The Interfraternity Council has changed the day bids will be given to incoming pledges to eliminate conflicts with the upcoming Jewish holidays. However, the highly structured formal rush schedule for sororities will not change.
Originally, fraternities only could give bids on or after Sept. 19 at 12 a.m., said Jacob Pfeffer, president of Alpha Epsilon Pi. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, begins at sundown Sept. 20.
Some members of the Greek-letter community objected because the weekend of the Jewish holiday conflicted with rush week. The concern was that potential pledges already will have gone home for the holiday weekend, disrupting the bid process.
Alpha Epsilon Pi’s members are predominately Jewish and would be affected by bid dates, Pfeffer said.
“They could have done it a couple of days earlier so everyone could be happy,” said Steven Keehn, a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi.
The IFC is permitting fraternities to distribute bids Sept. 18 at 12 a.m., a day earlier than previously scheduled.
The schedule was voted on by the fraternities, said IFC President Neil Smith. No one objected to moving bid day, he said.
“It was changed a while back when the issue was raised,” said Ryan Langan, vice president of IFC Rush. “We’re pretty flexible.”
Pfeffer brought up his concern at an IFC meeting. He said an amicable solution was reached.
“(The IFC) worked with us,” Pfeffer said. “Things could have been worse if they weren’t willing to work with us.”
Pfeffer said he had to adjust his personal plans because of the scheduling. He said the overall scheduling was less than ideal.
“It hurts,” he said of the conflict between rush and the holidays.
Organizers said it was impossible to adjust sorority rush schedules because of the strict organization of the formal rush policies, while acknowledging the difficult situation.
“I’m Jewish. It’s a problem,” said Jennifer Pilz, president of the Panhellenic Association.
Though she conceded scheduling was a problem, she said sororities have made accommodations and done as much as they can.
However, logistical problems made it impossible to change the sorority rush schedule, said Tracie Anzaldi, coordinator of Greek affairs and spirit events. Formal sorority rush events are held in University facilities and must be coordinated with other events.
