After spending the past few years working toward re-establishing itself as a colony on Penn's campus, Phi Sigma Kappa regained chapter status this weekend.
The fraternity was given its charter Saturday night at a banquet held in the Faculty Club, marking its official return to Penn.
The Penn chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa lost its national charter in 1998 due to various alcohol and risk management violations, such as the possession of kegs of beer in the fraternity's house and a link to pornography on its house Web site.
The fraternity recolonized at Penn in April 1999 and has been growing ever since.
"I thought the banquet went fantastic," said Phi Sigma Kappa President Sam Fetchero, a Wharton junior. "We had great turnout from the alumni, and the school was represented. It was a new start for Phi Sigma Kappa on campus."
Daniel Grabell, along with a few other Penn students, was the first to contact the national Phi Sigma Kappa office and begin the colony at Penn several years ago.
"It's amazing to see how everyone came together, brought this colony together," the 2000 alumnus said, pointing to the growth of the fraternity's membership. "It's just amazing."
Current chapter member Eian More said that as a College sophomore, he is glad that he has the time and opportunity to experience Phi Sigma Kappa after the rechartering.
"For me, it's a kind of a stepping into something new," he said. "I'm looking forward to it, I'm going to be around for a while, as a sophomore. So, I look forward to the year, to experience [it] as full brothers."
"We're really excited about going through the process we've finally completed," he added. "We've become brothers and an official chapter in national eyes."
John Cooper, president of the Phi Sigma Kappa Alumni Council, said that the rechartering of the fraternity at Penn is important to many of the fraternity's alumni.
"I'm very excited to be here, and I'm very proud of what this group of undergraduate students and recent graduates have accomplished," the 1978 Wharton graduate said.
"The fact that [the founders] were able to resurrect Phi Sigma Kappa on Penn's campus means a lot to us," he added. "We're very grateful and very excited to be here."
Tom Recker, executive vice president of Phi Sigma Kappa's national organization, also said that he was very happy about the return of Phi Sigma Kappa to Penn.
"I'm absolutely delighted they're back," he said. "It's great to see some of the alumni come back and support the chapter."
"Equally important, it's just incredibly significant for these young men to join our fraternity and we're just convinced that they're going to continue to be better and better and better," he added. "We're very proud of them and pleased for them."
John Paul, a 1979 Penn graduate and Phi Sigma Kappa alumnus, said that it was good to be present for the rechartering as well as to be reunited with those of his brothers that he does not see on a regular basis.
"It's great to see all these guys that I haven't seen a while and guys that I don't see often enough, and it's wonderful that the University is now recognizing the chapter again," he said.
The banquet also included the presentation of awards to members of the fraternity. Fetchero won the Mu award, while treasurer and Engineering senior Daniel Camero took away the brotherhood award. Engineering junior Michael Nigro won the scholarship award and Engineering junior Jeremy Goldman was presented with the character award.
Additionally, an award in honor of the centennial was given to the alumni.
