Well before the doors of College Hall open for classes, the doors of fraternity houses will open up to the masses of Penn students looking for music, conversation and, of course, some free beer.
The Greek system at Penn plays an important role in the social and extracurricular life at Penn. Approximately 30 percent of the undergraduate student body is affiliated with a fraternity or sorority, and a variety of other students participate in Greek-sponsored parties, fundraisers and charity events.
Greek life at Penn is overseen by student-run and elected councils as well as the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs.
The Panhellenic Council oversees the eight sororities on campus, while the InterFraternity Council guides the 28 fraternities on campus. The Bicultural InterGreek Council has purview over fraternities and sororities traditionally affiliated with specific minority communities.
Panhel and IFC houses run formal recruitment processes in the beginning of the spring semester.
In the IFC, fraternities have a rush process in which prospective members can visit whichever houses they want. Fraternities have three open events, which anyone can attend, and three invitation events. If prospective members do not receive an invitation, it is assumed that the house is no longer interested in the applicant.
Sororities run a more formal recruitment process. Potential new members are assigned to groups and must visit all houses. For many rushees, this will be the first time that they will meet sorority sisters, as Panhellenic rules prevent sorority sisters from courting freshmen and revealing which sorority they belong to prior to rush.
Applicants then pick several houses in which they are interested. Through self-selection and feedback from the sororities, they are offered only one bid.
On bid night, men may receive bids from any number of fraternities. If they accept the bid, a semester-long pledge process begins.
For prospective members of BIG-C fraternities and sororities, intake lasts all of spring semester.
For more information on the Greek organizations on campus, visit the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs at www.vpul.upenn.edu/ofsa.
