To greek or not to greek, that is the question.

When Chris Ryder (sophomore-civil engineering) was a freshman, he wasn't planning on joining a fraternity.

After going to a few, however, he found there were many benefits to Greek Life.

He said it allowed him to be active in the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (Thon) which is the largest student philanthropy in the world.

Ryder said being in fraternity would provide a lot of professional contacts after graduation.

Panhellenic Council President Annie Larimer said a lot of her friends were interested in sororities, so she decided to go along.

Larimer said being in a sorority can help develop a student's leadership qualities.

She said it gives students the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities like Greek Sing, Homecoming and Dance Marathon.

"It was a great way for me to get involved," she said.

Greek life at Penn State began in 1872 with the charter of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, according to the Fraternity and Sorority Life Web site, www.greeks.psu.edu.

The greek scene at Penn State has grown since then, with 57 fraternities and 29 sororities at the university.

Interfraternity Council (IFC) President Ben Jabara said recruitment, also known as rush, is the period when students interested in fraternity life can see what it is all about.

A new feature to be implemented in the rush period this year will be a new registration process, Grant Miller, IFC vice president of membership, said.

Miller said the registration process will allow the IFC to get solid numbers of students in recruitment, which they haven't had in the past.

He said it will also make it easier to let interested students know about recruitment activities.

Louie Torres (senior-economics), a member of Delta Sigma fraternity, said networking with other fraternity members past and present is a big benefit of being in a fraternity.

"You just have access to large number of people," Torres said.

However, Ryder said that not being in a fraternity doesn't limit the opportunities available to students.

"I think there are plenty of other ways to get involved," he said.

Morgan McCormick (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said having sororities on campus was her main deterrent from pledging.

"I want to move into an apartment next year," she said.

For Joe Carney (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) housing was also something to consider.

Although he is still unsure if he will pledge, Carney said it might be a good idea, since housing at Penn State is becoming harder to get.

"I'm planning on rushing, but I don't know about pledging," he said.