Men's Rush Changes Did Not Meet Expectations at Wake

The Frat Boy News Daily College Column
By the editorial board of The Old Gold & Black, the student newspaper of Wake Forest University.

Forty-four percent of men who rushed a fraternity this semester did not receive a bid. In addition, about 50 fewer men rushed a fraternity at all and about 50 fewer bids were extended this rush. These numbers suggest that the formal rush changes that the Interfraternity Council implemented starting with the fall 2006 rush did not achieve its goal, namely, to increase the number of men who pledge a fraternity.

The changes by IFC also failed to amend the disparity in rush processes between the larger and smaller fraternities, another of IFC’s main goals. Members of the smaller fraternities have said that the new changes did not help attract more rushees; Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity in particular received just one pledge during the primary rush period.

Because of the new formal rush, potential rushees were obligated to visit every fraternity, despite the fact that men’s rush is deferred until the spring semester as which time the majority of men already know what fraternity they would like to pledge. Not only could this new rush process be seen as a waste of time for potential rushees, it could have turned off some men to the entire fraternity scene, accounting for the decrease in men who rushed this semester compared to past years.

Furthermore, under the new rules, formal rush replaced the formal smokers fraternities previously hosted. Instead of potential rushees enjoying themselves in an informal, relaxed setting in which they could speak to all of the brothers, men were constricted to listening to 15-minute presentations by a limited number of the fraternity members. Many brothers decide to join a fraternity because they feel comfortable with the brothers and that their personality jives with that of the brotherhood’s. Because they were not exposed to more members, potential rushees were limited in their ability to gain a comprehensive idea of the fraternity and its members.

The aim of the new rules was admirable – smaller fraternities should have an equal opportunity to attract potential rushees as the larger fraternities with more resources.

However, IFC’s new changes did not accomplish this goal, and it needs to devise better rules that truly level the playing field for all fraternities while maintaining a comfortable atmosphere that is enjoyable for all involved in men’s rush.

This column was written by members of the editorial board of the Old Gold & Black student newspaper at Wake Forest University and represents their views.