New students and more than 70 fraternities and sororities mingled among colorful displays at Thursday's Greek Involvement Fair as Penn State Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Roy Baker took pictures and greeted familiar faces.
The event, held in HUB Alumni Hall, was the first opportunity for many freshmen to learn about individual greek chapters.
Pat McGuinness (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said he is certain he wants to join a fraternity, and the fair provided the first close look at specific fraternity chapters.
He's looking to become more involved on campus and find new friends.
"I want to feel like I've become a part of something, make some good friends, go to some good parties," McGuinness said, laughing. "Help the world."
The fair was also a first opportunity for fraternities and sororities to meet potential new members and relay information specific to their chapters.
Katherine Bird, vice president of membership for Delta Zeta sorority, said the fair allows the sororities to answer questions and provide information to interested students.
Some freshmen were on the fence, Bird (junior-accounting) said, but hopes they went away a little more confident in the greek scene.
Eric Petanovich, president of Delta Chi fraternity, said the fair provided a way for fraternities
to help freshmen become familiarized with the different chapters.
"We try to give them a brief rundown of what we're about," Petanovich (junior-supply chain and information systems) said. "Kind of get our name out there."
Samantha Levy (freshman-business) also said she will definitely join a sorority, and said she hoped the fair would provide more information and insight
into all of the individual organizations.
"I have friends in some, but I want to find out about others," she said. "Try to narrow it down and keep an open mind."
Baker said he was happy to see so many greek members together in the same room.
"I think this is a really great opportunity for freshmen to come in and see how big the Penn State greek scene really is and be able to talk about it with the members," he said.
