The following rush rules have been written and discussed by the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Panhellenic Association. They are written with the intent of promoting an atmosphere which will be enjoyable, fair, and beneficial to the rushee. In the spirit of improving the Greek system as a whole, the sororities have identified and discusses areas which may unnecessarily result in conflict and require direction. In realizing the need for these rules, there is also an awareness that other groups exist on the WPI campus and these rules are not to hinder their activities.
These rules are based on the suggested Rush Rules presented by the National Panhellenic Conference which can be found in the National Panhellenic Conference Twelfth Edition. The NPC believes that normal social contacts should not be disrupted in the case of long-standing friendships by prohibiting all contact between sorority women and prospective rushees. (Normal social contact implies relatives, friends, neighbors, co-workers). However, each sorority is charged with the responsibility of seeing that unfair advantage is not taken of such contacts. Therefore, trust is key between chapter members of the college Panhellenic throughout the rush process.
1. A deferred Formal Rush shall be held beginning Monday, November 4th, and ending Monday, November 18th.
2. There shall be a formal registration period for Rush beginning with the Rush Informational and continuing until the second round of formal Rush.
3. A rushee must be a regularly matriculated student at WPI to be eligible for Rush.
4. All rushees must pass 2/3 unit of classes to be eligible for Formal Rush. Freshmen and Sophomores enrolled in semester classes must supply a note verifying Satisfactory Progress (SP) in that class.
5. From August 1st through the end of Formal Rush, Rho Chi's as well as Panhellenic Executive Board members should not be publicly affiliated with their sorority (i.e. no identifying insignia), including sorority rush functions.
6. Rho Chi's and Panhellenic Executive Board members are not allowed to file rush infractions.
7. Rush rules cannot be changed, after the last meeting D-term until 2 weeks after Formal Rush, unless by a majority vote by each sorority.
8. Only present rush rules and previously discussed issues can be changed A-term.
9. Chapter total shall be set at 80 members.
10. Quota shall be set after the last rush round, not to be changed unless by a unanimous vote by the Panhellenic.
11. All members (including Alumnae and pledges) are responsible for observing rush rules.
12. No sorority member and freshman rushee shall exchange, buy, or give any favors, gifts (i.e. meal or soft drink), or preference letters from August 1st through the end of Formal Rush.
13. No incoming freshman woman or rushee shall be entertained or present in sorority houses, chapter rooms, apartments, or residence hall rooms (excluding RA's) from August 1 through the end of Formal Rush, unless it is a Panhellenic sponsored event.
14. From August 1st until the beginning of Formal Rush, sorority members will be allowed to visit a freshman rushee in her dorm, apartment, or place of residence (excluding RA's) in groups no larger than 2 people per floor per sorority.
15. No sorority member may visit a rushee in her place of residence during Formal Rush.
16. Upper-class women intending on going through Formal Rush will be considered rushees once Formal Rush begins.
17. No sorority member will escort a freshman rushee to any party, activity, (i.e. sporting event, movie, concert, etc.), on or off campus. Activity does not include an activity/sport on which both chapter member and rushee participate. This applies from August 1st through the end of Formal Rush. This does not apply to upperclassmen rushees.
18. There will be no promising of bids, directly or indirectly, by any member of a sorority.
19. No sorority rush or bid day slogans, past or present, may be publicly displayed until Formal Rush ends.
20. The use of alcohol and/or participation of men in rush functions shall be prohibited through the end of bid day.
21. No individual sorority songs may be sung in public from August 1st through the end of Formal Rush, excluding rush rounds.
22. Chapters will adhere to NPC recommendation for Release Figures.
23. Chapters are responsible for removing or covering any materials which include reference to, or pictures of the Panhellenic Executive Board and Rho Chi's.
24. All rush parties will be held in places designated by the Panhellenic.
25. Normal social contact and conversations shall be allowed between the rushees and sorority members during Formal Rush.
26. All rushees may have a maximum of two excused absences to be eligible for the Preference round.
27. A rushee shall attend orientation and rush parties to which she has accepted invitations. In case of illness or other emergency, the rushee shall notify the Panhellenic and/or her Rho Chi. The Panhellenic and/or the Rho Chi will, in turn, notify the sororities involved.
28. The Panhellenic only shall provide nametags for the rushees.
29. A Cap Figure for rush budgets for each sorority is to be set by the Rush Chairmen of each sorority by the last week of D-term. This Cap Figure will include ALL donated goods, services, and rush outfits. (Donated goods are defined as item(s) bought by an individual and then having that item(s) given to the sorority for the purpose of Rush).
30. There will be no decorations outside the rush facility, unless provided by Rho Chi's or Panhellenic Executive Board.
31. All rush entertainment, including, but not limited to rush skits, singing, etc., must be contained within the rush facility.
32. The chapters may have a table with sorority items such as scrapbooks, gig books, pictures, memorabilia, and a composite for all of the rounds. In all cases, pictures of Panhellenic Executive Board members and Rho Chi's must be covered.
33. The first round may include two sorority songs.
34. A current, factual, financial expense sheet shall be distributed to each rushee at the second party during Formal Rush. These sheets shall list all fees to be incurred by the rushee during her collegiate membership.
35. Rush skits, videos, and informationals are permitted only during the second and third rounds of rush parties. Rush skits, videos, and informationals may last no longer than one quarter of the rush round.
36. All Rush Rounds may have decorations.
37. Only rushees on a chapter's bid list are invited back to the Preference round of that chapter.
38. Strict silence is the period in which there will be no social contact with the rushees by sorority members, pledges, and alumnae. Strict silence is designated as the time from the end of the rushees last party until she receives her bid through the mail.
39. In the event of women not being matched during bid-matching, Quota Additions will be utilized following NPC guidelines. No chapter may exceed Quota by more than 5% of quota.