Thirteen of Penn’s 30 Interfraternity Council chapters will recruit sophomores and transfer students this semester.
Among those recruiting will be Phi Kappa Sigma, known as Skulls, which was barred last spring from recruiting new members following the death of John Carroll University student Matthew Crozier, who suffered fatal head injuries after a fall at the fraternity house on New Year’s Eve.
The number of fraternities participating in fall rush has increased from nine last year.
Sororities holding fall rush include Chi Omega, Sigma Kappa and Sigma Delta Tau, as well as Multicultural Greek Council chapters Sigma Psi Zeta and alpha Kappa Delta Phi, according to Director of Student Affairs and Fraternity Sorority Life Scott Reikofski. Newly established sorority Zeta Tau Alpha will also recruit this fall, ZTA Vice President and College junior Kelsey Bogue confirmed.
Fall rush differs from recruitment in the spring in that there are no formal recruitment dates or events for upperclassmen, Director of Student Affairs and Fraternity Sorority Life Scott Reikofski said.
Since only a small number of Greek chapters participate, OSA/FSL plans to track their progress individually, he added.
While IFC chapters may accept however many students they wish, openings in Panhellenic Council sororities depend on the number of available spots in each chapter, Reikofski wrote in an email.
Sorority intake in the fall is “extremely limited,” and fraternities usually take one or two new members, IFC President and Wharton senior Harris Heyer said.
No limit exists for Mulitcultural Greek Council chapters, but each chapter seeks permission from OSA/FSL to recruit.
Fall rush is restricted to upperclassmen and transfer students who meet the GPA requirement of 2.5, Reikofski wrote.
In some cases, sororities that are not participating in fall rush may still recruit transfer students from their existing network.
A college sophomore and recent transfer, who wished to remain anonymous in order to conceal her association with Greek life, plans to extend her Alpha Chi Omega membership at her previous school to Penn’s chapter.
“If you go through the pledge process and become an active, initiated member, you are part of AXO as a body,” she said. “You just transfer over chapters. It was as simple as emailing OSA/FSL. It’s been a good experience and smooth transition.”
Wharton and Engineering sophomore Grace Wang is still undecided about joining a sorority this fall.
“Several of my friends are in sororities, and I feel I have a better idea of each sorority’s personality,” Wang said. “Yet, Greek life does not seem to be as big of a deal as it did freshmen year … the seniors lose interest in their sororities, and by the time I would actually be a sister, it’s halfway through my sophomore year.”
Fall rush is a much more “laid back” process, said College junior Arka Mallela, who waited until his sophomore year to join Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
“I didn’t find a place I was really into in the spring,” Mallela said. “Sophomore year, I had a bigger idea of what my interests were … I already knew people in Sig Ep. It’s very different than rushing in the spring.”
