Women rush to sorority meeting

Prospective sorority pledges made a mad rush for Ashurst Lounge Friday night so they could attend the PanHellenic Council's final rush registration session. "I'm curious to see what it's all about," said College freshman Allison Geuder, who is still unsure whether she will join a sorority or even participate in rush. And Geuder said she is not alone in her uncertainty. "A lot of people whom I've talked to are registering but don't know if they're going to pledge," she added. Other women said they are set on joining a sorority. College freshman Meredith Auten said her family encouraged her to pledge. She said her mother has given her a "favorable impression" of sorority life by reminiscing about her own college sorority. Approximately 270 freshman and sophomore women showed up to the last PanHel rush registration session to pay their $10 rush fee and sign up, according to outgoing Publicity Vice President Jen Eisenberg. She estimated the overall number of registrants to be about 600 women. College senior Eisenberg added that although overall University enrollment is down, last night's turnout makes the number of rushees consistent with past years' figures. But she said the recent addition of the Pi Beta Phi sorority to PanHel may cause a decrease in each house's quota for rushees. Aside from an additional house, this year's rush is different in that the rush period has been extended from its usual one week span to two weeks. PanHel will still maintain the same number of rush events but spread them further apart and hold more of them on the weekends. Outgoing Ombudsman Sonia Verma, who is a Wharton senior, said this extended rush schedule is intended to ease the transition into the spring semester for both sorority sisters and rushees. "It'll be a lot less stressful for everyone." she said. This year, Rho Chis, or rush counselors, will help familiarize the rushees about the rush program next week, instead of its traditional January date. The rush counselors are sorority women who have temporarily disaffiliated from their houses and have undergone training in order to become objective counselors. Rush begins on January 12 and sophomore women who transfer to the University at the start of the spring semester may still register for rush. No H&J; required. Do not bother inserting ! -- Michael ' I'm curious to see what it's all about. A lot of people whom I've talked to are registering but don't know if they're going to pledge. ' Allison Geuder College freshman