University of Virginia Library

Rush Ratings Released
At Hayes' Last Meeting

By Thom Faulders
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Believing that a better rush
could be formulated next year for
all concerned, the rush evaluation
committee of the Inter-Fraternity
Council's Rush Board constructed a
report on the effectiveness of this
year's rush.

The sub-committee began their
evaluation, which is now in
published form and available at the
IFC office, by directing their
questions to four groups of
students: rush chairmen, pledges,
non-pledging first-year men who
wish to rush again, and
non-pledging first-year men who
have lost interest in fraternities.

Length Of Rush

The length of rush was
considered by the committee to be
the foremost question as rush on
the Grounds is longer than at most
other schools. When all the groups
were questioned, 77 per cent
favored a shorter rush, 14 per cent
thought a longer rush would be
better, and the remaining nine per
cent liked the way it was. The
current class of pledges was the
largest group favoring a shorter rush
period with 90 per cent voicing
their approval for the idea.

In connection with the length of
rush, the evaluation committee also
asked about the concentration.
While the length of rush has carried
in the past three years from six to
eight weeks, the same number of
activities have taken place. Again,
paralleling the length of rush, an
average of 74 per cent favored a
more concentrated rush, while 16
per cent like a less concentrated
rush and ten per cent remained
satisfied with the past methods.

Recurring Point

Rush chairmen gave reasons for
their favoring a shorter, more
concentrated rush. One recurring
point was that such a change would
make rush more efficient at both
ends; loss of interest and memory
would not occur as often.

Other results indicated that
there was a general trend for
fraternities to start off with a long
list of rushees and drop them off
rapidly. This same method is also
true of rushees.

When discussing the relative
efficiency of rush events, all parties
decided that Friday night smokers
and dinners were most important in
getting acquainted with each other.
Lunches suffered attacks from the
rush chairmen, while all the groups
felt that Sunday smokers were
worthless.

Most And Least Appealing

Two groups of first-year men
were used to discover what aspects
of the fraternity system were most
and least appealing. Both groups
were not pledging at the time, but
one group is interested in rushing
again while the other group has lost
interest.

The most appealing aspect of
fraternities, according to the first
group, is the brotherhood and
friendship in fraternities, and is
closely followed by 40 per cent of
the group feeling that the strong
point of the fraternal system is the
social advantage.

About 60 per cent of the same
group felt that fraternity men were
artificial and insincere. This feeling
was heightened during the parties
where fraternity men created false
impressions of what life in a
fraternity is really like. Another 30
per cent disliked the long pledging
period and the "hassle" of rushing.

False Impressions

The second group, those that
have lost interest in rushing, agreed
with the former group that
fraternity men create false
impressions of friendliness and of
the typical Virginia gentleman.
They also complained that there is
too much conformity in fraternity
life, fraternities are discriminatory,
and that pledging policies were too
strict.

This same group, however,
stated that the fraternity system
was very relevant at the University.
Some mentioned that the system
was the University, while others
noted that it would be an
educational experience. Still others
felt that the system was the center
of influence and of the social life
on the Grounds. Twenty per cent
of the group felt neutral about
fraternities while the remaining 15
per cent were openly opposed,
noting that the system was obsolete
at a modern University.

Hayes' Last Days

The report was released at
Tuesday night's IFC meeting which
was also the last meeting that Ed
Hayes would be president of the
organization. Mr. Hayes looked
back over the past year noting the
changes that have taken place. The
Committee on Fraternities has
equal student representation, a
pledge Council was set up, the
judicial system for fraternity
misdemeanors was solidified and
made more fair, and classes for the
training of certain house offices
were expanded. He also noted
problems for the future, which
included housing, long-term
financial problems, and
desegregation. He concluded by
praising those who worked with
him, and calling them, "really good
guys."

Elections for the four offices of
the IFC will be held next Monday
night in the South Meeting Room
of Newcomb Hall. The offices of
president, vice-president, secretary,
and treasurer will be open.
Elections for positions on the
Governing Board and the Rush
Board will be held later on in the
year.