The University's traditional fraternities welcomed Phi Sigma Kappa into their ranks March 17, reversing a controversial decision in which they denied the colony membership in their Interfraternity Council.
Citing concerns about the character of Phi Sigma Kappa's members, an IFC presidential round table stripped the group of its colony status Feb. 4. Phi Sigma Kappa challenged the decision, saying IFC bylaws didn't give the presidents the authority to take the vote.
Before the full council could vote on the issue, then-IFC President Davey Breitman stepped down Feb. 10, after he was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and aggravated assault.
Phi Sigma Kappa used the time it took the IFC to elect a new leader to improve its public image, said Jamie Bernzweig, the fraternity's president.
"We proved to [IFC] that we were good," Bernzweig said. "We wanted to prove it to everybody."
Phi Sigma Kappa's 29 members volunteered their time over the past month in a number of charity events — among them the Special Olympics Winter Games in Flagstaff and the Sally Ride Science Festival — and participated in an Alpha Phi-sponsored philanthropy, donating 100 teddy bears to Phoenix Children's Hospital, Bernzweig said.
"All these efforts that they made really made them stand out," said IFC President Brent Pearlstein, who was elected to replace Breitman in late February. "It showed that they were worthy and that they deserved [IFC membership]."
The council agreed, voting with a two-thirds majority, to make Phi Sigma Kappa an IFC colony.
Bernzweig said the trouble his group ran into in February had much to do with Breitman's dislike of his group.
"[He] was obviously biased. His comments about my fraternity were obviously insulting," Bernzweig said. "He just wasn't a good leader."
Breitman declined to comment but said that it was not his decision, but the delegates' decision, to deny Phi Sigma Kappa colony status.
The switch to Pearlstein helped his group to get a fair chance to show its worthiness, Bernzweig said.
"Over the past month the IFC leadership has changed," Bernzweig said. "Obviously for the better."
With the controversy resolved, Bernzweig said his group has received a warm welcome from the other fraternities and will now try to grow from a colony to a full chapter — a process that could take from 6 to 18 months.
"Several fraternities have offered to help us with whatever we need to become a chapter," Bernzweig said.
Pearlstein, too, said he was happy with the council's vote because Phi Sigma Kappa adds to IFC's diversity.
"Every fraternity has their own unique kind of identity," Pearlstein said. "Overall, it's a very positive thing for IFC."
Unifying and growing the Greek community is one of the main goals of his presidency, and Phi Sigma Kappa's admission helps do just that.
"Number-wise, there's more now in IFC," Pearlstein said. "I like growth. Growth is essential."
And while Bernzweig said he feels last month's vote was unfair, he said there's no hard feelings in the end.
"We're really happy that we were given a fair shot," he said.
Reach the reporter at andre.f.radzischewski@asu.edu.
