Psi U growing in membership

Since its recolonization in October, Psi Upsilon has grown rapidly in membership and presence at the University. According to Wharton night school student and Psi U brother Michael Corwin, the group currently has eight active brothers. Psi U is now seeking prospective members from the sophomore and junior classes. The fraternity may not recruit freshmen until the fall, Corwin explained. "We're looking for other men that want to sharpen other men to be the best that they can be -- morally, intellectually and socially," he added. "It's kind of difficult finding the target market that we're looking for on this campus." The fraternity emphasizes academic excellence, community service and strong University-fraternity relations, Corwin said. Psi U lost its charter in 1990 after fraternity brothers kidnapped and abused William O'Flanagan, a brother in Delta Psi, better known as Saint Anthony's Hall. Psi U finally received provisional re-recognition from the University in October 1995, after being turned down on several occasions. Area Psi U affiliates contacted Corwin in September of 1994 to assist in the recolonization process. The InterFraternity Council and the Greek Alumni Council voted to grant the fraternity provisional recognition in February of 1995, but the IFC revoked its recognition in May, before the fraternity received the administrative recognition necessary for recolonization. As part of the recognition process, an agreement was reached between the University and the fraternity, establishing guidelines for the fraternity to follow. Psi U cannot yet recruit freshmen, and may not offer bids to members of the Owl Society -- an underground organization consisting of members of the former Psi U brotherhood. According to current Psi U brother and Wharton junior Jason Joe, certain characteristics distinguish the fraternity from other IFC chapters, including their "relationally driven" recruitment process and strict alcohol policy -- the fraternity will not serve alcohol to minors either belonging to or unaffiliated with Psi U. "We build a relationship with [prospective members] to see what they're all about," he said. Corwin explained that by basing recruitment on relationships, the "superficiality is eliminated." Because of their continual acceptance process, the fraternity does not have pledge classes. "It seems like in a pledge class, you have four fraternities living in one house," he said. "We've got one house, one community -- people are part of the whole house right from the beginning." Psi U's minimum grade point average requirement is a 3.12 -- the all-male average for the University, according to Joe. Brothers must also be involved in at least one additional activity. "At minimum, we're asking our guys to be average," he said. "We have high expectations of ourselves." Engineering and College junior Paul Wilder explained that he joined Psi U because of the fraternity's ideals and convictions. "I was very interested in the division presented by Michael and Jason," he said. "I thought it was something this campus was lacking -- there's a definite need for this kind of fraternity." Wilder added that "academia, leadership, brotherhood and support" are the main focuses of Psi U. Joe said the fraternity is looking to increase social interaction between Psi U and other fraternities and sororities.

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