Rushees overwhelmed by some of the University's large fraternities may have less anxiety rushing houses small in membership, but big on friendships.

Some members of small fraternities say that although their numbers are small, the potential for lasting friendship and more personal relationships is great.

'To me, this group of guys is 'fraternity,' " said John Scott McCarron (senior-labor and industrial relations), member of Psi Upsilon, 232 E. Nittany Ave., one of the University's smaller fraternities. "They offered exactly what I wanted out of a fraternity."

Josh Cummins, a Psi Upsilon member, said large fraternities have too many members to get to know well.

"I've heard of some fraternities that have almost 100 brothers and that seems kind of large," said Cummins (junior-civil engineering).

Other members of small fraternities say the size of their fraternities make them more personal and tighter than their larger counterparts.

"You can get to know everyone on a more personal basis," said Robert Meinen (senior-agricultural systems management technology). "They want to know where you come from, who you are, what you are." Meinen is member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity, 329 E. Beaver Ave., which has about 30 or 40 members.

Another Sigma Tau Gamma member, Todd Siebert (sophomore-history), agreed.

"You don't just know a person's name," he said. "You know their family, their friends . . . it seems like you've known them for a much longer time."

"We are a little closer -- we get to know every brother," McCarron said. "A small fraternity just brings you closer together."

But besides closer friendships, members say small fraternities offer more diversity as well.

"You would think that a smaller house wouldn't have as much diversity," Siebert said. "But with a smaller house, there really isn't an image to fit into, so there is a lot more diversity."

Siebert said when he was rushing, he looked at several large houses and did not feel as welcome or as comfortable.

"The big ones almost seemed commercial . . . like if you don't fit their image, leave," he said. "When I came here, everything was so much more relaxed."

Another benefit of smaller fraternities is that they more often accept students from the Commonwealth Campuses.

"We are one of the few frats who accept students from other campuses," said Sigma Tau Gamma member Joe Obermeier (senior-health policy administration).

Obermeier, who was a "founding father" of Sigma Tau Gamma's chapter at Penn State Erie, said several transfer students come to the University's Sigma Tau Gamma chapter every year.