Greek system seeks members

The Interfraternity Council Rush Committee and the Panhellenic Council Spring Rush Committee have sprung into action.

Spring Rush, which begins tomorrow for fraternities and Monday for sororities, is an opportunity for students to learn more about membership in a fraternity or sorority.

"We always hope for a great number of people to join," PHC Vice President of Membership Kelly Walmsley said. "We would like for the numbers to increase from last year."

Spring Rush is a more informal rush period, as opposed to Fall Rush, which has a structured schedule of events, Walmsley said. More than half of the 21 sorority chapters are participating, she added.

Sororities will have a rush mixer from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the HUB Ballroom. Tomorrow, fraternities will hold a rush mixer from 1 to 7 p.m. at the HUB Ballroom as well.

The rush mixer will include displays of awards and trophies from individual fraternities to give prospective members an idea of what each fraternity is about, IFC President Gordon Savage said.

"Each fraternity within the Interfraternity Council will have several members present just to answer any questions and introduce any potential new members into their fraternities," Savage said.

Although Walmsley said Spring Rush does not attract as many new members as Fall Rush does, membership numbers are increasing.

"There are three open houses instead of one this year per residence hall," Walmsley said. "Because of the increased number of sororities participating in Spring Rush, we increased the number of open houses."

Besides the rush mixer and the open houses, there will be two information sessions about sorority membership at 6 and 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in 117 Boucke, Walmsley said.

In addition to the rush mixer, fraternities will have open houses. The walkways to the fraternities holding open houses will be illuminated to allow prospective members to see which houses are open, Savage said.

"I think fraternity systems offer many different assets for a college man," Savage said, adding assets of leadership, brotherhood and a sense of community involvement are reasons for a student to join a fraternity.

"I know that chapters always look for members that want to be involved," Walmsley said. "And usually, that's pretty easy to find since sororities participate in a wide variety of activities from their individual chapter to campus activities."