'Overwhelming' rush on the rise

Kristy Mangos Arizona Daily Wildcat Sorority rushees check out Sigma Kappa during some of the early rush activities last week. This year's 607 rushees represent the largest percentage of UA women pledging a sorority.

The Arizona Daily Wildcat

This year's fall sorority rush attracted the largest percentage of UA women ever, and fraternities have also reported a rise, marking the second consecutive year participation has increased.

A total of 607 women rushed this year, about 70 students more than last year, Greek Life coordinator Julie Poore said.

Although sorority rush numbers were between 800 to 1,000 during the late 1980s, the 607 women rushing this year represent a larger percentage of the student population than those of the previous decade.

About 4,000 University of Arizona students belong to a Greek organization.

The Interfraternity Council's Vice President for Public Relations, Brian Szatkowski, said it expects 740 men to rush, more than a 200 increase over last year's 555 participants.

Although the council only has approximately half of those 740 men currently signed up, Szatkowski said it anticipates more sign-ups in the next two weeks.

"History has shown that more than 50 percent of sign-ups occur during the first two weeks of school," he said.

Szatkowski attributes some of the success of this year's rush to mailers sent out to every incoming freshman.

In addition to the mailers, the IFC places the College Survival Guide in every dorm room. The guide contains information on various houses and a rush application.

The Panhellenic Council also sent out flyers, which were redesigned this year to be more informative, said Jennifer Graves, rush chairwoman for Alpha Chi.

Women started the weeklong rush process last Thursday, causing a frenzy on campus.

"It's kind of overwhelming," said undecided freshman Lauren Bradley, as she participated in rush activities.

"We just moved in yesterday, and the activities are really packed in. It's kind of tiring, but it's so much fun," she said. "It's really a good opportunity to meet a lot of friends - pledges and counselors, and I'd definitely recommend it."

Although most rushees are freshmen, some students wait until their sophomore or junior years, said undecided junior Julie Seligson, a member of Alpha Delta Pi.

"Rush is an opportunity for both incoming freshmen and other girls who are interested in being more active on campus," Seligson said. "Once I joined I got involved in some activities that before I might not have been involved in. A lot of people think that we compete with each other, but in my house we work together."

Rush is an extension of this cooperation, she said.

Because rushees are required to visit all houses before pledging one, many participants learn to find their way around the university more readily than other students, said Szatkowski.

"Rush is a great way for freshmen to become involved in the UA community because it's free and you meet hundreds of people," said history junior David Nelson, who rushed last year. "It can be intimidating, but if you find a house that's right for you, it can be the best experience of your life."

Some students disagree that rush and the Greek system enrich college life.

"The social aspects of the whole Greek scene are ludicrous and ridiculous," said American literature senior Patrick Kennedy.

Kennedy said he believes the fraternity and sorority rushees resemble herds of cattle being taken to market.

"Sooner or later E.Coli will catch up to them," he said.

"However, I do like to use them and their money for free food for a week when I pretend that I'm rushing," he said.

Sorority rush began Thursday, and continues through today.

Fraternity rush will run Sept. 7 to Sept. 12. There will be registration booths on the mall Aug. 27-29 and Sept. 2-5.