New IFC leadership takes helm, fraternities deliver bids

A new era of Greek leadership began last night with the formal end of fraternity rush and the annual transition of InterFraternity Council board members. Nearly 600 rushees gathered in Meyerson Hall to sign bid cards indicating whether or not they would pledge one of Penn's 29 fraternities. According to Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Scott Reikofski, fraternities issued approximately 585 bids this year, an increase of 19 from last year. This marks the fourth consecutive year in which fraternities have offered more bids, and Reikofski expects even greater participation in Greek organizations in the future. Prior to the bid signing, 661 men had registered for rush and paid the mandatory $5 fee to the IFC. But since all men who signed bids were required to pay had they not already done so, that number will likely rise to at least 700. Before the bids were handed out, Reikofski welcomed the rushees to the Greek system. "I encourage you to step up," he said. "Don't wait in the shadows. Get involved to begin with." Next, outgoing IFC President and Daily Pennsylvanian columnist Conor Daly reflected on his tenure and introduced incoming president Wharton senior Seth Cohen. Daly told the crowd that their future fraternity brothers might serve as "ushers at your wedding and pallbearers at your funeral." Daly issued Cohen a challenge to build on what the IFC has already accomplished, after which Cohen set forth his agenda. Cohen's goals include changing the "tainted" image of Greek life and further implementing the Program of Excellence drawn up last year. Students reacted to signing their bids enthusiastically, some eager to start pledging and others wondering what exactly the process would bring. "Who knows what's going to happen," College freshman and Sigma Alpha Epsilon pledge Elliot Dawson said. "It's going to be a good time for sure. It already has been." "I grew up with four sisters and a dog," Engineering freshman and Alpha Epsilon Pi pledge Jon Danoff said. "For the first time in my life, I'll have some real brothers!" Some students said they were wary about the pledge process. "Rush was the fun part," College freshman and Phi Delta Theta pledge Bryan McClelland said. "I ate as much food as I could, partied as hard as I could, and pledge will be paying for that." Engineering freshman and Beta Theta Pi pledge John Flynn was less worried about pledging. "I'm from Illinois, so I've heard horror stories my entire life about pledging... killing puppies with your bare hands, for example," Flynn said. "But the brothers said there's nothing you're going to regret." Reflecting on his presidency, Daly also had few regrets. "I feel good about where we are," he said. "I got a lot of the things I wanted to accomplish done." Reikofski was also happy with the accomplishments of Daly and his board, but he sees areas the IFC can improve on, including faculty relations, recruitment registration, community service, self-discipline and the Program for Excellence. "Seth's got a different style than Conor," Reikofski said. "The biggest issue he's going to wrestle with is getting the chapters to buy into the Program for Excellence," Reikofski added. Cohen testified to the work ahead -- "It's going to be a tough act to follow after the great job that Conor Daly has done."