Around a hundred members of Penn's Greek community enjoyed an evening of waiters in black tie and polite applause rather than keg stands and driving dance beats at the Greek Awards dinner last night.
The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs hosts the dinner annually to recognize student and alumni leaders and outstanding houses.
"Fraternities and sororities do so many positive things throughout the year," OFSA Director Scott Reikofski said. "We don't always get to focus on that, but that's what makes a difference to their members and the communities around them."
Though turnout was high, many grumbled about last year's ceremony as the evening began, hoping that this time around, the event would run faster.
"Last year, it was just a giant love fest," Lambda Chi Alpha President Michael Brownfield said.
Outgoing presidents Conor Daly of the InterFraternity Council, Alison Ng of the Panhellenic Council and Christopher Padilla of the BiCultural InterGreek Council were recognized for their service to the Greek community. Presented with unwieldy collections of flowers and balloons, they reflected on their experiences over the past year and the future of their organizations.
"Under [incoming IFC President] Seth Cohen's leadership, the Greek system will continue its restructuring," said Daly, a Daily Pennsylvanian columnist.
Standing out in the long line for the buffet, Chief of Police Tom Rambo and -- badge, hat, stripes, sidearm and all -- a uniformed Penn Police sergeant were in attendance with a delegation from the Division of Public Safety.
"We don't anticipate any arrests," Rambo said.
The DPS won this year's Administrator of the Year award.
"We do a whole lot of programs in conjunction with them," Daly said. "They really provide a service for us."
Sorority Alpha Phi took home the Helen Berkowitz Award for Overall Excellence, while the Crawford Madeira Cup -- the IFC equivalent -- went to the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
Even those who went home empty-handed maintained a positive outlook.
"It's my third year straight without winning an award," Zeta Beta Tau's alumni adviser and trustee Peter Isen said. "We're going to win 'most likely to win an award next year.'"
"Our main goal for next year is to win some awards," ZBT President Jon Schottenstein agreed, laughing.
Reflecting on Sigma Phi Epsilon's success, the fraternity's alumni adviser Brett Danko -- himself the winner of the Merv Sluizer Outstanding Alumni Adviser Award -- offered his take on what Greek life should mean.
"Sigma Phi Epsilon represents the things that work with the Greek system," the 1990 College alumnus said. "Responsibility, scholarship, community service and enjoying one another's company."
