Although Tulane University sophomore Ashley Feinstein knew only three people upon arriving at Penn, she soon discovered she had an entire house full of sisters.
The Chi Omega member is one of several Tulane Greeks who lost their New Orleans chapter houses but have been openly welcomed by Penn's fraternities and sororities.
"I think it's really nice because we already have a common bond," Feinstein said. "We did a secret handshake at the door."
Tulane senior Brandon Cohen also tried to use a secret handshake with one of his Penn Pi Kappa Alpha brothers but was only given a confused look until he explained who he was and where he was from.
Cohen -- who has held an office in his fraternity chapter for the past three years -- was invited to watch a Philadelphia Eagles game and have a few drinks with the brothers.
"I was pretty much just looking for a common ground and, if anything, some internal support at Penn," Cohen said. "It's a pretty large school compared to Tulane and [there are] a lot of smart people, so it can be kind of intimidating."
Tulane senior and Kappa Alpha Theta sister Danielle Narveson has also found that being in a Greek organization has helped ease the transition.
"To transfer schools within a day and a half and know absolutely no one on campus, it's a little scary; it's very exciting," Narveson said. "It was nice to be able to contact a large organization and say, 'Hey, I'm a member.'"
Narveson was given a key to the Theta chapter house and has already attended one chapter meeting.
Feinstein and fellow Tulane Chi Omega sister Kate Schafer have also attended a chapter meeting and been invited to all of the sorority's events.
"At the end of meeting we were rushed by all the girls giving us their names and numbers and introducing themselves," Feinstein said.
Sorority members also plan to give Feinstein -- who arrived on campus with three sets of clothes -- and other Tulane Greeks lettered T-shirts and paraphernalia to wear during Greek Week at the end of October.
Several fraternities and sororities have offered to house students who cannot find accommodations and help them pick out classes and adjust to a new campus.
"It really shows how a sorority is like a second home for people," Chi Omega President Laura Fluharty said. "They can go to another school and have a group of people to depend on and a network of friends," the College junior added.
Despite general similarities, Tulane Greeks have already noticed a number of small differences between Greek life at Tulane and at Penn.
For example, sorority members cannot live in their chapter houses at Tulane, and Greek buttons and T-shirts are much more prevalent there.
Cohen said that the Pi Kappa Alpha brothers at Penn are "more chill" and that the house is larger and nicer and actually has a TV.
Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Scott Reikofski was unsure how many Greek Tulane students are now at Penn, since many are still getting settled and have not contacted their Penn chapters.
Penn's Greek community will be hosting a brunch to welcome Greek Tulane students within the next week, Panhellenic Council President and College senior Hayley Gross said.
How to help at Penn - Tomorrow: Interfaith hurricane relief event; Houston Hall, Class of '49 Auditorium; 7:30 p.m. - Friday: The Underground Shakespeare Company presents 'Love's Labours Lost' with all proceeds going to Katrina victims; College Green; 7:15 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. - Friday - Sunday: 2005 hurricane-relief volleyball tournament; in the Quad. - Monday: Junior Class Board/ American Red Cross blood drive; Houston Hall; 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
