Greek Life

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
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<p>I was wondering if current Penn students could say a few things about some specific fraternities at Penn. Are there any fraternities with good reputations that actually live up to their charters? Are there any bad ones to stay away from? Are there ones that throw good parties, but would be horrible to live in, or vice versa?</p>

<p>Personally, I think the idea of joining a fraternity sounds intriguing, but I don’t want to become a raging alcoholic in college. I do like the idea of wearing a toga. Permanently. Just kidding…</p>

<p>Anyway, if any Penn kids have some time off and could ramble a bit about some of the different frats, I’d love to hear your opinions.</p>

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<p>Forgive me if I screw up some of the names, I'm a chick. </p>

<p>PiLamb... No clue where they're living now, since their house got condemned last year... kinda known as the "Punk Rock" frat... they host a lot of live shows, and allegedly do a lot of drugs.</p>

<p>Delta Upsilon... "nerd frat"-- though they are all pretty nice guys (one of my best friends is the social chair), and they do drink a fair amount, not excessive, just your avg amount. Their parties are not the best attended, but are fun, and sometimes it's nice to not be crushed against the wall- their hotel parties are usually awesome.</p>

<p>Skulls (no CLUE what their letters are)- great parties, really nice house, their halloween party this year was great. Their parties almost always fill up. </p>

<p>And you don't <em>have</em> to live in a frathouse if you're in a frat, BTW. And I've never seen a toga party actually happen. :)</p>

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<p>Psi Upsilon (The Castle) - Used to be known as the rich frat on campus. Then they were kicked off and the exiled members created Owls. Now it's just a bunch of fake wannabe rich kids who really don't have money but claim they do. Their parties are pretty good though, and their house is amazing - it's a ****ing castle for christ's sake.</p>

<p>Delta Psi (St. Anthony's Hall) - These are the rich American kids (the typical classy double popped collar, plaid shorts, boat shoes kids). Their house is pretty decent and their parties are typically good. They have a lot of live music and stuff.</p>

<p>Zeta Psi (Zetes) - This is the rich European kid frat. Most of the members are cracked out wealthy Euros (don't be surprised to walk into a room and see cocaine). Their house is really nice and their parties are awesome!!!</p>

<p>Beta Theta Pi - Their main house is pretty nice and their parties are typically good. They tend to throw a lot of parties...most of the people are pretty nice guys not the typical ass-hole frat guys that plague most other frats. </p>

<p>Sigma Alpha Epsilon - Their house is not too bad but it's definitely not one of the nicest frats on campus...They tend to throw a few good parties a year and their members are not too douchey.</p>

<h2>Tau Epsilon Phi - Their house is really ****ty. Their parties are pretty good though; a lot of hotel parties (going from one room to the next type parties). Their members are pretty nice. </h2>

<p>Secret Societies (AKA Illegal Frats)</p>

<p>Owls - This is a group that was formed by exiled castle guys. Now it's a mix of ultra wealthy latin americans, turks, and new englanders. Their parties are ****ing amazing. They have the most expensive liquors, etc. Their house is really nice and really classy. However, they are known for being a big drugged out (like most of the wealthy frats on campus). However, I think their parties are some of the best on campus, that is if you can get an invite. Oh and btw, lots of really hot women at these parties.</p>

<p>Theos - Their parties are really good as well. The best part of their parties is that they for some reason attract some of the best looking women. The guys in theos though I think are way more of your typical frat guys...they are kind of douchebags. </p>

<p>ZBT - (I forget what they are called now that they were kicked off campus) - Their parties are pretty crazy...the guys again are pretty douchey. When it was a frat it was known as the jewish frat. I don't know if that is still the case...</p>

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<p>Can someone talk about what hazing is like in each of the frats?</p>

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<p>Speaking of partying, can some current penn students talk about the id situation? How strict are frat parties and clubs around campus about carding? Is the inspection of id's rigorous or are they just given a look-over? Thanks for info</p>

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<p>ahh the TEP house is ****ty indeed but i <3 BOYS IN SOMBREROS!!!!
i am a TEP groupie....</p>

<p>and umm... WHAT id inspection are u talking about??</p>

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<p>What about sororities?</p>

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<p>For frat parties, you need an ID that looks something like you're 21.. that is if you're a girl (a low cut shirt can't hurt either..).. for guys it might be a little harder, especially if the bouncer is a jerk. </p>

<p>Pi Kap usually throws some good parties, and the guys that I know that rushed were pretty cool. PIKE has an <em>amazing</em> house, and throws a pretty decent party, though all the ones I went to were invite only (which are always nicer because you're not sitting on top of each other).. one of my friends nearly pledged them, but ended up pledging Beta instead. DTD is also known as one of the nerdier frats, but they throw awesome parties.. they're moving houses now which kinda sucks because the old house had a nice dance floor with a whole DJ booth, but hopefully the old house will be good for parties as well. </p>

<p>As for sororities, i'm not in one, but I can give a pretty general idea on each..</p>

<p>SDT - Mostly incredibly rich, JAPs. They wear pearls and lacoste and are generally kind of stuck up (from what I've seen..) I've met a few nice people from there, but for the most part, they're rich and know it. </p>

<p>Theta - Generally regarded as the anorexic cocaine heads.. Definitely a little out there.. none of them ever seem completely coherent. </p>

<p>Sigma Kappa - One of the newest sororities and hasn't really developed a reputation yet.. everyone I know in sig kap is incredibly nice and down to earth. Possibly a little on the JAPy side, but then again, it's Penn and everyone is JAPy to an extent.. really nice group of girls. </p>

<p>Phi Sig - They're kind of the anti-sorority sorority.. they're fairly new and not very popular and have been known to kind of take the girls no one else wants (as horrible as that sounds, that's how the process works to an extent..)</p>

<p>Alpha Phi - the "nice girls." They used to be regarded as the "ugly sorority" but they have definitely been changing that reputation. I know a couple girls in there and they are awesome, really down to earth, and your pretty average person. </p>

<p>Chi Omega - the "athletic" sorority since most of the athletes are in it. I don't many people from it, but those that I do seem pretty cool. </p>

<p>And now i'm completely blanking on the last two! </p>

<p>As for off campus, there's Tabard.. They have some pretty intense pledging, (including carrying around a lunchbox that contains random things and is something every frat boy tries to steal), and are generally considered a little out there. Don't personally know anyone in it though to give a true opinion.. </p>

<p>If I think of the last two, i'll post about them too.. (Btw, most of the descriptions I just gave are the general sterotypes of the sororities and the impressisions I've gotten thoughout the year.. they weren't meant to be offensive to anyone!)</p>

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<p>How could you forget TriDelt?</p>

<p>AAAAAAAAAAAAAA- If you like walking in on your roommate having sex every single week, room with a TriDelt.</p>

<p>All I would have liked is a sock on the door or a note that said "I'm having sex- go away" but nooooooo that would have been too difficult.</p>

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<p>ahh, TriDelt, there we go! Still missing one though.. and I agree with your assessment of the tridelts ;)</p>

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<p>No togas?!? Well that is gonna have to change...</p>

<p>Well, since you guys have given pretty good descriptions of these different frats/sororities (thanks for doing that, by the way), could you also tell how the rush process works? I'm a nerd and damn proud of it, so how do I get into a fraternity with other proud nerds? Is it hard to get into these things, or do they basically take anyone? Do you get multiple offers and then turn some down or what? Is there a lot of hazing that goes on?</p>

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<p>Well the rush process for guys and girls is incredibly different</p>

<p>Guys: Rush lasts for about 2 weeks (unless they decide to shorten it yet again..) and the first few nights you basically go to any of the houses you're interested in.. they all have huge parties and most have strippers and such. Then you get asked back to houses that are interestd in you, and you can either go or not.. by the end you'll probably have it down to 2 or 3 houses and you see who you get a bid from.. if you get one (or multiple) you have the choice to accept or decline. Note: guys usually have it narrowed down to a few houses before they even rush.. go to parties and try to meet guys in houses you might be interested in, and during rush, go to as many as you can because with 28 frats, you ca'nt know them all</p>

<p>Girls: You register to rush a few weeks before and are put with a group of girls all rushing and a rho chi who is an upper classmen. The first two nights you are paraded around to each house, have to talk to a certain number of sisters, etc. Then you "pref" the houses you want to go back to.. if they pref you as well, then you get asked back to those houses for round 2.. I forget what round two was.. then you pref more houses, and get asked back to some.. etc, until I think you're down to 3.. then you pref the houses you want in order, and if they pref you, you get a bid. you can only get up to 1 bid, and if you get a bid and decline, you can't rush again till the next year (ie you can't rush in the fall)</p>

<p>hope that clears everything up.. any questions just ask.. i'm not in a sorority but have friends that are so I know an incredible amount about it, lol</p>

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<p>how could you forget to mention that phi sig is known by name Phi Siggy Piggy because it is known as the fat girl sorority. lol</p>

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<p>I was trying not to be toooo mean ;)</p>

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<p>i just couldn't help myself...i just find it too funny :)</p>

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<p>what about kappa sigma</p>

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<p>Bern, that was a very insightful post. ;)</p>

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<p>Do you guys think that overall greek life is a positive force on the campus? Is there anything more to it than parties?</p>

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<p>When I was at Bryn Mawr, Kappa Sigma was a rich guy house where they'd ask you what time it was during rush so they could see whether your watch made the grade. It was a gorgeous house right on Locust Walk.</p>

<p>The forgotten sorority is Alpha Chi Omega. Mid-range on the totem pole, not as snobby as Theta and Tri-Delt, nor as put-down as Phi Sig. I can't deny that Tri-Delts were known as drunken sluts in tight black pants...probably most of these stereotypes are mostly untrue.</p>

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<p>Hey- i'm gonna be a penn sophomore this coming fall and pledged a frat this past spring. The Greek system, while it is geared towards the party and social scene, also does alot of worthwhile things. My frat threw a big party downtown, and we ended up raising over $7,500 in one night. It was awesome. Get involved, but make sure that you take advantage of the first semester as well as rush in getting to know the different frats.</p>