Greek system recruits members

Campus fraternities and sororities started the yearly quest for members this week, a process that lasts several weeks and replenish membership of the system's houses.

This year's class of potential rushees is higher than in recent years. More than 900 women registered for sorority rush and 500 men attended the fraternity rush meeting last week.

Officials from the Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Association attribute the high numbers to recruiting efforts by current system members.

The University is home to 32 fraternities and 16 sororities that are members of IFC and Panhel, ranging in size from 15 to 100 members.

Rush is the process prospective Greek members undergo as they look to find a fraternity or sorority that best fits them.

Most of the students who participate in rush are first-year students, but IFC Adviser John Mountz said this need not be the case.

"Anyone can come out for rush, not just freshmen. Fraternities and sororities create a slate of opportunities for perspective members of any age," he said.

Rush started last week with the fraternity and sorority mass meetings, where perspective members learned basic information about the Greek system, including outreach and educational programs. Sigma Phi Epsilon President Jon Snyder said greeks do a lot for the community.

"Greeks donate time and money to charity in many ways," Snyder said. "Greek Week is the biggest money-raiser we have."

Last year, Greek Week participants donated more than 2,000 hours of community service and raised more than $115,000 through Greek events and sponsors.

Rush events for this week include open houses for all the fraternities, which began Tuesday and will end today. Perspective members can visit fraternities they are interested in, meet the members and get a general idea of if the house suits them. Prospective sorority members are involved in a more formal process where they attend different sets of parties at sorority houses during the next few weeks.

Snyder also encouraged looking at many houses.

"Don't 'suicide rush' and just limit yourself to one or two houses. Keep your options open and check out as many as possible," Snyder said.

LSA first-year student Lynsey Estes said she hopes to meet some long-lasting friends through the rush process.

"My main reason is to get out and meet people," Estes said. "These are people you'll know for the duration of your college career."

Snyder also stressed that first-year students should not feel pressured into rushing this semester.

"Many fraternities and sororities are using year-round recruitment, not just limited to one week of rush," he said. "Those that I have seen that have done year-round recruitment are very pleased with it because they can choose the best students available."

First-year student Alex Rios-Doria was at the Sigma Phi Epsilon open house Tuesday night and said that he appreciates what the Greek life has to offer.

"I want a balanced fraternity. Enough social events and good academic priority. I basically want to meet people," he said.

During last school year, the sorority Delta Zeta closed its doors, due to low membership. Panhel Advisor Mary Beth Seilor said the sorority's national chapter decided to close the campus chapter. Also, the sorority Alpha Xi Delta sold its house, but is still functioning without a house.

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