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(03/01/00 10:00am)
Sigma Alpha Mu cannot return to campus until the spring of 2001. After violating dry rush policies last month by serving alcohol at an event, the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity has lost its charter and has been suspended by the University for at least a year, officials announced yesterday. SAM's suspension comes as a punishment for serving alcohol at a January 21 rush event, disobeying InterFraternity Council rush rules and breaking the conditions of the fraternity's current social probation. The fraternity was on probation for violating dry rush and anti-hazing policies a year ago. The suspension will take effect April 9 and will last until the end of the calendar year, but the brothers will be allowed to continue to live in their house -- located at 3817 Walnut Street -- under the supervision of a live-in monitor. The 22 current pledges will be initiated on April 9. "The Chapter is prohibited from holding meetings or participating in, hosting, or sponsoring campus functions, using the name of Sigma Alpha Mu, the Greek letters, nicknames or other insignia, or otherwise functioning as a chapter," said a statement released yesterday by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. The fraternity may be allowed to recolonize in the spring of 2001 if the brothers meet the stringent conditions of their agreement with the University -- which include becoming permanently dry, completing a series of alcohol and risk management classes and doing community service. SAM National Executive Director Aaron Girson did not return repeated phone calls, nor did SAM President Jared Hendricks. Also as part of their punishment, the brothers agreed to place an advertisement in today's Daily Pennsylvanian acknowledging their violations and vowing to improve their conduct in the future. "The current membership of SAM is determined to prove that January's violation was an aberration and that the strides we have made for positive change in the Chapter and on campus will now continue uninterrupted," the brothers wrote in the ad. If the fraternity does recolonize a year from now, it will have to petition its national organization to regain its charter. And the brothers will never again be allowed to bring alcohol into their house, according to OFSA's statement. "The Chapter has agreed to become alcohol-free on a permanent basis, effective immediately," the statement said. If SAM is permitted to recolonize, the brothers will also be required to work on anti-alcohol abuse initiatives, according to OFSA's statement. "Working closely with the IFC, they will assume a leadership role in forming a task force to explore alternatives to alcohol at rush events." The suspension comes about a year after the brothers were disciplined for previous alcohol-related violations. The fraternity was placed on a one-year social probation and a two-year probation after two incidents last spring, the first being a rush event at a New Jersey bowling alley where the brothers brought five kegs and stole or damaged hundreds of bowling balls, pins and shoes. SAM was forced to reorganize in the fall and placed the 40 junior and senior brothers on alumni status, leaving just 21 active members. An IFC statement said the organization is happy with the way the situation was resolved. "We are glad that the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity and the University were able to work out an agreement that is acceptable to both parties," the statement said. "We look forward to having SAM play an active role in the Greek system in the future."
(03/01/00 10:00am)
Sigma Alpha Mu cannot return to campus until the spring of 2001 After violating dry rush policies last month by serving alcohol at an event, the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity has lost its charter and has been suspended by the University for at least a year, officials announced yesterday. SAM's suspension comes as a punishment for serving alcohol at a January 21 rush event, disobeying InterFraternity Council rush rules and breaking the conditions of the fraternity's current social probation. The fraternity was on probation for violating dry rush and anti-hazing policies a year ago. The suspension will take effect April 9 and last until the end of the calendar year, but the brothers will be allowed to continue to live in their house -- located at 3817 Walnut Street -- under the supervision of a live-in monitor. The 22 current pledges will be initiated on April 9. "The Chapter is prohibited from holding meetings or participating in, hosting, or sponsoring campus functions, using the name of Sigma Alpha Mu, the Greek letters, nicknames or other insignia, or otherwise functioning as a chapter," said a statement released yesterday by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. The fraternity may be allowed to recolonize in the spring of 2001 if the brothers meet the stringent conditions of their agreement with the University -- which include becoming permanently dry, completing a series of alcohol and risk management classes and doing community service. SAM National Executive Director Aaron Girson did not return repeated phone calls, nor did SAM President Jared Hendricks. Also as part of their punishment, the brothers agreed to place an advertisement in today's Daily Pennsylvanian acknowledging their violations and vowing to improve their conduct in the future. "The current membership of SAM is determined to prove that January's violation was an aberration and that the strides we have made for positive change in the Chapter and on campus will now continue uninterrupted," the brothers wrote in the ad. If the fraternity does recolonize a year from now, it will have to petition its national organization to regain its charter. And the brothers will never again be allowed to bring alcohol into their house, according to OFSA's statement. "The Chapter has agreed to become alcohol-free on a permanent basis, effective immediately," the statement said. If SAM is permitted to recolonize, the brothers will also be required to work on anti-alcohol abuse initiatives, according to OFSA's statement. "Working closely with the IFC, they will assume a leadership role in forming a task force to explore alternatives to alcohol at rush events." The suspension comes about a year after the brothers were disciplined for previous alcohol-related violations. The fraternity was placed on a one-year social probation and a two-year probation after two incidents last spring, the first being a rush event at a New Jersey bowling alley where the brothers brought five kegs and stole or damaged hundreds of bowling balls, pins and shoes. SAM was forced to reorganize in the fall and placed the 40 junior and senior brothers on alumni status, leaving just 21 active members. An IFC statement said the organization is happy with the way the situation was resolved. "We are glad that the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity and the University were able to work out an agreement that is acceptable to both parties," the statement said. "We look forward to having SAM play an active role in the Greek system in the future."
(02/25/00 10:00am)
Despite their busy schedules of classes, sports, clubs and Greek events, Penn fraternity members are trying to give something back to the community as well. The InterFraternity Council has broadened its community service program this semester, both increasing and diversifying its philanthropic efforts. While the IFC has been active in community service endeavors in past years, the intensity has increased recently. Members say these efforts are not only philanthropic in nature, but also help to clean up the party-animal image of the fraternity man. "The image gets a little more tarnished each year," said Lambda Chi Alpha Community Service Chairman Matt Mongon, a Wharton junior. "We want to show that fraternities give back to the community." As part of the IFC's new community service plans for this year, new fraternity members began to get involved in service almost as soon as they signed their bids, with the pledge class of each fraternity designing and participating in a philanthropy project. "It's good to do something positive with pledging and get the negative light off of it," said IFC Vice President for Community Service Mark Zimring, a Delta Kappa Epsilon brother and a College sophomore. For more than a year, the IFC has worked in conjunction with Civic House on community service. In 1999, the IFC and the Panhellenic Council worked with Civic House on a project called "2000 for 2000," in which the Greeks completed 2,000 hours of service by the start of the new year. The IFC as a whole is involved with Philadelphians Concerned about Housing, a Habitat for Humanity-type organization that helps homeless people obtain places to live. The Greeks also hold periodic blood drives -- including an IFC-wide drive that will occur next Thursday at the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity house -- and collect spare change for a program called Upward Bound, which is designed to help underprivileged teenagers succeed. Individual fraternities are involved in a wide range of philanthropic activities and fundraisers. Many send brothers to work at the University City Hospitality Coalition soup kitchen, while others sell daffodils on Locust Walk to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Other fraternities take a cue from their national organizations when it comes to community service. Lambda Chi Alpha plans to hold its first annual Watermelon Olympics this fall, during which teams will compete in events such as watermelon shotput and a seed-spitting contest. The proceeds from the Olympics -- already a tradition at Lambda Chi chapters around the country -- will most likely go toward the Greater Philadelphia Food Bank. Many of the IFC's community service activities will center around the annual Greek Weekend, which will be held in early April this year. According to Zimring, among other projects, the Greeks will clean up Philadelphia's streets and hold a dance-a-thon. Beta Theta Pi Community Service Chairman Rob Smith also noted that the fraternities' primary reason for stepping up their community service programs is to fight the stereotypes that plague Greek men. "The main reason now is for good publicity -- and that's a good underlying reason to get involved," said Smith, a Wharton sophomore. But he also noted that community service can be very rewarding for the individual. "Everyone finds their own little niche, something they're interested in," Smith said. "Once they find that, you don't really need to push them."
(02/24/00 10:00am)
University officials have long called Penn's Panhellenic Council "one of the top sorority systems in the country" -- and now it's official. Panhel won the 1999-2000 Northeast Panhellenic Council Award for Overall Excellence at an NEPC conference in Pittsburgh this weekend, beating out Panhellenic systems from more than 100 other universities. The award -- which honors one sorority system each year for excellence in rush procedure, Greek and women's programming, community service and scholarship -- recognizes the work of Panhel's former executive board, which stepped down two weeks ago. "Between their women's programming, their significant contributions to the alcohol policy development and implementation and other supportive services and programs for their chapters, Penn's Panhellenic truly deserved this award," Director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Scott Reikofski said in an e-mail yesterday. In order to apply for the award, Panhel's executive board had to compile a portfolio documenting Panhel's outstanding actions over the past year. According to former Panhel President Becca Iverson, the board chose to play up Panhel's philanthropic ventures, including the Pumpkin Chase -- a 5K run held last fall to benefit breast cancer research -- and the "2000 for 2000" community service program. The aim of the latter program -- held in conjunction with the InterFraternity Council and Civic House -- was for the Greeks to complete 2000 hours of community service by the year 2000, a goal which Iverson said they "definitely surpassed." Iverson, a Chi Omega sister and College senior, said the board members also emphasized Panhel's attempt to "renew its ties with the faculty," as well as its combined grade point average of almost 3.5, which is higher than the Penn women's average. "It makes me proud to see we're living up to national expectations," Iverson said. Current Panhel President Jennifer Chanowitz, a Sigma Delta Tau sister and College junior, agreed. Although Chanowitz maintained that having a strong sorority system was rewarding in itself, she said that it is also "great to get respect from the system in general." Penn's Panhel also won the Overall Excellence award at the NEPC in 1996 and 1998. Last year, it captured an award for academic excellence.
(02/23/00 10:00am)
Phi Kappa Psi brothers Jonathan Austrian, John Buchanan and Michael Silver each received the national Solon E. Summerfield Scholars endowment, an annual scholarship awarded by Phi Psi's national office. The awards were announced on February 14. Although 180 men from Phi Psi chapters throughout the country applied for the academics and service scholarship -- including six from the Penn chapter -- only 25 received the honor. Penn's chapter produced more winners than any other nationwide. Silver, the chairman of the Undergraduate Assembly, won the Outstanding Summerfield scholarship, the top award the endowment offered. Buchanan, executive vice president of the InterFraternity Council, and Austrian were among the group of about 22 honored students. "This is a reflection of our niche on campus as a chapter with campus and community leaders," Silver said. The last three Undergraduate Assembly chairmen were Phi Psi brothers, as were two of the past three InterFraternity Council executive vice presidents, Silver noted. Winners of the scholarship were required to have at least a 3.0 grade-point average and be active in campus activities, community service and their Phi Psi chapters. Austrian, Buchanan and Silver are all in Penn's honors program. They also served on Phi Psi's board last semester. In addition to his role on the UA, Silver -- who won the $3,000 first prize -- also served as the president of Penn's Reform Jewish Community and participated in a two-semester community service class that involved educating students about lead poisoning. Austrian, also a College senior, won the $1,000 prize. He is the head of Step One tutoring, a community service project that works with the Lea School. Austrian also serves on the Executive Board of the Kite and Key Society. "[Community service] brings completion to my week and makes my week worthwhile," Austrian said. Buchanan, a College junior, won the $1,000 prize. Last summer, he volunteered with a program called Bridge of Nashville, which prepares underprivileged children for college. Austrian also talked about the importance of fraternities in "instilling community values." "Fraternities make community leaders," he said. "It's good that we reward members who represent what fraternities should be." "We plan on having even more winners next year," Buchanan said. This year was the first time in more than 10 years that members of Penn's Phi Psi chapter have won the scholarship.
(02/18/00 10:00am)
The theme of the evening was "boxes" -- as in the race and ethnicity check boxes found on many college applications and government forms. At a cultural diversity training session on Wednesday, Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Program Coordinator Larry Moses spoke about the danger of trying to categorize people. "With boxes come this wonderful thing called stereotypes," Moses said. "The only thing you have to remember about stereotypes is that they're bullshit." The session, held at the Alpha Epsilon Pi house, was the second in a series of eight mandatory meetings for all new members of Greek organizations. This year is the second in a row that Moses is holding the sessions. "My objective is to give you as much training and information as possible while you're going through New Member Education," Moses told the group of AEPi and Alpha Chi Rho brothers and Chi Omega sisters. But Moses stayed down to earth during the session, taking a realistic approach to cultural awareness. "We're not going to walk out of here arm in arm singing 'Kumbaya,' 'We Are the World' and 'We Shall Overcome,'" Moses assured the Greeks. He then proceeded to talk about how society puts people in neat categories, using the check boxes on college applications as an example. Moses asked the Greeks to guess his own race, to show that people do not always fit in these "boxes." "Now it's time to play that game -- what am I?" Moses asked. He let the students shout out many possible answers -- including white, black, Asian, Jewish and Native American -- before explaining his mixed heritage. Moses explained that he is African American, Caucasian, Seminole and Cherokee. He also warned the students that many people have a preconceived notion of the Greek system as well. Although the all-Greek grade point average is higher than the campus-wide GPA, Moses said, Greeks are not generally thought of as good students. Instead, they are usually seen as party animals. He encouraged the students to "think outside of those boxes and let the world know how wonderful it is to be Greek." The Greeks reacted positively to Moses, enthusiastically shouting out suggestions and listening attentively to his message. "He was very powerful and got his point across," College freshman and AEPi pledge Jon Liou said. "It was very entertaining and fun." Also present at the event were three representatives of the University Honor Council, who spoke about plagiarism and cheating. They gave real examples of Penn students who had cheated -- without their real names -- and asked the Greeks to suggest punishments. The Honor Council members said that 63 percent of Penn students admit to cheating and encouraged the Greeks to be honest. "You have to do your work -- and your own work at that," said College sophomore Robert Silvers, a Tau Epsilon Phi brother and member of the Honor Council.
(02/17/00 10:00am)
The sorority will also not accept a pledge class and may disband at the end of the semester. The Pi Beta Phi sorority has decided to give up its house and has chosen not to accept a pledge class this year -- and according to the chapter's national organization, the sorority may disband at the end of the semester due to low membership. Under sorority rules, the chapter must formally vote to disband at the end of the semester, explained Pi Phi National Vice President of Membership Kay Brock. And although the sisters have not officially made the decision, Brock said they have already notified the national office that this is the likely course of action. "They let us know after rush that they were not going to continue," Brock said. Still, Pi Phi's executive board issued a written statement yesterday reaffirming that the decision will not be formally made until the end of the semester. "It says in the Pi Beta Phi national constitution and statutes that, even if we desired to cease activities on this campus, we could [not] do so until we held an official vote -- at the close of the current semester," the Pi Phi statement said. Due to the uncertainty of Pi Phi's future, it has decided not to accept any pledges this semester, according to Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Scott Reikofski. He said the sisters did not feel it was fair to take in new members at this time. The chapter, which has about 35 sisters, has gotten progressively smaller over the last few years. Reikofski said this has affected its ability to attract new members. "Each year as they get smaller and smaller, it gets harder to compete with a 140-150 [member] house," Reikofski said. Pi Phi has held fall rush events for the past two years, in an attempt to gain more members. Reikofski emphasized that Pi Phi, which colonized at Penn in 1992, is not in danger of having its charter revoked by the national organization. "The national is not closing them down," he said. "The chapter has looked at the possibility of voluntarily doing that." The sisters also noted that they decided to move out of their current house, which they moved into in 1996, for financial reasons. "The house, at 4027 Walnut, is being given up because we could not afford the lease. Rent for in-house sisters was very expensive," the statement said. Pi Phi's executive board also maintained that Pi Phi's decision to give up the house was unrelated to the possibility that the sorority will disband. Panhellenic Council President and Sigma Delta Tau sister Jennifer Chanowitz agreed, saying that Pi Phi's decision to give up its house does not mean it plans to close down. "No official decisions regarding the future of the Pi Phi chapter at the University of Pennsylvania have been made," the College junior said in a written statement. "The fact that Pi Phi has given up their house is not indicative of the chapter's intention to close." The house at 4027 Walnut Street has already been rented out to students not affiliated with Pi Phi.
(02/16/00 10:00am)
Penn's chapter of Delta Tau Delta will lose its charter as a result of low membership. Delta Tau Delta's charter is going to be revoked due to its low membership, National Assistant Director Garth Eberhart said yesterday. "This is purely a membership issue," Eberhart said. "There's just not enough manpower." The fraternity currently has 21 brothers. DTD President Robert Cuthrell, a Wharton junior, said the chapter has decided to disassociate from its national organization, saying that DTD will no longer exist as "an official group associated with the IFC." He maintained that the group has no plans to "go underground." DTD's house at 130 S. 39th Street is University-owned, but the national organization holds a 20-year lease on the property. According to Cuthrell, the lease was signed just a few years ago, and DTD's national organization plans to rent out the house until the fraternity can recolonize at Penn. Cuthrell acknowledged that membership numbers are low and suggested that the size of DTD's house, located at 130 S. 39th Street, may have played a role in the decision. "We are currently living in a very large structure, so we've been having trouble getting it filled," he said. Both Cuthrell and Eberhart expressed the national organization's desire to bring DTD back to Penn eventually. "We look forward to working with the University to come back soon," Eberhart said. Eberhart also stressed that the chapter's low numbers were the only factor in the decision. "There was no discipline or behavioral issue," he said. DTD is currently the subject of a $250,000 lawsuit filed by Robert Herdelin, who until recently owned a building next to the fraternity house. Herdelin claims DTD brothers routinely threw trash and bottles onto his roof, damaging his property. The fraternity held a fall rush in 1998 and extended rush in spring 1999 in an effort to drum up some additional members. InterFraternity Council President and Alpha Chi Rho brother Andrew Mandelbaum said he knew DTD's numbers were low but that he had not yet heard the fraternity is leaving campus. "They have had some membership issues in the past," the College junior said. "But we probably wouldn't hear about [the national organization's decision] until afterwards." DTD, which left campus in 1972 after a fire at its house plunged the chapter into debt, recolonized at Penn in 1991.
(02/14/00 10:00am)
In the wake of a $250,000 lawsuit, allegations of rape and vandalism have surfaced against the frat. The Delta Tau Delta fraternity -- which was sued in 1998 by the owner of a neighboring building who claimed that fraternity brothers vandalized his building -- has been involved in other incidents of vandalism and an allegation of date rape, according to depositions recently taken in the suit Robert Herdelin, who until recently owned the building at 3901 Walnut Street which houses College Buffet, filed the lawsuit for $250,000 against Penn and DTD in the fall of 1998. At the time, he alleged that his property was damaged by DTD brothers, who he said threw bottles and trash on the roof. Now, following the depositions of Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Scott Reikofski, OFSA Program Coordinator Larry Moses and DTD brother and Wharton senior Adam Keil, allegations of the rape of a Beaver College student and the vandalism of Chestnut Hall by DTD brothers have come to the forefront. Copies of the depositions were released by Herdelin. Both Reikofski and Moses refused to comment on the lawsuit, as did their lawyer. DTD President and Wharton junior Robert Cuthrell could not be reached for comment. Herdelin originally filed the lawsuit as a result of the damage to his building's roof and air-conditioning system, which he believes was caused by DTD brothers throwing trash and bottles from their windows. It is set to go to trial in June. According to Moses' deposition, which he gave two weeks ago, he responded to complaints from Herdelin about damage to his building on two separate occasions last fall. The two went to the fraternity house to determine whether or not DTD was the source of the damage. During Moses' and Herdelin's second meeting, Herdelin went up to the roof of College Buffet and retrieved a bag of trash. According to Moses' deposition, the bag contained the phone bills of DTD brother and Engineering senior Joshua Loyd, then a junior. "When confronted with this evidence, the student stupidly denied the actions," Reikofski wrote in an e-mail to administrators, he said in the deposition. "It's got his name on it, he's got to know something about it," Reikofski said he wrote in the e-mail. Herdelin also claims that DTD brothers threw water balloons from a window of their house, one of which broke the windshield of the car of one of College Buffet's owners. Another balloon allegedly missed the head of the other owner "by inches," according to Herdelin. DTD agreed to pay for the broken windshield, but Herdelin claims that the owners of College Buffet never received the check. "It's been a year and a half," he said. "Even if it goes by way of China, it's going to get there in a year and a half." After Herdelin filed the lawsuit, he said he learned of a date rape allegation by a Beaver College student involving DTD. Reikofski confirmed the allegation in his deposition. "There was a case about four years ago where a young woman attended a Delta Tau Delta party, got particularly inebriated and was questioning whether or not she had been a victim of date rape," Reikofski said in his deposition. But Reikofski added that "it turns out that nothing came from that. There wasn't even any followup from her comments or anything." In his deposition, Reikofski acknowledged that serving alcohol to an underage person is a violation of DTD's charter, University regulations and state law. He also said that the University took no action against DTD for the violation. Reikofski also talked about a more recent violation involving DTD brothers. "There was an incident that just occurred last summer, late last summer, where they were shooting water balloons at Chestnut Hall and one of them went through a window and caused some damage," Reikofski said in his deposition. According to Herdelin, the balloon cracked a statue in Chestnut Hall. "If it's going to break a statue, it's going to break someone's head," Herdelin said. "It's amazing that nobody got killed."
(02/08/00 10:00am)
Smiles mixed with tears last night as hundreds of emotional sorority sisters bid farewell to outgoing Panhellenic Council President Becca Iverson with a standing ovation. The women packed the lecture hall in Logan Hall as the members of the 1999-2000 Panhel Executive Board handed over the reins to their successors. The ceremony, called the "Circle of Sisters," marked the formal inauguration of the 2000-2001 Panhel board, which was elected in November. College junior Jen Chanowitz, a Sigma Delta Tau sister, took over Iverson's position. "The new board members all have a lot of experience," said Iverson, a Chi Omega sister and College senior. "Jen was on the executive board this year, and a lot of the other girls were on Panhel committees. I'm confident that the new board will do a great job." Director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Scott Reikofski began the ceremony by addressing the incoming board, expressing his belief in the womens' leadership capabilities. "The incoming board? you have big shoes to step into. But I am confident in your ability to be able to continue on the good work that we've done," Reikofski said. The members of the new board said they were optimistic as well. "This year is going to be exciting and fun," said Chanowitz, the outgoing vice president of publicity. "I hope it goes as well as last year." In addition to serving as the inauguration for the Panhel board, the "Circle of Sisters" also marks the swearing-in of the new sorority pledges. "I'm pleased to inform you that you have chosen to join the top sorority system in the country," Reikofski told them. "We're looking forward to seeing your talents and your energies as we continue to move forward and to improve." The evening's main speaker was Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum, who spoke about the value of the Penn sorority experience. She urged the new pledges to become active both within and beyond the Greek system. "Continue to really exemplify the type of leadership that 21st century women would want to exemplify," she said. After Reikofski and McCoullum spoke, the old board and the new board exchanged flowers, and the new board was presented with the symbols of their offices. For instance, Chanowitz presented her successor as vice president of publicity, Chi Omega sister and College sophomore Katie Klein, with a lamp, which represented "leadership, scholarship and enlightenment." Other symbols included a laurel wreath, a sword and a gavel. After the presentation, the new pledges, led by Chanowitz, took oaths of loyalty and integrity.
(02/08/00 10:00am)
Rush ended and pledging began for most fraternities in the InterFraternity Council at bid signing last Tuesday. But for Beta Theta Pi, the intake process is just beginning. The fraternity, which did not give out any bids during the IFC's formal rush period, has decided to hold an extended rush period. "Two weeks to rush and to pick a house that you're going to live in for the next three-and-a-half years of your life? when you have over 30 houses on campus, we just don't think that's fair," Beta President and Wharton junior Brian Godfrey said. Currently, Beta has 18 brothers, but is looking to gain seven to 10 new members during the next week, according to Godfrey. In an attempt to attract new members, the brothers knocked on almost every door in the Quadrangle and Hill College House last week, talking to freshmen who did not participate in rush or who rushed and chose not to pledge. Beta held an interest meeting last Thursday evening to discuss their fraternity with prospective members. About eight men showed up, and Godfrey said that many more were interested but could not attend the meeting. "We hope to have seven to 10 new pledges in the next few days," he said yesterday. Although Beta is the first IFC fraternity on campus to hold extended rush, many fraternities' national organizations are encouraging them to look beyond the traditional two-week rush period. "There are a number of [fraternities] where their nationals encourage them to do year-round rush," Director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Scott Reikofski said. "It's more a change in national philosophy than low numbers." But Beta Theta Pi District Chief Michael Okenquist acknowledged that the fraternity's decision to extend rush was influenced by their low membership. "I think some chapters feel they're successful enough," Okenquist said. "I would guess that they're very happy with the pledges they get early on." Beta, on the other hand, wants to "grow to be a bigger chapter." According to IFC Vice President for Rush Mark Valenti, a Phi Kappa Sigma brother, fraternities are not restricted to giving out bids only during formal rush. "Any house theoretically can give out a bid at any point," the Engineering junior said, although this option is generally used by "houses who have not reached the numbers they're looking for. From what I heard, [Beta's] having trouble filling their house." Of Beta's 18 members, six are seniors and the house has room for "at least 20," according to Godfrey. To help fill its vacancies this year, the fraternity rented out a few rooms in the house to non-brothers.
(02/04/00 10:00am)
Nationwide, scandals have forced fraternities to redefine themselves. The beer cans have been cleaned off the lawns, the kegs have been moved out of the kitchens and togas are being put away in closets. The fraternity man is changing his image. The nature of Greek life both nationally and at Penn is shifting drastically, as Greek-letter societies fight membership declines, hazing controversies and media coverage of alcohol-related injuries and deaths. According to national estimates, fraternity membership has dropped as much as 30 percent across the country. Some chapters are closing and others may soon have to. And while Penn fraternity numbers remain mostly stable, Greeks here are taking on the same challenge as Greeks across the country -- that of redefining themselves for the future. "Fraternities today are returning to a more values-based experience," said Mic Wilson, the national executive director of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. Many fraternities are working to change their images, emphasizing positive values instead of partying and downplaying the alcohol-related aspects of their organizations. This change is especially true at Penn, where new alcohol regulations and stiffer penalties for violations have forced fraternities to evaluate themselves. Penn's Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter, for instance, has taken a long, hard look at its goals during the past year. The University forced the house to go dry in 1998 when a freshman was hospitalized after drinking too much at an AEPi party. According to AEPi President and InterFraternity Council Vice President for Academics Rob Lewin, "We've looked more towards what fraternities are all about, which is brotherhood and philanthropy efforts." Other fraternities are also getting rid of their barstools. Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Nu and Phi Kappa Sigma all pledged nationally to go dry by the year 2000. And also on the national level, Beta Theta Pi is an example of a fraternity polishing its image -- having instituted a program called Men of Principle, which strives to reinstate traditional values, including "scholarship and gentlemanly conduct," according to Beta Theta Pi National Director of Communications Erv Johnson. Of course, the gentlemanly conduct was not always the most popular aspect of Greek life. Many Penn students can remember, even several years ago, when fraternity houses were loud, visible presences on campus, throwing massive parties every weekend. But when charging door fees was banned in 1998, the number of fraternity parties diminished slightly. And with the recently implemented alcohol policy -- which severely limits the amount of alcohol fraternities can possess and sell at on-campus parties -- fraternity parties have practically become mere memories. "I just don't see the central concentration of people meeting like I did freshman and sophomore year," said Engineering senior Josh McGrath, a Sigma Nu brother. And said fellow Sig Nu brother and former IFC Executive Vice President Andrew Exum, "The day of the all-out blowout party is over." Of course, administrators note that the alcohol policy is not the sole factor affecting Greek life. "I would hesitate to say that it is only one thing -- like the alcohol policy," Penn Alcohol Coordinator Stephanie Ives said. The IFC as a whole has also made several changes over the past year designed to encourage community service and improve the grades of fraternity members, according to former IFC President Mark Metzl. For instance, several IFC fraternities are working with Philadelphians Concerned about Housing, which Metzl describes as a "local Habitat for Humanity." The IFC also instituted a new minimum GPA for fraternity brothers -- all Greek men must maintain at least a 2.15 -- and established a tutoring program for brothers. To facilitate the improvement of both community service and academics, the IFC also changed the structure of its executive board, separating the "executive vice president for academics and community service" job into two different positions. "It was too much work if you're going to take both seriously," said Metzl, a College senior and Tau Epsilon Phi brother. Fraternities also point a finger at the media for promoting a negative image of Greek groups. "Some people believe it's the Animal House thing," Theta Xi National Executive Director Scott Berry said. "It's funny how one little movie can do that to your image." While some Greeks blame the media and Penn Greeks cite the alcohol policy, others point to the changing attitudes of university administrations as a reason for changes in fraternity life. "Politically correct administrators are trying to limit Greek life on campus," Delta Kappa Epsilon National Executive Director David Easlick said. At Penn, however, fraternity membership has sustained a slight increase recently, and Penn's Greeks say they are satisfied with their interaction with the administration. "In the past, I think the frats have felt separate from the University. Now we feel close," said Exum, a College senior and Daily Pennsylvanian columnist. Scott Reikofski, director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, offered another reason for Penn fraternities' apparent immunity to plummeting national membership numbers: changing college demographics. "Penn and the Ivies and a few of our other peer institutions are really some of the only institutions left in the country that have a traditional 18-to-24-year-old undergraduate population," Reikofski said.
(02/02/00 10:00am)
Rushing is traditionally an exciting time for freshmen men -- complete with free food and entertainment every night for two weeks. But the Greek scene will change now for the hundreds of men who officially joined fraternities last night. Those men will go through the pledge process for the next 12 weeks, eventually becoming full-fledged Greek members. An estimated 550 men, up from last year's 530, made their official entrance into Penn's Greek system last night when they signed their fraternity bids at Meyerson Hall. "Rush was a blast -- lots of free stuff," said College freshman Spencer Driscoll, a Sigma Chi pledge. "But [pledging] will be long and I don't know what to expect." Incoming InterFraternity Council President Andrew Mandelbaum, an Alpha Chi Rho brother, took the opportunity to remind the pledges of the responsibility they were about to take on. "From now on, your actions are not only reflective of yourself, they are a reflection of your fraternity and of Penn's Greek system," the College junior said. Bid signing marked the end of the IFC's two-week rush period, which started on January 16. "Rush turned out fantastic," outgoing IFC Vice President for Rush and Phi Kappa Sigma brother Matt Chait said. "Our numbers went up, which is the best indicator," the College senior added. Outgoing IFC president and Tau Epsilon Phi brother Mark Metzl agreed with Chait's assessment. "Despite the national trends, Greek numbers at our University are up, and I think that's a wonderful testament to the strength of our system," the College senior said. And several new pledges expressed their satisfaction with the rush process. "Rush has been absolutely incredible -- the free food, the great socializing, a lot of really great guys," College freshman and Phi Kap pledge Phillip Geheb said. "I'm happy to be a part of it." Bid signing also signifies the beginning of the pledge period. While many freshmen enjoyed rush, some of the men expressed their apprehension about pledging. "Pledges in general have only three things to be scared of -- the goat, the big husky dog and the elephant walk," said College freshman and Kappa Sigma pledge Mike Logsdon, referring to rumored fraternity pledge stunts. Last night also marked the unofficial transference of power from the old IFC board to the new officers. "The new board is great," said outgoing IFC Secretary and St. Elmo's member Peggy Hanefors. "They have a lot of work ahead of them, but they're a strong group."
(02/01/00 10:00am)
In the off-campus move, amenities are lost, but 'real life' experience is gained. Although a few weeks of the second semester have passed, students must soon decide where they want to call home next year. For incoming freshmen, the choice is as simple as picking a college house -- but many upperclassmen need to make a more basic choice: whether to live on- or off-campus. About 42 percent of undergraduates live off-campus, according to Director of Off-Campus Living Mihaela Farcas. "Living off campus is probably part of a certain 'growing up' -- [older students] tend to want to be more on [their] own," Farcas said. Wharton junior Renos Savvides agreed. Savvides lives on campus this year, but plans to move off campus in September. With on-campus housing, he said, "I'm closer to classes, closer to places I need to be." However, Savvides added that he is moving off campus because he sees "the experience as a kind of transition into real life." Besides gaining more independence, choosing not to live in University housing holds other advantages. For instance, off-campus rents are usually cheaper than University rates, and students can get more space for their money. But, according to Farcas, rents have been growing steeper in recent years, lessening the price advantage of living off campus. And students must also pay for their residence for 12 months, rather than for the eight-month school year. Farcas also cited the desire to be a part of the West Philadelphia community -- as well as the Penn community -- as a motivation for students to leave campus housing. "Some people really like to be a part of a neighborhood, of a city, of a town," Farcas said. In University housing, she said, students are "less exposed to the real life of a city." But for many students and their parents, the "real life of a city" suggests danger. "My parents aren't real fond of me living off campus," said College senior Kristina Herbert, who lives in Hamilton College House. "They feel it's more secure here." But for College junior Rebecca LaMantia, who lives off campus, the absence of Spectaguards and PennCard scanners is welcome. She found University housing "too restrictive. [Now] I feel less watched-over," she said, "but I don't feel unsafe." Besides safety concerns, some students cited other reasons to remain on campus. For Herbert, University housing's built-in ethernet connection was a significant factor in her decision to stay. "The Internet connection is really important to me," she said. "It would be really frustrating to get kicked offline every half hour." LaMantia agreed that the ethernet connection was convenient. "I miss talking on the phone while being on the Internet," she said. Choosing to move off campus is truly a trade-off, according to Farcas. "You are more in charge of yourself, but you have more responsibilities. And you have to be an educated consumer so you know how to interact with your landlord."
(01/31/00 10:00am)
Three hundred women went through the entire rush process, and 270 were offered bids last night. The screams of joy were deafening and the excitement palpable as hundreds of nervous freshmen women packed into Logan Hall's Terrace Room yesterday to receive their sorority bids. Bid day, the day when freshmen women learn which sororities they have been invited to pledge, marks the end of the sorority rush period, which began on January 18. According to Panhellenic Council Rush Chairwoman Cara Schmid, a College senior and Alpha Phi sister, only about 30 women -- out of 300 who rushed for the entire four-stage process -- were not offered bids. Four hundred and thirty two women originally registered for rush. After two weeks of social events and visits, the women ranked their top two choices on Saturday and waited to discover their Greek future. Although the atmosphere in the Terrace Room was tense at first, it quickly became celebratory as the women tore open their bid envelopes and shrieked in delight. "Everyone seems to be happy," Associate Director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Debra Bonaminio said. Engineering senior and Phi Sigma Sigma sister Janet Duscher, who acted as a rho chi during rush, agreed. Of the women in her rush group, she said, "They all got their first choices -- I'm very happy for them." The women who got bids from their favorite houses were overjoyed as well. "Being in a sorority is something I've wanted to do for a long time," said College freshman Alison Rose, who got a bid from Phi Sigma Sigma. "When I got the phone call, I was so happy I was going to be in a house." Wharton freshman Maurene Preas, who received a bid from Pi Beta Phi, said she was also very satisfied. "I'm glad I met the girls in this house," she said. "They seem like really sweet, wonderful people, and I think I'm going to have a lot of fun with them." While most of the women were happy, there were a few who were not, because not everyone got her first choice. "It's a game of numbers sometimes," Bonaminio said. Just because some women did not get bids from their first-choice sororities, she continued, "it doesn't mean the chapters didn't like them. It's a matter of going from 300 girls down to 38." Bonaminio also said that women who are not happy with their bids can rush again next year. "Keep trying," she advised. "It's not a one-time shot." Some rushees did not receive bids at all, but they were notified by phone ahead of time and did not attend bid day. After the bid event was over, sorority sisters visited their new pledges' rooms to welcome them into the group with flowers and congratulatory posters. Many freshmen expressed relief that the rush process has finally come to an end. During the first two days of rush, rushees were led around to each of the eight sororities in the Panhellenic Council by rush counselors, or rho chis. After the initial open events, Panhel held three more rounds of rush. In each round, the sororities invited fewer women back and the women were allowed to visit fewer houses. The final rush events were preference parties, which were held on Saturday. Each rushee went to her two favorite houses where the sisters talked about what being in a sorority means to them. Following the preference parties, the rushees ranked the two houses, while the chapters decided on whom they wanted to offer bids.
(01/26/00 10:00am)
Due to the snowstorm, city schools and businesses were shut down yesterday. Driving snow, stinging freezing rain and roaring winds blew up the East Coast yesterday, covering Philadelphia's streets in white and and canceling classes for the first time in four years. A total of about 12 inches of snow descended upon the city throughout the day and night, while winds gusted to 40 mph, prompting local school and business closings, shutting down city agencies, snowing in many homes and keeping residents off the roads. Executive Vice President John Fry and Provost Robert Barchi made the decision to shut down the University at 6:15 a.m. yesterday morning. With conditions not expected to improve by morning, the city announced last night that all public schools and other city offices would remain closed today. As of early this morning, the University had not decided whether to cancel classes. Fry said the University decided to shut down yesterday for safety reasons. "In my view, it was extremely dangerous to have all our employees driving in, and all the private and public schools were closed at that point," Fry said. The storm was the most powerful to hit the area since a blizzard dropped more than two feet of snow in January 1996." "Its a nor'easter with a capital N. Actually you can capitalize all the letters with this storm," said Jack Boston of AccuWeather, the State College, Pa.-based private weather service. "This is the type of storm we just have to constantly monitor. They kind of tend to have a mind of their own." At noon, a snow emergency was declared for the entire city. Mayor John Street shut down most of City Hall and postponed a speech to the City Council announcing his Fiscal Year 2000 budget. The last time the University had a snow day was during the blizzard of 1996, when Philadelphia was pelted with 31 inches of snow in mid-January. That was also the last significant snowfall to hit the Philadelphia area. Several more inches of snow and freezing rain hit the city yesterday evening, according to National Weather Services spokesman Bob Chartuk. He said that the storm should pass through Philadelphia by midnight, but today will be another chilly day, with high winds and below-freezing temperatures. Despite the critical weather situation however, there were no reports of widespread power outages or other problems with utilities in Philadelphia. While classes were canceled and most University services were suspended, the dining halls stayed open. "Their employees are judged essential employees," Director of College Houses and Academic Services David Brownlee said. And according to Kris Kealey, the manager of Customer Services at the Office of Facilities Services, Steinberg-Dietrich Hall was open, as was the Palestra. But many businesses in University City, including the Penn Bookstore and the Moravian Cafes, were closed due to the inclement weather. "The business of the University went on, but certainly not at the same level as usual," University spokesman Ken Wildes said. According to Franklin-Suber, city workers employed every piece of Philadelphia's street-cleaning equipment all day and night. All major and secondary roads were plowed and salted. Today, the mayor plans to inspect the condition of neighborhoods throughout the city in person, so that he can see how Philadelphia has made it through the snowstorm. The Associated Press contributed to this article.
(01/21/00 10:00am)
Numbers have been good for fraternity and sorority rush, which both began this week. Bundled up in brightly colored scarves and hats to protect them from the bitter cold, excited packs of freshmen braved the elements and headed off to fraternity and sorority rush events this week. Fraternity rush began on Sunday and lasts until February 1, while sorority rush started on Tuesday and ends on January 30. On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, female rushees traveled in small groups, led by rush counselors, or rho chis, to visit each of Penn's eight sororities. "Everyone is forced to be nice, so you can't have a bad experience," College freshman Liane Moneta said of the numerous social calls. Meanwhile -- over the past five nights -- fraternities have lured in freshmen with the usual array of cigars, pizza, wings and Hooters girls. "I think it's a great way to meet people -- and I'm going for the free food," College freshman Danny Keating said. Turnout for rush events has been good, according to InterFraternity Council and Panhellenic Council leaders, despite the chilly weather this week. About 432 women pre-registered for sorority rush, but according to Panhel Vice President of Rush Cara Schmid, a College senior, a few women drop out every year. Schmid, an Alpha Phi sister, said the number of women who have dropped out of rush this year is fairly consistent with the number in past years. And even though the men did not pre-register, the unusually cold temperatures did not appear to have an effect on fraternity rush turnout, either. "Our numbers are very high, stronger than last year's," said IFC Vice President for Academics Rob Lewin, an Alpha Epsilon Pi brother and Wharton junior. "I thought there would be a decline from the cold, but there wasn't." Rush events will differ next week as the process moves into its second stage. Fraternities will begin holding invite-only nights and sororities will narrow down the number of houses the rushees can visit. While most fraternities are holding their traditional combination of chicken fingers and barbeque wings, some are trying to reach out to freshmen in a different way. Tonight, for instance, Pi Lambda Phi will hold a "Muppet Movie Night." "It's better than come-and-go, grab some food, move on the the next place," said Pi Lam Rush Chairman Max Kahn, a College junior. "We're trying to get away from that." While Pi Lam's movie night is expected to draw close to 75 rushees, according to Kahn, the freshmen are enjoying the traditional events as well. "I've heard it's a lot more fun for the guys than the girls," College freshman Matt Scattarella said of the fraternity rush process. The girls, however, seemed to be enjoying rush just as much as the guys are. "After the first night, I'm much more positive about it," Wharton freshman Mary Cramer said on Wednesday afternoon. "I'd heard some bad things, but I really like it now." While most sorority rushees said they were excited about the rush process, some are still skeptical. "It's nice to meet the other freshmen in the rush group, but I find that the sorority houses' interest in some of the freshmen is lacking," said one Engineering freshman, who requested anonymity. "It's a turnoff." And, although it seems as if the entire freshman class is participating in rush activities, there are those who choose to steer clear of the Greek scene. "They wanted to tell me what to wear," College freshman Merritt Robinson said. "I wanted to [rush] to meet people and then they called me up and told me, 'This is what you'll need to wear.'" "It's just not my scene. I'm not into the whole frat thing," Engineering freshman Matthew Cohen said.
(01/18/00 10:00am)
The recently recolonized frat has been unable to regain use of its old 3615 Locust home. After an unsuccessful attempt to win back its former house, the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity may finally have a new home. Today, Phi Sig plans to sign a lease with Campus Apartments for the former Kappa Alpha Theta house at 4039 Walnut Street. "The deal is final," College sophomore and Phi Sig rush chairman Dan Matisoff said. "We're going to sign it. That should really help us for rush and for the upcoming year." Phi Sig lost its charter and its house from its Indianapolis-based national in the spring of 1998 after repeated alcohol and risk-management violations. The fraternity recolonized on campus last spring and received IFC recognition in September. The fraternity has been trying for the past semester to regain its former home at 3615 Locust Walk, which has since been converted into the Veranda, an alcohol-free student center. But University officials made it clear in September that the house would remain a University facility when they said the Veranda was a valuable student resource. So the fraternity recently turned its attention to the former Theta house -- which the sorority decided to leave last spring, when the 10-year lease expired. "When the lease was up, we decided we wanted something a little smaller and closer to campus," College senior and Theta Rush Chairwoman Cecilia Rothenberger said. "We don't really see it as our house anymore." Phi Sig lost its charter because the brothers put a pornography link on the Phi Sig website and because they violated their national regulations by bringing kegs into the house. The Phi Sig brothers say they would still like to return to 3615 Locust at some point in the future, but they need to find a home in the meantime. "Our alumni are still continuing to pursue the Veranda for use in the future," College senior and outgoing Phi Sig Vice President Dan Grabell said. "But it would need a lot of work. It hasn't been taken care of for years." In the meantime, the Phi Sig brothers say they are enthusiastic about their prospective new home. The lease will give them the option of staying in the house for up to 10 years. "I'm really happy for my future brothers who are going to be living there," Grabell said. "It's one thing to meet every week, it's another thing to actually live together." The fraternity is still striving to regain its charter from their national organization, which they hope to obtain by this spring in time for the chapter's 100th anniversary. In order to do so, they must meet several criteria, including a high academic standing, community service initiatives and recognition from the IFC. Scott Reikofski, the director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, was unavailable for comment on Phi Sig's plan.
(01/17/00 10:00am)
Although students are still unpacking and trying to find classes, the Greek system will charge full steam ahead into its rush process this week. The two-week process began yesterday for the 31 fraternities in the InterFraternity Council, while the eight sororities in the Panhellenic Council will start rush tomorrow. Over the coming days, fraternities will be holding open houses and other events for prospective members. Each sorority will host an open house either tomorrow or Wednesday, and every rushee is required to visit all eight houses. To date, 432 women have registered for rush this year -- down from 474 last year. There are no statistics for the IFC, since fraternity rush is much less formal. Panhel Rush Chair Cara Schmid, an Alpha Phi sister and College senior, attributed the drop in Panhel rush numbers to a nationwide lack of interest in Greek membership. Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Associate Director for Programming Debra Bonaminio agreed with Schmid, saying that "all across the country numbers are going down -- Penn will see a minor decline." During the open-house period, rushees are led from house to house by rush counselors, or "rho chis," who have disassociated from their chapters for the duration of rush. After the open houses, each woman chooses a maximum of six sororities to continue to rush. The chapters also narrow down their choices for prospective members. On January 27, following another round of events, rushees pick up to three favorite houses, and the houses determine their favorite women. Schmid said the most important thing for freshmen women to do during the process is stay calm and keep an open mind. On January 29, the chapters hold preference parties. On preference night, the sorority members talk to the rushees about their chapters and share their impressions of sorority life. After preference night, the sororities discuss who they want to offer bids to. The rushees receive their bids on January 30. Fraternity rush is more informal than the sorority process. Each fraternity may hold up to six rush events, three open and three closed. At the beginning, the events are open to all rushees. After the houses get to know the rushees better, they hold invite-only events. "The closed events are more one-on-one, more personal," Engineering sophomore and Lambda Chi Alpha Rush Chairman Evan Randall said. "They want to get to know you better. They want to see if there are any personality flaws." Rushees then receive their bids on February 1. The rush process changed for the IFC this year, with a new rush guide program in place. The program was implemented in the fall when rush guides from the various fraternities visited the college houses and held workshops for men who were interested in rushing. "This was a system set up this year to basically offer freshmen who are considering rushing someone they can talk to for advice or any kind of guidance," said Engineering junior Mark Valenti, the IFC vice president for rush and new member education-elect. Valenti, a Phi Kappa Sigma brother, gave some advice to men who plan to rush. "Get around to a lot of houses and just try to find a group of people and a situation that you feel fits your own personality." Penn's other greek organization, the Bicultural InterGreek Council, holds its rush process over the course of the semester.
(11/22/99 10:00am)
Meticulous application of body lotion, careful readjustment of hair ornaments, last-minute combing, brushing and blow-drying: scenes from a freshman dorm on Saturday night? Maybe, but it was also the atmosphere at the Kennel Club of Philadelphia's annual dog show. The show, held this past weekend at the Philadelphia Convention Center, showcased 136 breeds and attracted over 15,000 spectators. The KCP show is a bench show, meaning that the competitors have to stay for the entire day in order for the public to see all of the breeds. Each breed has a "standard," a picture of the ideal dog of that breed to aid in the judging of the show. "[The judge] is picking the dog that he feels is closest to his interpretation of the standard," Kennel Club chairperson Charles Schaefer said. The breeds are divided into seven randomly chosen groups. Once a dog has won best of breed, it goes on to compete against other breeds for best of group. The seven remaining dogs then vie for best of show. In that final contest, personality plays a major role in the judges' decision. "The dog has to ask to win," Schaefer said. While different judges prefer different appearances, showing liveliness, affability, proper training and a peaceful temperament generally score big points for a canine. In addition to the dogs, owners and spectators, there were dozens of vendors selling everything from chew toys to "doggoyles" -- Gothic-style dog figurines. Mary Kriesel, owner of the Michigan-based Happy Tees to You T-shirt company, said she goes to a different show every weekend. "I live for these shows," she said. The souvenirs are one indication of the loyal, and often fanatical, following dog shows have attracted from enthusiastic owners. With hundreds of dogs in one room, the barking should have been deafening. But most of the noise in the Convention Center came from the enthusiastic spectators gathered around the judging rings. One man, who was showing eight dogs, complained to Schaefer that his dogs would not perform because of the excessive noise from the main ring. "This is crazy," he said. "This is a dog show, not a sporting event." The dogs, for the most part, are quiet and well-behaved. Dog handler Joe Buchanan, for example, brought his whippet, Hogan, to 133 shows last year. For some of the dogs, however, dog shows are only a small part of their exposure. Linda Albert's chow chow, Paw Paw, for example, only performs at 20 shows per year because of his television career. The canine, who splits his time between Albert and homemaking expert Martha Stewart, stars in K-Mart commercials. Still, though he might be famous in the dog world, he has to earn his medals just like an ordinary dog. "It's going to be hard to beat that poodle," Albert said. "The poodle took best of show yesterday." Amidst the fierce competition, Michelle Brooks, owner of a Welsh Springer Spaniel named Lyric, put the objectives of the contest in perspective. "It's one person's opinion, and at the end of the day, you've got to pick the dog you want sleeping at the foot of your bed," she said.
