IFC averages to increase due to new academic planning and time management workshops for students having academic difficulties. Baker added that he and his executive board plan to work with Panhel in establishing academic programs. Alpha Epsilon Pi and Lambda Chi Alpha lead the IFC as the chapters with the highest average GPAs, Reikofski said, adding that the two were currently "battling three-thousandths of a point" while some brothers await grades from incomplete classes. "They're a bunch of smart kids," Baker said of Lambda brothers. "They are definitely going to do well." Lambda Vice President Bob Mohanty said his chapter is "looking for a select group that excels in all areas." But Lambda President Peter Wright added that his fraternity has no membership quotas or special requirements. "We don't have one Ben Franklin Scholar, to tell you the truth," the Wharton sophomore said. But he said his brothers "always take academics seriously" and form study groups throughout the year. Although both IFC and Panhel exhibited increased academic success, the BIG-C's average GPA slipped to 2.38 from last semester's 2.68. "We're so few," Sigma Lambda Upsilon Sorority, Inc., Vice President Jenny Alcantara said, explaining that the BIG-C's chapter average could easily decrease with a few members' bad grades. "A lot of the chapters within the BIG-C have maybe four members." The Nursing junior added that despite its small size -- approximately 50 members -- BIG-C still held many community service events and forums. "[IFC and Panhel members] can spread their responsibilities a little more than we can." But according to the Greeks' new 21st Century Report -- to be implemented this spring -- BIG-C chapter organizations must maintain minimum GPAs of 2.5 each semester. "We're going to be working with them," Reikofski said, adding that OFSA would help BIG-C chapters attain more academic resources. And BIG-C graduate students will also provide academic advising to their younger brothers and sisters, Reikofski said. Alcantara added that her chapter now has mandatory study hours and will not commit students having academic problems to extracurricular events.