IT'S GREEK TO ME

Fraternities and sororities enjoy more student involvement

by Bill Rolfes

Beginning the fall semester offers many opportunities for change. Instructors learn new names; students get settled in their classes; and potential Greeks rush for the fraternities or sororities of their choice.

Rush week was two weeks ago, but fraternities and sororities let students pledge for several months.

Joe Osborne, rush chairman for the Sigma Pi fraternity, said this semester seems to be an especially good one for boosting membership.

"This is the best rush we've had in I don't know how many years," Osborne said.

For Sigma Pi, rush lasts from Aug. 23 through Oct. 5. During that time, the fraternity has parties every Saturday night and also smaller, Sigma Pi-only events. But rush is not entirely a social occasion because pledges for Sigma Pi have to take tests.

"They take a few tests on the history of the fraternity, so they have respect for it," Osborne said. "It weeds out the people who only want to party."

Many people think Greeks only want to eat, drink and be merry, Amy Pierce, Panhellenic representative for the Delta Zeta sorority, said.

"The biggest misconception on campus is that fraternities and sororities are all about having a bunch of parties," Pierce said. "We do a lot of activities that benefit our society and our campus."

Delta Zeta President Heather Unash said that despite negative vibes from years past, this semester has been successful.

"This is the first year students really want to get involved," Unash said.

Delta Zeta had its formal rush Aug. 18-23, during which women pre-registered for membership. Rush week, however, is much more informal for sororities because they recruit students personally, Unash said.

"It's a lot more laid back," she said. "It's a more comfortable atmosphere because it's not so formal."

Pi Kappa Alpha, the only fraternity not recognized by the University, is also reaping the benefits of more student involvement, said Michael O'Brien, the fraternity's rush chairman.

He said the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity is hoping to double its size from 40 active members to 80.

"I think the campus is changing," O'Brien said. "It seems like a lot of younger people, 18-year-olds, want more of the college experience instead of a commuter college."