The implementation of a new policy by the University may make attracting summer residents more difficult for fraternities and sororities at Penn.
The policy mandates that all fraternity and sorority summer residents leave their respective houses between Aug. 7 and Sept. 3, although they will be allowed to store their possessions with permission during this time.
The University tried to implement a similar policy for the summer of last year, but fraternity presidents petitioned, and the policy was not passed.
The period begins one day after the second session of summer school ends, and ends five days before the fall semester begins on Sept. 8. During the three week time period, residents will not be allowed to stay in the houses but will be able to store belongings in their rooms inside marked boxes if they fill out a liability waiver.
According to Kappa Alpha Society President Jack BeVier, the demand for housing in fraternities and sororities is expected to decrease as a result of the new policy
"Fraternities rely a great deal on summer rents for their annual budgets, and one way that fraternities have distinguished themselves in the past from University housing is that we don't close after the second summer session," BeVier said. "Fraternity budgets will take a hit as a result of the new policy."
BeVier added that "the new policy makes it more difficult for the fraternities to get summer residents."
In addition, residents currently living in fraternity and sorority houses are not completely informed about the policies.
Jordan Engelhardt, a College junior who is living in Alpha Chi Ro this summer, was not aware of the policies, but said that he has a private arrangement with the fraternity member who occupies the room he will rent.
Engelhardt also said that he has a time conflict with the policy - "a job that will probably go through till the middle of August."
Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs representative Scott Reikofski, however, did not see the policy as a problem because it "is not really a new policy, just being enforced more than it was before."
Also, according to Reikofski, the policy is consistent with that used for the college houses during the same time period, and the time is used to clean the houses and have them checked by a security company.
Still, fraternity members like BeVier do not comprehend the policy or the reason for its enforcement.
"I don't really understand the policy change. Having people in the houses shouldn't be an imposition upon OFSA's end-of-the-summer repairs to the fraternity houses," BeVier said.
"I don't see where the University's motives lie," BeVier said.
