For those preferring spun gold to ambrosia and nectar, one of the four business fraternities on campus poses an alternative to the traditional conception of Greek life.
Ranging in membership from 15 to 60, Alpha Kappa Psi, Delta Sigma Pi, Phi Gamma Nu and Gamma Iota Sigma all screen new members during the spring semester.
"I think that a business fraternity is for students who have a clear focus on where they want to go professionally and are looking for support and guidance to achieve their goals," Alpha Kappa Psi Rush Chairwoman and College sophomore Elizabeth Curtis-Bey said. "We look for students who recognize the balance between the professional life, social life and community service."
Other groups distinguished themselves in ways ranging from personality type to background.
"I think it's just our attitudes," Delta Sigma Pi Senior Vice President and Wharton junior Ken Xiahou said. "We all have a professional focus but we have a different personality ... we're a little bit more laid back -- not that we don't do as many activities -- but our brothers aren't as high-strung."
Phi Gamma Nu President and Wharton senior Ian Lin said that his fraternity "differs in the sense that it is a smaller frat. We are more tightly bonded."
With 20 members originating from countries including Thailand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Israel and the U.S., Phi Gamma Nu tries to have "a global approach so we focus more on international business," said Lin, a Singapore native. "We try to invite speakers from different countries."
Gamma Iota Sigma is "specifically concentrated on the insurance industry, and all the people who join are interested in actuarial science or insurance and risk management," Co-President and Wharton senior Zuowei Bi said.
Like most of the fraternities gearing up for their recruitment processes, Alpha Kappa Psi hosted the first of three events yesterday to introduce potential rushees to the fraternity.
Alpha Kappa Psi currently has around 60 members.
A casual attire "game night" on Saturday and a formal-attire professional introduction on Monday will round out the open events stage of the rush process.
"We don't make it a requirement to attend all three events," Curtis-Bey said. "After the third event, we continue to work with people who have demonstrated an interest in the fraternity with a program of events."
The entire process ends in a month's time, with the final bid date undetermined.
Delta Sigma Pi, numbering around 50 members, actively seeks "talented individuals pursuing a business or economics degree," according to its Web site.
The organization's rush process kicks off on Monday, with social events on Tuesday, a professional event next Thursday and a philanthropic event at the end of the month rounding out the open events.
Explaining his own fraternity's events, Xiahou said the group plans to head to Center City.
"They have a basketball tournament there for little West Philly kids and we're going to be refereeing, setting up the food and keeping the scoreboard," Xiahou said, noting that applications to the fraternity are due at the end of the month.
Closed rush events during the week of Feb. 2 culminate in bid night that Saturday.
Rush applications are due this Friday, with a Sunday interview screening rushees for closed rush. Bid night is scheduled for Jan. 29.
The fraternity is divided into four committees: finance, social, philanthropy and professional.
"We want someone who's sincere and [is] passionate about business and not because they want something on their resum‚," Lin said. "We are actively reaching out for people in the College and Engineering -- not just Wharton. Anyone who has a strong passion for business can join our frat."
As the smallest of the four groups and with only 15 paying members, Gamma Iota Sigma has a less stringent rush procedure.
"As long as you fill in the application form and pay the dues, you're a member," Bi said. "There's no screening process and there's no timeline. We have a formal initiation ceremony but not a set date."
