University of Virginia Library

Rush Lets Students See Fraternities;
Schedule Shortened To Five Weeks

By Brian Siegel
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

"Should I join a fraternity?" As
a first-year man, you will probably
see yourself as a fraternity member
many times during the coming
weeks, and will face the decision of
whether to join a fraternity or
remain independent.

The choice is an important one
and should not be taken lightly.
There are many pros and cons to
consider, and all first-year men
should carefully decide if they want
to pledge.

The single most important
question for a prospective pledge to
consider is "What will a fraternity
mean for me?" Most members find
in fraternity membership the
friends and close companionship
that they seek during their academic
years, and find a brotherhood
in which to share common
experiences and beliefs.

Independents

There are many students who
prefer to remain independent rather
than commit their efforts to a
fraternity. Fraternity men and
independents alike will say that it is
better to remain independent than
join a house where one does not
feel at home. With 33 fraternities
around the grounds, there is one to
fit most anyone's needs.

Originally, fraternities began as
efforts to supplement the academic
side of college life. Although social
functions still remain a large part of
fraternity affairs, many houses seek
other outlets as well, joining in
community service programs and
encouraging academic success on
the part of each member.

Rounded Lives

Fraternities today seek well-rounded
lives, making nights in the
library, an afternoon at a football
game, or the sound of a good band
in the house on a Saturday night all
equally important.

In 1920 the fraternities
organized to form the Inter-Fraternity
Council, a body representing
each fraternity and regulating the
business concerning the fraternity
system. The IFC sponsors an annual
carnival for handicapped children at
the Rehabilitated Children's Center
and schedules the rush programs
that bring the first-year men and
fraternities together.

Rush is the first official contact
that the prospective pledge will
have with the fraternity system.
Formal rush begins with the distribution
of smoker invitations during
dorm visits September 23.

First-year men interested in
rushing often find dorm visits an
excellent time to meet members of
fraternities that visit them.

Rush Shortened.

The five-week rush period
scheduled for this year is the
shortest one in recent years at the
University. This makes it necessary
for more events to be scheduled
into each week of rush, but will
lessen the overall insecurity of a
long rush.

During the ensuing rush period,
the rushee will attend various
houses for smokers, dinners and
lunches, along with the weekend
fraternity parties. Aside from
meals, all rush events will occur on
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Personal contact is one of the
advantages of fraternity life that
comes out most clearly in rush.
Each fraternity man will try to
meet each rushee and vice-versa.
Both fraternities and rushees must
choose by Bid Sunday who shall
join what houses.

Both rushees and fraternity men
should read and pay close attention
to the rushing rules established by
the IFC. Failure to observe the
rules costs the fraternities a sizable
sum of money and can bar the
rushee from pledging the fraternity
of his choice.

Pledge Period

The five weeks of rush are
designed to enable each prospective
pledge to see many different sides
of fraternity life before making a
decision. If he chooses to join, he
will undergo a pledge period during
which he can learn the various goals
and aspects of his fraternity, so that
when he is initiated in the following
year, he will be ready to take on
the responsibility as well as the fun
of fraternity membership.

Tips To Remember During Rush

Here are some reminders from a
member of the Committee on
Fraternities for those interested in
joining fraternities that might help
during rush:

1) Stay in town on home
football weekends, and be in your
room on the night of dorm visits.

2) Try to visit many houses
early, then narrow your choices to
three or four; by the final two
weeks, concentrate on one or two.
Learning the names of brothers is
often important.

3) Since intensive rushing comes
towards the end of rush, try to be
ahead in your studies before rush
closes.

4) Talk with fraternity men
about the financial burdens
involved, as they will vary significantly
among houses. Find one that
meets your own means.

5) Don't join a fraternity you do
not wish to join. There is no social
pressure to join a fraternity. Join
only if you are willing to offer
yourself to work towards the
betterment of your fraternity and
the fraternity system.

Helpful Hints

Now is the time to collect your
thoughts. It is usually worthwhile
to rush even if it is doubtful that
you will pledge, for the contact
with fraternities can prove useful
whether or not you join.

In making your final decision
you should take into account your
financial status, your willingness to
serve your fraternity, and your
personal feelings toward the
brothers. The decision is important,
and worth taking the rush period to
decide.

Photo by Howard Weinberg

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