More men accepted bids during the Interfraternity Council’s spring rush this year, even as two of the largest fraternities on campus sat out of rush activities.
The participating 14 chapters welcomed 111 new members after last week’s rush process, a slight increase from the 100 men who joined last spring.
Interfraternity Council President Frank Gervasio said the turnout was a nice surprise, particularly because Pi Kappa Alpha and Sigma Phi Epsilon voluntarily chose not to participate in rush. Both organizations pled guilty to hazing charges last week.
Beta Theta Pi and Delta Tau Delta, which only returned to campus in 2008, each gave out 15 bids – a rather large number for spring rush, which historically sees a smaller response than its fall counterpart. Beta has older roots on campus, but had been a relatively small chapter in recent years until it doubled its size in the fall by taking a whopping 33-member pledge class. The spring haul continues the organization’s rapid expansion.
“The heat was on to get the guys we want in four [rush] events,” President Nick Cantilo said. “Everyone is just extremely excited. We’re seeing really great things happen, we’ve been talking for a long time about taking these kinds of numbers and showing everyone that Beta is a very serious chapter.”
Sigma Chi gave out 17 bids, the highest number of any IFC fraternity. Zeta Beta Tau and Pi Kappa Phi each gave out 10. Pi Kappa Phi is currently under investigation by the University, although officials have declined to comment on the nature of the allegations.
Partially in response to the recent investigations, Gervasio said the IFC emphasized three main rules to ensure a smooth rush process.
Fraternities were not allowed to try to prevent students from attending rush events with other fraternities or hold events past 10 p.m.; no drugs or alcohol were permitted at any events or around potential new members, and no fraternity members were permitted to “trash talk” other Greek-life organizations on campus, according to the rules.
Violating any of the rules could have potentially led to loss of rush privileges in the fall. Gervasio said no violations were reported.
