Although the Interfraternity Council's "bring your own beer" policy has drastically changed the fraternity party atmosphere from cups to cans, it doesn't seem to have stifled the desire to rush.

The BYOB policy, enacted in November 1991, requires fraternities to not serve beer at parties other than socials. People older than 21 years old are allowed to bring 12 cans of beer or malt liquor.

"It killed parties immediately," said Dave Lieberman, president of Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity, 238 E. Fairmount Ave. "Back in '91, (BYOB) affected rush a lot because people were strictly looking for the social aspect," he said. "I think now people are more concerned with academics."

Rush numbers are consistently lower in the spring than in the fall, but overall rush has remained steady since BYOB's implementation. The average number of men who participate in spring rush is usually less than 300, while fall rush numbers average 1,000 men.

"I don't think BYOB has affected rush at all," said Jamie Horowitz, president of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, 501 E. Beaver Ave. "The image of the fraternity system has to be moved away from drinking and toward other things."

And although many of this spring's rushes were still in high school when BYOB was first established, some knew what to expect from the bylaw when they got here.

Marc Rolan, a Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity pledge, knew about BYOB before he came to the University.

"I expected calmer parties and a lot less alcohol," Rolan said.

Many pledges agree with the presidents who voted for the BYOB policy. Even if they were surprised by the policy, they still thought it was a good idea.

Dave Fields, an Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity pledge whose main priority when rushing was "grades and good times," hasn't really been affected by the policy.

"I thing it's a really good idea," Fields said. "It keeps the parties under control."

Mike Steinberg, IFC president-elect, said people need to realize that BYOB was a decision made by the chapter presidents -- it actually reflects the chapters' attitude of not focusing on alcohol anymore.

"People need to wake up and open their eyes and realize there are other benefits to Greek life outside alcohol," Steinberg said. "IFC has to do a lot of work to eliminate stereotypes."

Freshmen who rush are looking for more than just a social life --they look at academics, brotherhood and involvement, Steinberg said. Their number one extracurricular activity is community service.

"The 1994-95 IFC council's top priority is to improve membership and academics -- they go hand in hand," Steinberg said.

Though numbers are not decreasing, there have been efforts to raise rush numbers. These include changing rush mixers to accommodate more freshmen and summer recruitment in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

IFC wants people to rush the system, not the individual fraternities, said Steinberg.

"We want them to be our brothers," Steinberg said. "We have to be on their level."