Fraternities, sororities reap awards at event

Delta Upsilon, Delta Delta Delta and Alpha Kappa Alpha each won the top honors in their category. and Ethan Kross Taking time out from the various events held by individual Greek chapters, members of Penn's fraternities and sororities gathered last Wednesday to celebrate the past year's achievements at the annual Greek Awards banquet. At the ceremony, held in the Penn Tower Hotel ballroom, Delta Upsilon received four awards, including the Medeira Award for outstanding InterFraternity Council fraternity, the second time in as many years DU has won the top award. Delta Delta Delta won the award for outstanding Panhellenic sorority, while the Alpha Kappa Alpha fraternity garnered the honor for the top Bicultural InterGreek Council chapter. To be considered for the award, each chapter from all three Greek umbrella organizations submitted packets -- typically containing pictures, fliers and descriptions of events -- to the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs and the Greek Alumni Council, according to Panhel President Janelle Brodsky, a College and Engineering junior. OFSA and the alumni council judged the chapters on six categories which ultimately determine the award. DU President Jeff Reisenberg -- who won an award for outstanding IFC sophomore -- said he believed that the diversity of brothers and events his fraternity described in its packet was a major factor in winning the award. "They liked a lot of the activities we do," said Reisenberg, a College and Wharton sophomore. "Our fraternity tries to get out of the house instead of just having beer bashes." Former IFC President and College and Engineering senior Matt Baker, who gave out the awards for individual categories, said that not having any open parties made a strong statement for DU's risk-management policies. In fact, in addition to the Medeira award, DU won the awards for outstanding risk management and social enrichment events; outstanding educational, cultural and sensitivity events; and support for scholarship and faculty interaction. A total of 14 awards were given out. While Tri-Delt won the top award, Brodsky pointed out that six of the eight sororities earned awards at the dinner, a strong indication of the strength of Penn's Panhel, which recently won an award from regional Panhel alumni for overall excellence. And last year's Tri-Delt President Susan Hearn, a College senior, said that her sorority was "very excited" to win because "it could have been anybody," explaining that many of the other sororities were very well-rounded. In addition to the organizational awards, each fraternity and sorority nominated a "most well-rounded" member of its sophomore, junior and senior classes. Panhel and IFC houses also nominated outstanding house managers. The "most well-rounded" award is based on criteria such as leadership and activities, according to College junior Noah Bilenker, a Phi Kappa Psi brother and outgoing Undergraduate Assembly chairperson who was an IFC winner for the second year in a row. University President Judith Rodin made the keynote address at the event, stressing the value of her experience in Penn's Greek system as a sister of Delta Phi Epsilon. And another administrator, Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum -- also a Greek alumna -- won the award for most outstanding administrator for her support of the Greek system.