For years now, freshmen males have eagerly piled into fraternity houses campus-wide in search of free food and entertainment.
Some have been awaiting the annual rush process as their chance to scan a number of prospective fraternities in search of their best fit. Others have no intention of pledging, but instead use the events as a chance to milk as much free food and entertainment as they can out of the open fraternity houses.
Then, there are those who sit quietly in the middle, and the jury is still out on whether this group will be adversely affected by the policy instituted this year, requiring freshmen to formally register for the rush process and pay a $5 fee to participate.
"It deters people who might consider rushing just to try it," College freshman Scott Grossman said. "Now, they have to make a tangible commitment."
But Grossman adds that it is just a minor hassle that has no influence on people like himself, who have already made the decision to rush.
With memberships fees already steep for some, Grossman says that he doubts that $5 will hammer too much of a dent in these prospective pledges' pockets.
The addition of the registration process and the participation fee will make fraternity rush a bit more like the process for sororities, which is a highly formalized process that occurs during the same time period.
Eli Kaplan fears the repercussions the changes might have on the men's rush process, which has traditionally been more laid back than the sorority equivalent.
"It's less of a social thing, because there's an investment involved," Kaplan said.
Nonetheless, Kaplan understands the fee's benefits in deterring people that rush with no intention of pledging.
Many other freshmen, having had no prior experience with the rushing process, join in this sentiment.
"You just pay your $5 and get on with it," Grossman said. "I can't imagine it having much more effect than that.
For the most part, freshmen men do not see the harm in the formal registration process and minimal monetary commitment involved.
"I think it's pretty fair," Grossman said. "There are a lot of activities, and you have to get money from somewhere."
While the tradition of randomly showing up at fraternity rush events might come to an end, others said that the parties will be just as crazy and some traditions won't change.
"Fraternities are known for being laid back," Matt Aquino said. "A fee won't change that."
College freshman John Byck said he even sees an added advantage for fraternities in the new regulations. He said he hopes it will allow fraternities to throw cash into their events, with the knowledge that the attendees are giving the rushing process serious consideration.
"If you're going to spend $5, you might think twice before you decide to rush," he said.
This year, the process will begin Jan. 13 and continue through the last week of the month.
While these requirements were not instituted last year, both the registration process and rush-related fees have been present in years past. Many of the other traditional aspects of this year's events will remain the same.
