Panhel, IFC begin rush this week

Although students are still unpacking and trying to find classes, the Greek system will charge full steam ahead into its rush process this week. The two-week process began yesterday for the 31 fraternities in the InterFraternity Council, while the eight sororities in the Panhellenic Council will start rush tomorrow. Over the coming days, fraternities will be holding open houses and other events for prospective members. Each sorority will host an open house either tomorrow or Wednesday, and every rushee is required to visit all eight houses. To date, 432 women have registered for rush this year -- down from 474 last year. There are no statistics for the IFC, since fraternity rush is much less formal. Panhel Rush Chair Cara Schmid, an Alpha Phi sister and College senior, attributed the drop in Panhel rush numbers to a nationwide lack of interest in Greek membership. Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Associate Director for Programming Debra Bonaminio agreed with Schmid, saying that "all across the country numbers are going down -- Penn will see a minor decline." During the open-house period, rushees are led from house to house by rush counselors, or "rho chis," who have disassociated from their chapters for the duration of rush. After the open houses, each woman chooses a maximum of six sororities to continue to rush. The chapters also narrow down their choices for prospective members. On January 27, following another round of events, rushees pick up to three favorite houses, and the houses determine their favorite women. Schmid said the most important thing for freshmen women to do during the process is stay calm and keep an open mind. On January 29, the chapters hold preference parties. On preference night, the sorority members talk to the rushees about their chapters and share their impressions of sorority life. After preference night, the sororities discuss who they want to offer bids to. The rushees receive their bids on January 30. Fraternity rush is more informal than the sorority process. Each fraternity may hold up to six rush events, three open and three closed. At the beginning, the events are open to all rushees. After the houses get to know the rushees better, they hold invite-only events. "The closed events are more one-on-one, more personal," Engineering sophomore and Lambda Chi Alpha Rush Chairman Evan Randall said. "They want to get to know you better. They want to see if there are any personality flaws." Rushees then receive their bids on February 1. The rush process changed for the IFC this year, with a new rush guide program in place. The program was implemented in the fall when rush guides from the various fraternities visited the college houses and held workshops for men who were interested in rushing. "This was a system set up this year to basically offer freshmen who are considering rushing someone they can talk to for advice or any kind of guidance," said Engineering junior Mark Valenti, the IFC vice president for rush and new member education-elect. Valenti, a Phi Kappa Sigma brother, gave some advice to men who plan to rush. "Get around to a lot of houses and just try to find a group of people and a situation that you feel fits your own personality." Penn's other greek organization, the Bicultural InterGreek Council, holds its rush process over the course of the semester.