EDITORIAL: Beating the system

Unofficial rush eventsUnofficial rush eventsinvolving alcohol hurt theUnofficial rush eventsinvolving alcohol hurt thereputations of fraternitiesUnofficial rush eventsinvolving alcohol hurt thereputations of fraternitiesthat do obey IFC andUnofficial rush eventsinvolving alcohol hurt thereputations of fraternitiesthat do obey IFC andUniversity policies, andUnofficial rush eventsinvolving alcohol hurt thereputations of fraternitiesthat do obey IFC andUniversity policies, andmerit severe punishment.Unofficial rush eventsinvolving alcohol hurt thereputations of fraternitiesthat do obey IFC andUniversity policies, andmerit severe punishment.__________________________ Although the party took place after the evening's official rush event had ended, a College freshman who also attended both events told a DP reporter that "quite a few brothers" were present at the second party. Logic would dictate that following the "dry" rush event, Sigma Chi brothers invited prospective new members to see what social life in their house is really like. Knowing that they were still being judged by brothers of the house they wanted to join, these rushees agreed to continue their conversations off campus, and that's where peer pressure to drink came in. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs should institute strong sanctions against Sigma Chi for exposing rushees to potentially harmful situations involving alcohol. If it doesn't, houses that make conscientious efforts to follow the rules will wonder why they bother to do so -- and Sigma Chi will succeed in making a mockery of the system supposedly designed to protect rushees from hazing and other historically negative elements of Greek life. Unlike sorority rush, where women receive bids based on a system of mutual matching after structured parties, fraternity rush is typically considered two weeks of chaos. From the outset, male freshmen need to have an idea of where they want to pledge, because there's no way they can visit each of the IFC's 23 houses during the two open house afternoons. Some fraternity brothers say rushees only think they must drink to gain favor from the Greeks whose houses they want to join. But who cares whether it's external or internal pressure that lands a freshman in the HUP emergency room? The rush process as it now stands is in need of an overhaul. Undoubtedly, part of the problem is the compressed fraternity rush period, which makes it even more crucial for rushees to make a good impression at houses they want to join. Still, if making a good impression means breaking the rules -- attending after-hours rush events and consuming too much alcohol to prove one's masculinity or self-control -- then the Greek system needs to respond to changing times, and make sure new members don't perpetuate their predecessors' bad habits.