Sigma Pi will try to recolonize

After over a 60-year absence from Penn's Greek scene, the Sigma Pi fraternity is planning to return. The Indiana-based fraternity, founded at Penn in 1909 as the Delta chapter, closed its doors in 1938. For several years, the Sigma Pi national office has been working to re-establish its legacy at the University. "The Greek system at Penn is one of the best in the nation," Director of Expansion for Sigma Pi Matt Friedman said. "It's something we definitely want to be a part of." Friedman said that he was unclear as to why the chapter left Penn decades ago but speculated that the Depression and World War II forced the closure. Last year, Friedman's predecessor went before the InterFraternity Council, asking that Sigma Pi be able to recolonize at Penn. In turn, the IFC gave the fraternity permission to do so. "They gave us a presentation on what they stood for," outgoing IFC President and College senior Andrew Mandelbaum said. "It sounded really good." Last winter, the entire IFC voted to allow Sigma Pi to recolonize, according to Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Scott Reikofski. Reikofski added that OFSA supported the decision. "Certainly, if IFC will support them, there's no reason for us not to," he said. Friedman is currently on campus, attempting to attract new members to the fraternity. The house must have 25 men in order to reach colony status -- the initial phase before the group receives its charter. During the colony stage, which usually lasts one to two years, the group must prove itself in areas such as scholastics, philanthropy and chapter operations, according to Sigma Pi Executive Director Mark Briscoe. Sigma Pi's national is looking for a "good, healthy, viable presence on campus," Briscoe said. Mandelbaum said that the addition of Sigma Pi will bring "an infusion of new ideas and new energy" to the campus. "I think that we should have as many Greek houses as possible as long as people will join them," he said. However, with 30 houses already established, there is some concern that there will not be enough interest for another house. "The market is kind of saturated," Friedman admitted. But he added that Sigma Pi is ideal for those "people interested in going Greek, but looking for something different than what's available." According to Friedman, those who join Sigma Pi would not have to go through the pledge process. "You can come in and be a leader right off the bat," Friedman said. As the fraternity does not yet have a house, it will hold open house events tomorrow night and Monday through next Friday in Williams Hall. Cornell University is the sole Ivy League university with a Sigma Pi chapter. Locally, Temple University maintains an active chapter, while Drexel hosts an inactive chapter. Reikofski said he sees a bright future for the fraternity. "They're a strong national fraternity interested in putting the effort and resources in," he said. "I don't see any reason why they can't do very well."