Spring
Rush will take on a new meaning for Appalachian State University’s
fraternities and sororities this semester.
Spring semester is typically leaner in regards to the number of
pledges, but a new rule that postpones rushing for freshmen students
has changed things.
Students must have completed 12 credit hours and have a 2.25 GPA
in order to rush, said Tricia Turner, assistant director for Organizational
Leadership and the advisor for the Greek Council.
The change was made after research showed students entering a social
fraternity or sorority often had trouble socially and academically,
hindering the freshman experience, Turner said.
In particular, women tended to be less independent, she said.
“[The change in policy] was in the best interests of entering
freshman,” said Dino DiBernardi, director of Center for Student
Involvement and Leadership (CSIL).
All Greek organizations that fall under the Interfraternity Council,
National Panhellenic Council and Panhellenic Council are affected
by the rule.
Service-based fraternities were not included in the research study
and are not subject to the new rule, DiBernardi said.
“[The freshmen] will be a little more sophisticated toward
the system,” DiBernardi said. “Greeks will also have access
to better information about the students, such as track record of
grades, leadership and service.”
During Fall Rush, sororities were successful in finding people,
picking up 100 new members, Turner said.
The fraternities were not as successful and added just 35 new members.
“The guys are learning how to approach things differently,”
Turner said. “It’s not that they cannot do it.”
DiBernardi said that while sororities did add more members, the
increase may be a result of greater demand.
“We’ll have a better idea when we see the whole year’s
numbers,” DiBernardi said. “It’ll be two to three
years before the student community gets used to the new way of doing
things.”
DiBernardi said that if there is a disconnection between students’
needs and what the Greeks offer, fraternities and sororities have
to look at themselves and what they are offering potential pledges.
Appalachian fraternities will hold round-robin events in W.H. Plemmons
Student Union on Jan. 21 and 22, starting at 6:30 p.m.
Students will have the opportunity to meet different chapters and
gather information, Turner said.
Sororities will hold their round-robin event at Legends on Jan.
25, starting at 1 p.m.
DiBernardi said he hopes to see less show and more substance with
the individual group’s presentations. |
