The HUB Ballroom took on a festive atmosphere yesterday as hundreds of students in search of the Penn State fraternity experience attended the Interfraternity Council's Spring Rush Mixer.

IFC membership chairman Levi Downs said he expected between 400 and 500 students to attend the mixer --about half the turnout at the Fall Semester information session.

Downs said about 65 percent of the people who rushed last fall became pledges, and he expects a similar number this semester.

During the fraternity system's rush period, prospective members get a chance to meet fraternity members and visit the fraternity's house.

At yesterday's mixer students were given the chance to find out about IFC's 52 fraternities through looking at displays and meeting some fraternity members. The National Pan-Hellenic Council, composed of the four historically black fraternities on campus, conducts a separate rush.

Anthony Riggio (freshman-business) said the opportunity to make good friends and meet people in a social atmosphere prompted him to take part in the event.

Tom Skiavo (freshman-science) agreed.

"I mostly want to meet people like myself with the same interests," he said.

Another interested student, Steven Hong (freshman-business), said the opportunity to meet other people was the reason he attended.

Doug Gehret, a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, 429 E. Hamilton Ave., said he asks potential fraternity members about their interests, hobbies and subjects such as sports and music to break the ice.

"A well-rounded individual who fits in at the house" would be a likely candidate for membership at his fraternity, Gehret said.

Dennis Kubasko, rush chairman at Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, 403 Locust Lane, said he looks for new members who are willing to talk about themselves and show integrity.

"He's got to have something to offer to us as well as us offering something to him," he said. He said the fraternity expected the new pledge class to have from 15 to 20 members.

Dan Vanderheiden, a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity, 255 Highland Ave., said well-roundedness is the most important quality a rushee could have.

"Since our house is very diverse, we're not looking for stereotypical people. Everyone comes from a different background and we take that and mold it into a family," he said.

Jason McMurtrie, a member of Tau Epsilon Phi, 328 E. Foster Ave., summed it up.

"It's kind of like the Marines," he said. "We're looking for a few good men."