As Penn’s Greek leaders work on a proposal to revise the University’s alcohol policy, the effect Penn’s non-Greek social societies have on fraternities recognized by the University has made its way to the forefront of the debate.
The so called pseudo-Greek groups for men — Theos, the Owl Society and OZ — were formed in the late 1990s and 2000s following clashes between the University and official Greek groups. While these groups are in no way affiliated with the Interfraternity Council or Penn’s Greek system, Greek leaders claim they present a challenge to recognized fraternities in terms of hosting events, as they do not adhere to the University’s event-registration system.
Recognized fraternities are held to regulations set forth by Penn, their national organizations and the Interfraternity Council.
One of the University regulations for registered parties prohibits the consumption of hard alcohol, even if a student is 21. This stipulation in particular is a concern to IFC leaders because of the prevalence of dangerous drinking practices occurring off campus in unregulated environments, such as in pseudo-Greek houses.
According to College senior Dave Dobkin, the outgoing vice president of strategic planning at IFC, off-campus events reflect negatively on the University’s event-registration system.
“What seems to be undermining registered parties,” he wrote in an e-mail, “is the plethora of unregulated events at off-campus houses.”
Wharton junior and incoming IFC President Harris Heyer said while the Office of Student Conduct is made aware of all illegal acts associated with Penn students off campus, administrators cannot take punitive measures against these groups.
“Technically, if the house is not owned by the university, then only the landlord or police can take action against illicit activities,” Dobkin wrote.
According to Susan Herron, the director of the Office of Student Conduct, while “unrecognized fraternities do pose problems,” OSC “does not hold them accountable for any misdeeds.” In the case of incidents at recognized fraternities, she explained, OSC forwards the reports to the Office of Student Affairs/Fraternity Sorority Life.
Former Beta Theta Pi President and Wharton senior Eric Morris said he shares the concern of Greek leaders that illegitimate groups undermine fraternities, but he is confident the pros of being in a recognized fraternity outweigh the cons.
“From a Greek life point of view,” he wrote in an e-mail, pseudo-Greek groups “pose a challenge to on campus organizations as they face less financial restraints from national organizations.” However, he continued, national organizations and OSA/FSL provide Greeks with “guidance and support which make it easier to operate in many respects.”
The fact that groups like Theos and the Owls aren’t recognized nationally places them at a “disadvantage,” he added.
College senior Kit Neuman, the president of Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji), agreed and wrote in an e-mail that “pseudo Greek groups are in no way affiliated with the Greek system.”
“We as IFC members do not equate ourselves with these organizations, and do not wish to legitimize them through any sort of illusion of similarity,” he wrote.
