With new classes and colder weather, this semester also brings with it an annual staple -- spring fraternity and sorority rush.
While different in nature, both fraternity rush, supervised by the InterFraternity Council, and sorority rush, run by the Panhellenic Council, are similar in principle. Both are designed to allow interested students to get to know the character and members of the various houses well enough to make an informed decision regarding pledging and a more long-term commitment.
Though Panhellenic rush will be identical in format to last year's, IFC rush has been shortened.
Scott Reikofski, director of the office of fraternity and sorority affairs, said that these changes were implemented by members of the IFC in an effort to decrease the stress caused by lengthy rush activities.
However, College junior and Delta Upsilon President Jeff Leider said that he prefers a longer rush period, as it gives his fraternity more time to get to know interested members.
"The policy is what it is, and we have to live with it," he said. "We're just hoping to attract as many new, quality members as possible."
Panhellenic rush will be receiving a great deal of support and attention from the National Panhellenic Conference, as Panhel is participating in a nationwide review of the rush process.
College senior Emma Phillips, Panhel vice president of recruitment, said that "this should be an exciting year for Panhellenic" due to Penn's role in the national program. Phillips said that over 500 Penn women are currently registered for rush, a figure similar to last year's.
"There is a spot for every woman," Phillips said regarding the bids that will be extended to the women at the end of the nine-day rush period. The number of women who end up pledging a house is usually in the 400s.
The purpose of rush for many is to assess how well they will fit in a particular house.
"I really encourage [the students] to not shy away from asking questions," Reikofski said, adding that it is important for interested students to get as much information as they can.
Engineering freshman C.J. Driessen is rushing and considers the rush process valuable.
"It's important to meet the brothers," Driessen said. "It's even more important to get the free food."
He said that all of his friends were rushing, but not all were planning on pledging -- trying to join a house.
While Greek life is very prevalent on campus, not all feel inclined to pledge. College freshman Carolina Gholmia said that she thinks sorority rush is "very superficial." She believes the period allotted for rush is too short to get to know a house and its members properly.
"If you're going to be in a house, you should know how a house works," Gholmia said.
She plans on attending the rush for the Tabard Society -- a non-Greek female organization -- where interested women have a longer orientation process.
IFC rush began Monday and will end Jan. 24, while Panhellenic rush began yesterday and will end Jan. 20. Both rush periods will be followed by the presentation of bids and the beginning of new-member education programs.
