Weather not affecting rush

Numbers have been good for fraternity and sorority rush, which both began this week. Bundled up in brightly colored scarves and hats to protect them from the bitter cold, excited packs of freshmen braved the elements and headed off to fraternity and sorority rush events this week. Fraternity rush began on Sunday and lasts until February 1, while sorority rush started on Tuesday and ends on January 30. On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, female rushees traveled in small groups, led by rush counselors, or rho chis, to visit each of Penn's eight sororities. "Everyone is forced to be nice, so you can't have a bad experience," College freshman Liane Moneta said of the numerous social calls. Meanwhile -- over the past five nights -- fraternities have lured in freshmen with the usual array of cigars, pizza, wings and Hooters girls. "I think it's a great way to meet people -- and I'm going for the free food," College freshman Danny Keating said. Turnout for rush events has been good, according to InterFraternity Council and Panhellenic Council leaders, despite the chilly weather this week. About 432 women pre-registered for sorority rush, but according to Panhel Vice President of Rush Cara Schmid, a College senior, a few women drop out every year. Schmid, an Alpha Phi sister, said the number of women who have dropped out of rush this year is fairly consistent with the number in past years. And even though the men did not pre-register, the unusually cold temperatures did not appear to have an effect on fraternity rush turnout, either. "Our numbers are very high, stronger than last year's," said IFC Vice President for Academics Rob Lewin, an Alpha Epsilon Pi brother and Wharton junior. "I thought there would be a decline from the cold, but there wasn't." Rush events will differ next week as the process moves into its second stage. Fraternities will begin holding invite-only nights and sororities will narrow down the number of houses the rushees can visit. While most fraternities are holding their traditional combination of chicken fingers and barbeque wings, some are trying to reach out to freshmen in a different way. Tonight, for instance, Pi Lambda Phi will hold a "Muppet Movie Night." "It's better than come-and-go, grab some food, move on the the next place," said Pi Lam Rush Chairman Max Kahn, a College junior. "We're trying to get away from that." While Pi Lam's movie night is expected to draw close to 75 rushees, according to Kahn, the freshmen are enjoying the traditional events as well. "I've heard it's a lot more fun for the guys than the girls," College freshman Matt Scattarella said of the fraternity rush process. The girls, however, seemed to be enjoying rush just as much as the guys are. "After the first night, I'm much more positive about it," Wharton freshman Mary Cramer said on Wednesday afternoon. "I'd heard some bad things, but I really like it now." While most sorority rushees said they were excited about the rush process, some are still skeptical. "It's nice to meet the other freshmen in the rush group, but I find that the sorority houses' interest in some of the freshmen is lacking," said one Engineering freshman, who requested anonymity. "It's a turnoff." And, although it seems as if the entire freshman class is participating in rush activities, there are those who choose to steer clear of the Greek scene. "They wanted to tell me what to wear," College freshman Merritt Robinson said. "I wanted to [rush] to meet people and then they called me up and told me, 'This is what you'll need to wear.'" "It's just not my scene. I'm not into the whole frat thing," Engineering freshman Matthew Cohen said.