Frats may have to wait to recolonize

Phi Gamma Delta and Sigma Alpha Mu -- fraternities with both glorious and ignominious histories at Penn that were shut down for disciplinary reasons -- are interested in recolonizing Penn's campus in spring 2004. According to Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Scott Reikofski, however, it is unlikely that both groups will be able to return in the same academic year. "My preference is to not have more than one coming back at a time," Reikofski said. "These groups will be back here -- it's just a matter of when." Phi Gamma Delta, better known as FIJI, dissolved in 1999 following the alcohol-related death of 26-year-old 1994 College graduate and FIJI alumnus Michael Tobin. Initially scheduled to recolonize Penn's campus this semester, FIJI has delayed recolonization for a variety of reasons, including ongoing litigation involving the University that followed Tobin's death. But postponing the return of FIJI is problematic. Sigma Alpha Mu -- shut down in 2000 after violating dry rush procedures while on social probation -- was scheduled to recolonize in spring 2004. And while two fraternities could recolonize Penn's campus at the same time, Reikofski would rather have the fraternities come back one at a time, unless there is a great chance of "success." "I'm not quite sure that out of the [number of students who rush but do not receive bids] there can be two successes," Reikofski said. But a shortage of student interest resulting in the failure to generate two quality classes of men who would start the organizations is just one of the problems that would arise if both groups return simultaneously. According to Reikofski, recolonizing a fraternity takes a significant commitment in terms of human and financial effort and resources. In addition, both groups face the difficulty of competing for the same students. "It's not out of the question that both may return next year," Reikofski said. "They both would like to return to Penn as soon as possible, so we need to wrestle with that and see how it goes. "Most probably, one or the other will opt to make the decision to wait for 2005. It's really a toss-up as to what may happen." InterFraternity Council President Seth Cohen suggested that only time will tell when FIJI and SAM will recolonize. "Both will be recolonizing," Cohen said. "It's most likely that one house will come back next year, but we don't know.... If two houses come back, there might be a possible strain, but just one house should be fine." Reikofski was confident in the eventual return of both FIJI and SAM. "I would be surprised if they were not both back within the next couple of years," Reikofski said. The return of FIJI and SAM will probably be resolved later this semester by a conference call facilitated by OFSA. The inevitability of FIJI's and SAM's returns could cause some members of the Penn community to worry that history might repeat itself. "It was set up that when SAM returns, they remain for an academic year before moving into the house," Reikofski said. "When Phi Gamma Delta returns, they will be alcohol-free. My experience has been that re-established chapters are not as problematic as you might think. "It's certainly going to be an interesting prospect."