Currently there are 10 Inter-Fraternity Council-sponsored fraternities at Johns Hopkins. One other -- St. Elmo's -- is around but not in the IFC. Anyway, with a little luck and these helpful hints, you'll know where to party this semester and what to expect when you go there.
Alpha Delta Phi
Here it is: The closest thing JHU gets to a state school frat. Comprised mostly of football, basketball and other sports team members, WaWa has the reputation for being absolutely wild.
Their parties are huge, and they usually boast plenty of fine ladies.
Alpha Epsilon Pi
This is the traditionally Jewish fraternity at Hopkins, but they've made a huge name for themselves on the social scene in the past two years. AEPi has been attracting huge crowds of freshmen into the wee hours throughout the weekend.
Cops are always a potential threat because residents in Charles Village don't take too kindly to loud, late-night bashes. A number of run-ins with police last year slowed AEPi down temporarily, but this fall, expect them to be back in force.
Beta Theta Pi
Let's just put it this way. When the party at AEPi gets broken up around midnight, walk down the street to 2921 St. Paul and visit Beta's party. You might not have to pay a cover if you bring your Palm Pilot with you.
Lambda Phi Epsilon
This is the traditionally Asian fraternity at Hopkins. While their membership is small, they throw a few major parties every semester.
They host a number of dancing-intensive bashes downtown during the year.
Pi Kappa Alpha
Now that they've moved into the former SAE "Crack House" on 33rd St., Pike has exploded into the upper-echelon of campus fraternities.
The Pikes throw big parties, but they have a tendency to get in trouble lately with cops and other fraternities.
Sigma Phi Epsilon
The red door on their house on 29th St. is a campus staple. Every year they have a big 1980s-themed party, as well as a "Purple Haze" bash.
Sigma Alpha Mu
Sammy used to have a death grip on the chairmanship of the MSE Symposium, and they remain active in leadership positions on campus.
As with all other smaller frat parties, it's a great place to go and get liquored up relatively cheap and without all the hassle of fighting through a sea of people to get to the bar.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Their house, on the corner of 30th St. and St. Paul Street, is another highly visible one on campus. It's also pretty loud because of the kickin' parties that go on there.
Their brothers are pretty similar to guys in Pike, and it isn't unusual to see their pledges running around doing "voluntary exercise" during the semester.
Phi Gamma Delta
Fiji boys use a lot of peroxide, that's for sure. But they're a big partying frat. Though their national declared all chapters dry a few months ago, don't expect these boys to settle down. That's what party houses are for.
Phi Kappa Psi
This was Michael Bloomberg's fraternity when he went here. That should be enough said, especially since Bloomberg has been generous in donating to their scholarship fund.
But there's more to Phi Psi than that. The guys are really laid back and generally pretty cool. Their house is amazing, but it's a haul. But if you're looking for a good time, stop by.
Just don't bother them at 4:20 because they might be ? um ? busy.
Delta Phi (St. Elmo's)
This non-IFC fraternity has an affinity for throwing up-scale parties. You'll probably get an invitation to their back to school party.
Their numbers are small, and people generally think of Elmo's as an exclusive social club. But their parties draw huge crowds. Don't forget, however, to dress up.
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