Greek fall rush underway

For the fraternities and sororities, Rush officially began on Monday, October 30. During the Rush process, pledges of the Greek Community can get to know members of each fraternity and sorority in order to choose the one they might like to join.

For the fraternities, Rush lasts for five weeks. For the first week, representatives from the Interfraternity Council (IFC), the governing body of the fraternities, visited each of the residence halls to explain the Rush process. The IFC representatives took groups from each floor of each residence halls around for House Tours. At each house, members mingle with freshmen and sophomores to see whom they would like to admit as a member. Each house also gives out a schedule of their own Rush events, so that rushees may choose which fraternities they would like to focus their attention on and get to know better. Rushees are now welcomed to visit the fraternities at non-event scheduled times to just "hang out".

"It used to be geared more toward the 'free stuff' but now it's more to make friends... Recruitment, not Rush," said Kevin Norcott, president of Zeta Psi.

There are rules governing Rush for the fraternities. No freshmen were allowed at the fraternities until B term. Prospective members are not to be given alcohol for any reason. Prospective members must also be out of the fraternities by 10pm on weekdays, 12am on weekends, and 8pm on Sundays to encourage them to get their work done. Freshman Vinnie Fusca said of Rush, "Before the House Tours, I would have said I don't want to have anything to do with frats, but for some reason I went and met some really cool guys."

Rush for the sororities is very different than Rush for the fraternities. Sorority Rush lasts for only about two weeks, with Three Rush Rounds, House Tours, a game night, preference party and Bid Day. Girls must attend two of the three rush rounds and not have NR-ed two classes.

"The sororities are proud of their relatively high GPA's compared to some fraternities and non-Greeks," said Alison Hughes, Rho Chi.

To facilitate putting a name to a face and helping sisters to remember rushees, the Rho Chi's - unaffiliated representatives from the sororities in charge of helping freshmen with the rush process - took a picture of each girl with her name and dorm when she registered for Rush.

The sororities, like the fraternities are both unique in their own way. Alpha Gamma Delta Hosts a Chili contest and Phi Sigma Sigma held a "Tie Dye Your Own..." Activity earlier in the year. Both sororities sponsor a national charity as well as participate in community service throughout the year.