IFC votes to admit more frats into system

The University's InterFraternity Council will gain two new member houses in the fall, expanding its total membership to 30. In their last meeting of the academic year Tuesday night, Council members voted to recognize the Alpha Phi Delta fraternity and to colonize a new fraternity in the fall. The group also vowed to increase fraternity membership by five percent for next year. IFC President Josh Gottheimer, an Alpha Epsilon Pi brother, said APD will not receive University recognition until they submit paperwork, but that the fraternity is now part of the IFC. APD President Cory Meek, an Engineering junior, explained that the fraternity's national organization reactivated the chapter in 1989 without going through University channels. "Our decision to join the IFC was based on what we see as a mutually beneficial relationship," he said. "We look forward to the support of the IFC and to support the IFC ourselves." And Gottheimer, a College junior, voiced similar opinions. "I think it's important that all social fraternities work together, and it's very difficult when we have a fellow organization operating outside the system," he said. "Without a doubt they will definitely add to our system." Seven or eight fraternities, including Sigma Pi and Lambda Chi, have expressed interest in joining the University's Greek system, Gottheimer said. He explained that a review committee composed of IFC members will select a fraternity over the summer "that will work well with Penn's system." Colonization will begin in the fall. "We want somebody who is very progressive in thought and who will be an active chapter in the IFC and strengthen the system," he said. Abiding by rush schedules and policy, the selected fraternity will not be able to accept freshmen until after the end of formal IFC rush in the spring. But it can accept upperclassmen at any point during the year, Gottheimer said. According to Gottheimer, the number of students who accepted fraternity bids this spring increased by 5 percent. He predicted that the number will be even higher next spring. The IFC plans to increase its overall membership numbers by another 5 percent, which is "a pretty big commitment," he said. He explained that the growth will be made possible through heavy recruitment and the colonization of a new fraternity. "This is indicative of the work we put in this year and the success of our 21st century program," he said. "We've set a very aggressive recruitment process for next year." The IFC will target incoming freshmen this summer by sending them information on the Greek system, Gottheimer said. Fraternities will also increase fall showcasing and advertise heavily for rush, he added. "We think what we have to offer is an incredible system," he said. "And the more numbers we have, the more activities we can conduct."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.