Post-break Panhellenic rules ban wearing letters

Beginning this week, all of the sorority sisters at Penn will disappear.

Starting yesterday, every member of a sorority is forbidden from wearing her Greek letters. The sisters are also prohibited from telling rushees -- 400 of whom have signed up to participate -- what sorority they are in.

The Penn sorority women can talk about the Greek system, but not about their specific sororities.

"At this point freshman girls are thinking more about rush," College senior and Vice President of Recruitment on the Panhellenic Council Ashley Alexander said. "We want them making up their minds during recruitment."

Some Penn freshmen agree with Panhel's decision.

College freshman Justine Davidson said this helps to show that "Greek life isn't as individual as it may seem."

College freshman Emily Goulston said she approved of the Panhel rules because they give the girls who are rushing "more of a neutral message about the Greek system."

"It's a good idea because it's harder to judge Greek sororities as a whole [when] hearing more of a biased opinion," Goulston said. "They would be talking about how 'my sorority is better than that sorority.'"

To avoid such problems, Alexander said that Panhel wants the girls to choose their sorority "based on the women they meet at the recruitment parties."

According to Alexander, these rules focus on Penn's Greek unity and help provide rushees with an unbiased view of the Greek system.

Panhel has also placed an advertising ban on all sorority houses. Each sorority will not be able to publicize any events going on in its house using methods such as posting signs on Locust Walk or placing advertisements in a newspaper.

All women participating in Panhel rush began an orientation period yesterday which ends Thursday.

During this orientation, rushees will be introduced to the entire recruitment process. They will receive packets containing information about the rush process in January as well as information about the sororities on campus.

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