Fraternity institutes longer rush period

Rush ended and pledging began for most fraternities in the InterFraternity Council at bid signing last Tuesday. But for Beta Theta Pi, the intake process is just beginning. The fraternity, which did not give out any bids during the IFC's formal rush period, has decided to hold an extended rush period. "Two weeks to rush and to pick a house that you're going to live in for the next three-and-a-half years of your life? when you have over 30 houses on campus, we just don't think that's fair," Beta President and Wharton junior Brian Godfrey said. Currently, Beta has 18 brothers, but is looking to gain seven to 10 new members during the next week, according to Godfrey. In an attempt to attract new members, the brothers knocked on almost every door in the Quadrangle and Hill College House last week, talking to freshmen who did not participate in rush or who rushed and chose not to pledge. Beta held an interest meeting last Thursday evening to discuss their fraternity with prospective members. About eight men showed up, and Godfrey said that many more were interested but could not attend the meeting. "We hope to have seven to 10 new pledges in the next few days," he said yesterday. Although Beta is the first IFC fraternity on campus to hold extended rush, many fraternities' national organizations are encouraging them to look beyond the traditional two-week rush period. "There are a number of [fraternities] where their nationals encourage them to do year-round rush," Director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Scott Reikofski said. "It's more a change in national philosophy than low numbers." But Beta Theta Pi District Chief Michael Okenquist acknowledged that the fraternity's decision to extend rush was influenced by their low membership. "I think some chapters feel they're successful enough," Okenquist said. "I would guess that they're very happy with the pledges they get early on." Beta, on the other hand, wants to "grow to be a bigger chapter." According to IFC Vice President for Rush Mark Valenti, a Phi Kappa Sigma brother, fraternities are not restricted to giving out bids only during formal rush. "Any house theoretically can give out a bid at any point," the Engineering junior said, although this option is generally used by "houses who have not reached the numbers they're looking for. From what I heard, [Beta's] having trouble filling their house." Of Beta's 18 members, six are seniors and the house has room for "at least 20," according to Godfrey. To help fill its vacancies this year, the fraternity rented out a few rooms in the house to non-brothers.