Informal Panhel rush begins

Panhellenic Council sororities are beginning to lessen the rigid formality that has characterized their intake system in recent years, by adding a number of informal events in the fall. "Previously, you knew nothing about the Panhellenic system until you were thrown into it for two weeks in January," said Panhel Rush Vice President Tara Troy, a College senior. While not a part of the official rush process, the fall activities consist of a series of informational events designed to acquaint prospective members with the system. The first such event is this Saturday -- the Greek Feast at Hill Field. There will also be two informational sessions in the Bodek Lounge at Houston Hall on October 29 and November 12. "It takes off the whole formality of it," said Panhel President Lissette Calderon, a Wharton senior. "[Prospectives] have the opportunity to walk into a house and see familiar faces." According to Acting Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Scott Reikofski, the program will help Panhel chapters to better showcase their system. "It will make the chapters a little more accessible," he said. "It lightens up the process." The information sessions will help both the chapters and the prospective pledges make better informed decisions, Troy said. She said the new program was devised after researching the systems at other schools and gauging the opinion of women who had recently gone through the process. Troy said that while in previous years, the process was governed by a strict code of rules, this year they have been boiled down to five general "ethics" and several specific guidelines. The new system of ethics and guidelines is based on that used by the Panhel council at Ohio Wesleyan University, which has met with success, Troy said. According to Calderon, all eight sororities will participate this year. Last year, Panhel sponsored a fall rush for the purpose of resuscitating the Kappa Delta sorority, which folded at the end of the last fall semester. "There are no hidden agendas," she said of this year's rush. "This is not specifically for any one sorority." According to Alpha Chi Rho sorority President Bett Schumacher, a College senior, the program is a much needed update to the rush system. "We're really excited about it --we're very curious to see how it turns out," she said. Pi Beta Phi sorority President Meredith Auten, a College senior, said that her chapter is also pleased with the changes. "I think it will be a great opportunity for women to meet our representatives and those of Panhel," she said. "Our chapter is definitely behind it."

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