Under normal circ*mstances, Penn State’s Interfraternity Council would host a “zone day” week where prospective brothers could tour fraternity houses and potentially be invited back for small in-person events.
This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, each fraternity posted a house tour on the IFC’s website to give potential brothers a virtual feel of what the houses are actually like. Spring recruitment’s zone day week took place this Monday through Thursday.
Penn State’s 37 fraternities posted their videos on the IFC’s website, so to save you the hassle of watching every single video, we power-ranked our top 10 house tours.
10. Alpha Sigma Phi
Alpha Sigma Phi looks a little musty, but there are some exciting details here and there. Rather than a giant flatscreen TV, the house has a makeshift movie theater screen. Plus, the folks who live in the house have the creative freedom to paint and draw on their walls whatever designs they want.
9. Chi Phi
Chi Phi is nice. There isn’t anything super special about it, but it appears comfortable. There’s also a cool spiral staircase where you can see several floors down.
8. Theta Delta Chi
TDX isn’t anything special, but at least it isn’t musty. The natural lighting and light wood floors brighten the space up a bit. Most of all, the stone building and pillars sure are pretty against the snow.
7. Phi Kappa Sigma
Skulls is special because it overlooks downtown State College, and the front yard is always rocking. In the video, the fraternity was sure to show that off by playing lacrosse and beer die and featuring its adorable puppy on the lawn. The DJ setup is impressive, too.
6. Tau Kappa Epsilon
TKE is massive, yet it still filled the space. The fenced-in yard and picnic tables would make for a sweet daylong. One of the rooms has giant office tables and rolly desk chairs, which is clutch during the days of Zoom University.
In the kitchen, there are five high-top tables with four seats each. That isn’t found anywhere else and surely makes for intimate brotherly bonding. The party area lighting would definitely make for a good time, too.
5. Delta Sigma Phi
Delta Sigma Phi is well kept. The floors and tables are clean, and the restaurant booths are a unique touch. However, I’m a bit confused by the basem*nt wall art displaying a woman and a pink elephant wearing clothes.
4. Delta Upsilon
DU’s house feels very honest. It’s a bunch of college kids, after all. The Delta U painted wall with the Nittany Lion logo is a perfect photo op. Inside, the house has a basketball hoop and enough area to shoot free throws. None of the couches particularly match, but at least they look clean. The bedrooms are tidy, too.
3. Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE)
Pike filmed its video in a snowstorm, which added to the cabin vibes that the house gives off. There’s lots of dark wood, dim lighting, and leather that makes it resemble a massive Airbnb in Deep Creek or Park City. The “fortress” area, otherwise known as the backyard, has tons of string lights and benches that would make for a fun daylong.
2. Sigma Phi Epsilon
SigEp is the only frat house that is clean enough to bring your parents to. The red couches and shiny floors in the living room are a rare commodity in State College. SigEp also has a small balcony overlooking the street. The black walls and spray-painted gym area are an added bonus.
1. Alpha Phi Delta
APD’s house tour is impressive. The LED lighting throughout the entire house is badass, and the glass case built into the basem*nt bar is a nice touch. The house has ping pong tables, air hockey tables, and sturdy beer pong tables that will hold up if someone jumps on them. The glow in the dark paint throughout the hallway is trippy, and the fluffy white puppy tied the whole video together.
Colleen Nersten
Colleen is a washed-up biology grad and former associate editor. Her legacy will live on through stories like “10 Questions With State College Sensation ‘Hot UPS Bae’”. If you’re a STEM girlie, this is your sign to take the leap of faith and learn to write. It’s pretty fun. Colleen misses the hate mail and can be reached at [emailprotected] or via LinkedIn.
