To rush, or not to rush, that is the question
Fraternities and sororities hold their formal recruitment during the first two weeks of fall term at O
Joce DeWitt
Issue date: 10/4/10 Section: News
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The event, formerly called RUSH, is a week-long process in which students, most often incoming freshmen, undergo experiences that allow them to get acquainted with different Greek chapters.
But why RUSH?
According to Kevin Aguas, Inter-Fraternity Council president, the term refers to the quick-paced ambiance that recruitment week portrays, due to hundreds of students rushing to meet as many members and see as many houses as possible before a decision is made.
The final step for a potential member is accepting an offer from a house they preferred, though it does not always end up that way. Thus, the confusion: Do rushers pick a chapter or does a chapter pick them?
"It's a very credible process," said Bob Kerr, coordinator of Greek Life, concerning recruitment week. "Each chapter has a different personality, so the question of 'Does it fit?' is sincere."
That is the main goal, after all. Recruiters do their best throughout the week to find the finest "fits" for each house.
Most often, the right fit is found. Occasionally, however, rushers are not offered membership from their preferred chapter and decide Greek life is not for them, like OSU student Rachel Trindle did.
"I don't think it was personal, and the house I wanted may have been fuller than the one I got into," Trindle said.
According to Aguas, who is an active member of Lambda Chi Alpha, fraternity houses are looking for recruits with "specific qualities that benefit the campus and community."
Lily Shorey, vice president of the Panhellenic Council at OSU, agrees on behalf of sorority houses.
"We look for qualities new women can provide for the chapter, like leadership skills," Shorey said. "We look for things they're interested in that will help the chapter become more successful."
Recruitment week may sound like a system in which rushers are judged and placed based on first impressions that may misrepresent them and their aspirations. Hollywood has also had an influence on society's perception of what occurs behind closed doors during events like RUSH.
"I'm sure that back in the day, (fraternities) did practice hazing," Aguas said regarding fraternities suspected of harassing potential members. "But in today's society, that kind of stuff just isn't acceptable."
Fraternities and sororities approach the act of recruitment with different tactics.
"It can be compared to speed dating," Shorey said about sorority recruitment. "Sorority RUSH is more formal. Fraternities have games and barbecues; we focus more on conversation so we get to know their personalities a little more."
According to Aguas, fraternities pursue potential members through more relaxed methods.
"Fraternities do a more individual-based system and extend offers while sororities go through a stricter, more complex process," Aguas said.
Kerr's advice to students looking to join a house is, "Be yourself. Relax and enjoy it. Get to know people."
Those options are, according to Kerr, basically the point of choosing to go Greek in the first place.
"There are three main reasons students choose to become members," Kerr said. "Networking, which is almost as valuable as a degree program, philanthropy, like community service, and an active social life."
Jimmy Bates, a member of Phi Psi, recounts a time when he was greeted by strangers in an airport, who he discovered to be Phi Psi alumni, because he was wearing his Greek letters.
"If everyone had the opportunity to experience the same thing, I don't think there would be a single person who would not go Greek," Bates said. "That's the beauty of it too. There is a house out there for everyone."
Shorey and Aguas agree that there is a place for everyone, even with the record amount of students going through recruitment this fall, due in part to high University enrollment, but also to recruiters allowing more time for incoming students to get settled before holding formal recruitment.
"Some positive signals for this year are IFC expanding by two chapters, so there is more opportunity to get involved, and following this cycle, Panhellenic has a possible extension by one chapter," Kerr said. "This growth is a very good thing."
Fraternity recruitment ended yesterday with Jump Day, a traditional event where the new pledges gather on the front steps of the MU Quad according to which new house they have joined. The new members then proceed to literally "jump" into the arms of their brotherhood.
Formal sorority recruitment began Sunday and runs until Saturday. For more information, visit www.oregonstatenpc.com.
Joce DeWitt, staff writer
737-2231, news@dailybarometer.com
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