While Dave Shanks isn't opposed to a proposed recruitment plan designed to increase fraternity membership in the fall, he isn't sure it's flawless either.

"I think the new rush program will help people to see the other side of fraternities," said Shanks, president of Pi Lambda Phi fraternity, 321 Fraternity Row.

Still, Shanks believes the program could create "a lot more animosity" between fraternities. He worries some fraternities will not follow the new rules, leaving other fraternities with the decision of whether to turn them in to face possible fines.

Despite Shank's worries, Mattison Ford, Interfraternity Council (IFC) vice president for communications, said the IFC has talked about similar ideas at presidents' council meetings in the past with good response.

"People seemed on board," Ford said. "People seemed to like the ideas."

The new plan, developed by Director of Greek Life and Advancement Roy Baker, includes shortening the recruitment period to three weeks and organizing a specific schedule of alcohol-free recruitment events, all in an attempt to boost recruitment by highlighting the service and philanthropy aspects of greek life.

However, Shanks thinks potential recruits may be in better hands while drinking in the "controlled environment" of a fraternity house.

"They are going to drink regardless." Shanks said. "Do you want them all drinking in the dorms?"

Shanks believes older students can keep an eye on the recruits and make sure they don't drink too much, a convenience freshmen don't have in the dorms, he said.

While fraternities have a great tradition at Penn State, the tradition is not centered around drinking, Penn State spokesman Bill Mahon said.

"This isn't even up for debate. It's illegal for 18-year-olds to be drinking," Mahon said Sunday. "There is no 'get out of jail free' pass because it's at a fraternity."

When Shanks chose a fraternity he paid attention to what the members were like during social situations, as well as how they acted when they were drunk, he said.

Baker's plan is also an attempt to attract recruits to more than just two or three houses during recruitment, said Ford.

"It's going to be a lot of fun," Ford said. "I've already heard of a lot of houses that have things planned."

Under the proposed plan, fraternity houses would be zoned into three different regions, with only one region of houses hosting events on a given night.

"In the past we've had good events -- we do stuff like poker nights, and get together and watch some kind of sports," Shanks said. "It's really easy to be creative and come up with things like that."

However, the problem has been getting students to come out to events between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., Shanks said.

During the first two weeks of classes, seminars will be offered to freshmen about how to join a fraternity, Baker said.

Part of the proposed plan includes the use of the Interactive Collegiate Solutions Web site, www.icsmg.com, so recruits can identify which fraternities they are interested in joining, and fraternities can select which recruits they are considering offering membership.

"I don't know how it's going to work. It could work great," Ford said. Or, he added, "nobody could use it."

Shanks thinks recruits should be shown video of the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon to help demonstrate the positive achievements of the greek community.

"Fraternities aren't as bad as they are made out to be," Shanks said. "Sometimes we deserve a little bit more respect for being quality human beings."

Baker's proposed plan will be discussed at the president's council meeting Aug. 26, Ford said.