Beta Theta Pi, Phi Gamma Delta and Zeta Beta Tau are among the fraternities that may have live-in graduate advisers next year, according to Wharton junior and Interfraternity Council President Christian Lunoe.
However, there is “no clear time frame or guarantee that this program will be implemented,” he said.
The ambiguity surrounding this issue has led to concerns from many in the Greek community. An official statement on the IFC website states that the Vice Provost for University Life has no longterm plans for the implementation of live-in GAs in chapter houses. However, some national fraternity organizations have requested that GAs live in their chapter houses at Penn.
Lunoe said Beta was identified as a potential candidate for the GA policy due to the allegations of sexual assault which occured after an incident was reported in November on the 4000 block of Walnut Street, where Beta has an off-campus house.
Phi Gamma Delta — commonly known as Fiji — may also introduce a GA to its house next year. The fraternity was formally welcomed back to campus last fall after leaving in 1999 when an alumnus suffered a fatal fall at Fiji’s house.
According to ZBT President and College sophomore Bennett Mayrock, the fraternity has had an RA live in the chapter house since 2006 — a condition for the fraternity’s return to campus following several alcohol violations.
At Sunday’s Undergraduate Assembly presidential and vice-presidential debate, hosted by The Daily Pennsylvanian, both presidential candidates discussed the issue.
College junior, Sigma Alpha Mu brother and UA presidential candidate Grant Dubler compared the policy to having “babysitters” at fraternities.
“When you start adding these restrictions, groups will want to move off-campus,” he said Monday.
College junior, Phi Kappa Sigma brother and UA presidential candidate Matt Amalfitano saw the need for “more communication” between VPUL, IFC and the Panhellenic Council. He added that it is “necessary” for the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs to facilitate communication between the Greek community and the administration.
OFSA Director Scott Reikofski was unable to comment Monday.
UA Chairman and College junior Alec Webley said there is “a lot of mistrust” between the Greek community and the administration concerning this issue, but that it is nothing new.
“Live-in GAs have been the boogeyman of IFC Presidents for decades,” he said. “Having a big brother in every fraternity house is spectacularly ineffective.”
This article was edited from its print version to reflect that Lunoe said that Beta was identified as a candidate for the GA policy due to allegations of sexual assault.
