It's Greek to me

LOUIS BROWN/Daily Sorority members usher in prospective sisters during Panhellenic sorority rush yesterday. This year, 844 women on campus are participating in rush, which began Friday.

Houses work to attract members

Sorority rush underway

Traveling from house to house on Hill Street and Washtenaw Avenue, hundreds of women participated in the first rounds of Panhellenic sorority rush this weekend.

Rush is the period during which the 17 Panhellenic Association sororities and 844 potential Greek women on campus select each other. Panhel's rush does not include all of the campus' sororities, such as minority or academic sororities.

It's not as simple as just dropping by a few houses, chatting with some girls and picking a house. Rush is a highly structured process that involves numerous rules and regulations that make the process seem unfriendly at times.

For new students such as Engineering first-year student Chrissy Williams, rush is a great opportunity to make a big campus smaller.

"I have wanted to rush since I got here," Williams said. "All of the girls I have met that are in sororities are really cool. I think it's going to work out."

Throughout the four rounds of rush parties, the rushees and sorority houses are mutually selecting each other. The rushees rank their top choices on sheets that are turned in to Panhel. Several sororities would not comment on exactly how they choose their members.

Williams will be required to attend rush parties at all 17 sororities, which are scheduled during the next three weeks. Each party has a suggested dress code, ranging from casual during the beginning to formal at the end.

Another regulation is Panhel's mandatory silence period. It forbids sorority women from speaking to rushees outside of the formal rush parties until rush is completed. Also, the 17 sororities that are part of Panhel cannot post signs on campus recruiting members for their houses.

Mary Beth Seiler, Panhel's adviser, said the purpose of these regulations is to keep the process fair and pressure-free.

"These are all rules that sororities have voted on," Seiler said. "We want to provide a level playing field for all houses and rushees."

For some women, this structure is a turnoff.

"It doesn't appeal to me," said LSA first-year student Aisha Smart. "I don't want to pay these people to be my friend, and have to follow their rules. I think I can meet people on my own."

Some students said the benefits of being in a sorority outweigh the inconveniences of rush.

"Rush is a great way to meet people," said School of Education Junior Cindy Faulk. "I remember when I was a freshman being really excited to get to know the people in my rush group. I made friendships that will last a lifetime."

Even some skeptics said sorority life turned out to be better than they expected.

"I didn't think I wanted to rush my freshman year, but I decided to go for it, and I'm so glad I did," said LSA Junior Juliet Chiarella. "It was a fabulous experience."

In addition to an active social life, sororities are also involved in community service activities.

"Each house has a philanthropic cause which they raise money for," Seiler said. "Greek Week is a big event for community service in which many houses come together to raise money for a number of causes."

Many women feel Greek life will be a rewarding experience.

"I have a lot of friends in sororities, and it seems like it would be fun to be a part of the Greek Community," said LSA first-year student Katrina Lehman. "Both of my parents were very involved with the Greek system during their college experience. I think I will really enjoy it."

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