On Monday night, the Palestra was filled with hundreds of prospective fraternity boys waiting to formally receive their bids and become official members of Penn’s Greek community.
The new members filed neatly into the bleachers of the Palestra, in contrast to the screaming frenzy that was sorority bid night on Thursday.
At the event, the outgoing Interfraternity Council Board officially turned over leadership to the new board.
“I want to applaud you all for making the best decision of your college experience,” former Interfraternity Council President and Wharton senior Pete Becker said.
Becker stressed the importance of getting involved in fraternity life after becoming a member. “Do something positive for your brotherhood,” Becker added.
Four-hundred-and-ninety bids were extended by the 30 fraternity chapters of the IFC last night, according to Director of the Office of Student Affairs/Fraternity Sorority Life Scott Reikofski.
Although the number is slightly down from the 546 bids that were given out last year, Reikofski said he is “not sweating it.”
He added that in the past when bid numbers was often lower, retention of new members has been higher.
“It seemed that everyone was anxious to get their bids in,” Wharton junior and IFC President Harris Heyer said.
The large venue of the Palestra was also a change from last year, when the event was held at Claudia Cohen Hall.
Heyer said the venue “worked out pretty well,” though College freshman Dylan Vizzachero noted he “couldn’t really hear anything.”
Nonetheless, Vizzachero said, “It’s good to finally know what frat I’m trying to get into.” Vizzachero received a bid from Delta Kappa Epsilon.
Among the crowds of young men in attendance last night, a handful of girls stood out as new members to co-ed fraternities.
College freshman Laura Resnick decided to join a small co-ed organization in search of a more “family” feel.
“I’m not a typical sorority girl,” Resnick said, who received a bid from the Adelphi Society.
While many signed their cards at the Palestra last night, new members have until Friday to decide whether they are going to accept or deny their bids.
“I think it’s going to be a great semester,” Heyer said.
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