Frats work to change 'Animal' image

Nationwide, scandals have forced fraternities to redefine themselves. The beer cans have been cleaned off the lawns, the kegs have been moved out of the kitchens and togas are being put away in closets. The fraternity man is changing his image. The nature of Greek life both nationally and at Penn is shifting drastically, as Greek-letter societies fight membership declines, hazing controversies and media coverage of alcohol-related injuries and deaths. According to national estimates, fraternity membership has dropped as much as 30 percent across the country. Some chapters are closing and others may soon have to. And while Penn fraternity numbers remain mostly stable, Greeks here are taking on the same challenge as Greeks across the country -- that of redefining themselves for the future. "Fraternities today are returning to a more values-based experience," said Mic Wilson, the national executive director of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. Many fraternities are working to change their images, emphasizing positive values instead of partying and downplaying the alcohol-related aspects of their organizations. This change is especially true at Penn, where new alcohol regulations and stiffer penalties for violations have forced fraternities to evaluate themselves. Penn's Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter, for instance, has taken a long, hard look at its goals during the past year. The University forced the house to go dry in 1998 when a freshman was hospitalized after drinking too much at an AEPi party. According to AEPi President and InterFraternity Council Vice President for Academics Rob Lewin, "We've looked more towards what fraternities are all about, which is brotherhood and philanthropy efforts." Other fraternities are also getting rid of their barstools. Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Nu and Phi Kappa Sigma all pledged nationally to go dry by the year 2000. And also on the national level, Beta Theta Pi is an example of a fraternity polishing its image -- having instituted a program called Men of Principle, which strives to reinstate traditional values, including "scholarship and gentlemanly conduct," according to Beta Theta Pi National Director of Communications Erv Johnson. Of course, the gentlemanly conduct was not always the most popular aspect of Greek life. Many Penn students can remember, even several years ago, when fraternity houses were loud, visible presences on campus, throwing massive parties every weekend. But when charging door fees was banned in 1998, the number of fraternity parties diminished slightly. And with the recently implemented alcohol policy -- which severely limits the amount of alcohol fraternities can possess and sell at on-campus parties -- fraternity parties have practically become mere memories. "I just don't see the central concentration of people meeting like I did freshman and sophomore year," said Engineering senior Josh McGrath, a Sigma Nu brother. And said fellow Sig Nu brother and former IFC Executive Vice President Andrew Exum, "The day of the all-out blowout party is over." Of course, administrators note that the alcohol policy is not the sole factor affecting Greek life. "I would hesitate to say that it is only one thing -- like the alcohol policy," Penn Alcohol Coordinator Stephanie Ives said. The IFC as a whole has also made several changes over the past year designed to encourage community service and improve the grades of fraternity members, according to former IFC President Mark Metzl. For instance, several IFC fraternities are working with Philadelphians Concerned about Housing, which Metzl describes as a "local Habitat for Humanity." The IFC also instituted a new minimum GPA for fraternity brothers -- all Greek men must maintain at least a 2.15 -- and established a tutoring program for brothers. To facilitate the improvement of both community service and academics, the IFC also changed the structure of its executive board, separating the "executive vice president for academics and community service" job into two different positions. "It was too much work if you're going to take both seriously," said Metzl, a College senior and Tau Epsilon Phi brother. Fraternities also point a finger at the media for promoting a negative image of Greek groups. "Some people believe it's the Animal House thing," Theta Xi National Executive Director Scott Berry said. "It's funny how one little movie can do that to your image." While some Greeks blame the media and Penn Greeks cite the alcohol policy, others point to the changing attitudes of university administrations as a reason for changes in fraternity life. "Politically correct administrators are trying to limit Greek life on campus," Delta Kappa Epsilon National Executive Director David Easlick said. At Penn, however, fraternity membership has sustained a slight increase recently, and Penn's Greeks say they are satisfied with their interaction with the administration. "In the past, I think the frats have felt separate from the University. Now we feel close," said Exum, a College senior and Daily Pennsylvanian columnist. Scott Reikofski, director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, offered another reason for Penn fraternities' apparent immunity to plummeting national membership numbers: changing college demographics. "Penn and the Ivies and a few of our other peer institutions are really some of the only institutions left in the country that have a traditional 18-to-24-year-old undergraduate population," Reikofski said.