Sororities for some, but not all

Some women came to Penn knowing that they were going to rush a sorority. But College freshman Nicole Green -- like many of her classmates -- never fully anticipated that she would rush, yet soon found herself heading off to sorority houses. And now Green, along with about five dozen others, has decided to drop out of the rush process. Between 60 and 65 women have decided not to continue with the two-week rush process, according to Panhellenic Council Co-Vice President for Recruitment Kristin Moon. These numbers are fewer than the same figures from previous years, she said. According to Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Associate Director for Programming Debra Bonaminio, there has been a four percent increase in registration for rush this year. But despite the overall increase, rush just isn't for everyone. "It just wasn't me," said Green of her decision not to continue rushing. "The type of girls who were rushing along with me weren't the type of people I'd pick out as friends. I just felt more comfortable not doing it." Bonaminio admits that as the rush process continues, more and more women decide not to pursue involvement in Greek life. "I think that some think it's just not for them," she said. "They're curious to see what the process is like, curious to see the chapters, but make the decision that joining a sorority is not their cup of tea." "Greek life isn't for everybody," Bonaminio added. "And if it isn't for you, that's great, that's fine." College freshman Lainie Lord dropped out of the rush process before open houses even began. "I had just gotten back from break and the last thing I felt like doing was getting dressed up and walking around to houses," she said. "The whole formality of it turned me away," she added, comparing sorority rush to the relatively informal fraternity rush process. "I thought it would be something more like that." Others noted that the strict rules enforced during rush were a turn-off. "In information meetings, [sorority sisters] instructed us on what we should wear -- that no jeans were allowed," College freshman Emily Dubin said. "That rule struck me as ridiculous." Dubin noted that her initial decision to rush was motivated by the fact that her friends were anxious to sign up. Friends were "the main pressure in the first place," she said. "Everyone else was signing up so I thought I should too. But then I realized I didn't have to do what everyone else was doing if I didn't want to." Bonaminio stressed that the decision to either join a sorority or drop out of the rush process should be an individual one. She also stated that women should feel comfortable deciding not to rush. "There's no pressure to stay in the process," Bonaminio said. "It isn't a one-shot deal," she added, noting that many make the mistake of thinking that the two-week period in January is the only opportunity to join a sorority. "If it's not for you now, maybe it's for you a year or two years from now," Bonaminio added. Dubin was also motivated to drop out because she didn't like the encounters she had with sorority sisters and her fellow rushees. "I wasn't planning on pledging," she said. "I was just doing rush to meet people. And then I realized before I went to the first night [of open houses] that the situation I'd be meeting people in was a fake situation where I wouldn't be making genuine friends." And for some, the decision to drop out of rush was based on pure pragmatism. College freshman Joannie Yeh said she decided not to continue with rush simply because she did not want to over-commit herself. "If I can't guarantee that I can be an active member in an organization, then I don't think it's fair that I participate -- both for me and the organization."