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With rush for InterFraternity Council chapters moved to the spring semester, many in the Greek system are taking the change in stride. "It doesn't lessen the commitment or the quality of the brothers you get," Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Acting Director Scott Reikofski said. "It's a matter of the students in the system being enthusiastic about bringing in new brothers." In accordance with recommendations released by the Commission on Strengthening the Community, the University decided last year to reschedule IFC rush for the spring semester. Reikofski said the move enables the fraternities to have more time to market themselves to freshmen over the fall semester. This effort "takes the whole chapter," he explained. The original proposal from the Commission called for rush to be moved to the sophomore year. However, the IFC and OFSA were able to work out a compromise by moving it to the spring. According to guidelines set by OFSA, chapters may rush and pledge upperclassmen in the fall. Freshmen are only allowed to attend open functions. Previously, rush took place entirely within the fall semester, with pledging often beginning in January. This year, rush will take place for two weeks in January and pledging will continue until April. Reikofski said spring rush will allow freshmen to think longer about deciding to rush, as well as give them time to understand their academic limits. "They essentially get more good members," he added. A drawback to the new system is that fewer freshmen will rush, as they may find other activities they would like to pursue, Reikofski said. But according to IFC President Dave Treat, the extra time will allow the fraternities to make more informed decisions as well. "Hopefully by getting to meet freshmen over the course of the fall semester, we'll make better decisions in the spring," the College senior said. The chapters will have to reprioritize their pledge education process, Reikofski said. For example, they will make use of informal means -- such as assigning big brothers to the pledges. "It requires them to examine what is important to the chapter and the national organization as far as what kinds of things need to be covered," he said. Treat echoed Reikofski's sentiments. "It's an individual and a private thing," he said, adding that the policy will affect each chapter differently. "I can't say how it'll turn out at this point," Phi Kappa Psi fraternity President Cyrus Mehta said. "I've never seen it." The Wharton junior said his chapter will take advantage of the chance to take in upperclassmen. Because Phi Kap has a shorter pledge process than most, Mehta said the lost rush time may become a problem. Sigma Chi President Jeff Hardy , a College senior, said his chapter should have little trouble adapting to the changes. But he said he is unsure as to what long-term effect it will have on the Greek system. "I don't know if spring rush will necessarily improve it," he added. But whatever the case, Hardy said the changes should not alter the system dramatically. "You can still get the same amount accomplished in a shorter amount of time," he said. The new system will also cut down on the number of freshmen who just explore the system, leaving the ones who are more focused on becoming involved in the system. "Freshmen are going to know people," he said. "They're going to have a clearer idea of where they want to go."

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