Rush period for fraternities and co-ed houses has been extended from five to six weeks this year to allow prospective members greater flexibility in choosing housing. Rush began Friday with the first fraternity party of the semester, at Phi Kappa Psi, and will last until March 8, when bids and signed room contracts for fraternity, sorority and program houses are due to the Office of Residential Life.
"We wanted to give people more time so that they don't feel pressured about having to decide so quickly," said Daniela Amores '05, Greek Council vice chair and member of Kappa Alpha Theta. "Now they have more flexibility in choosing whether to join a house or to enter the housing lottery with their friends."
During the rush period each house is allowed to hold five formal events, which are registered with Greek Council - three on weekdays, which are mandatory non-alcoholic, and two on weekends.
Greek Council regulates the dates and times of these events so they don't overlap and so rushes have the opportunity to attend open houses and parties held by several different houses, Amores said.
"I think the extra week's going to have a beneficial effect because it allows us to spread out rush a bit more. It's usually a hectic month. This takes a lot of pressure off of everybody," said Maxine Jackson '05, president of Zeta Delta Xi, a co-ed fraternity.
"It gives us another week to have more unofficial events at the house, to get to know the people who've been by quite a bit. It'll become more about getting to know them better, rather than getting people in the door, so that we can make a good decision," she said.
Jamie Sholem '06, president of Sigma Chi, said a longer rush period will allow more time to get to know each prospective member. "It always gets a little stressful for both the fraternities and the rushes near the end, and this just means it's going to take another week to kick into high gear. We still look at things from the perspective of how long till the deadline," he said.
According to Amores, the rush period has not been extended for sororities because they are governed by the Pan Hellenic System, by which all national sororities have to abide, rather than only by University and Greek Council rules.
Brown's two sororities, Kappa Alpha Theta and Alpha Chi Omega, held a joint "rush kickoff" event Sunday, during which sisters introduced rushes to sorority life in general but were prevented from revealing which sorority they belong to. According to Heidi Wilder '06, president of Kappa Alpha Theta, about 20 girls attended the event.
"This is the hardest of the events because we can't share our personal experience," said Alida Kinney '05 of Kappa Alpha Theta. "Once the rush parties start up, it'll be easier for the girls to figure out which crowd they're more attracted to," she said.
During the two-week rush period, each sorority house will individually host four parties, the last of which will be by invitation only.
Lucy Raulston '06 said she had never thought of joining a sorority until talking to friends at Brown who had already. "I didn't want to be involved in anything too hardcore, but this seems more relaxed and low-key," she said.
The presidents of all the houses said they do not go into rush with a predetermined number of new members to accept.
"It depends on who shows up. We let them see what our brotherhood's about and see if it's something they want to become a part of, see if that meshes with who they are and their values," said Rob Lazerow '06, president of Alpha Epsilon Pi.
But according to Chip Virnig '06, president of Delta Phi, brothers often go into the process with potential new members already in mind.
"We always have an idea of kids who we think we'd like in the house - kids that brothers know through sports teams, from their home towns, younger siblings. ... We start out with personal connections and the list expands from the core group of kids," he said.
According to Evan Hammer '05, co-rush chair for Phi Kappa Psi, many rushes do not come to Brown with the intention of joining a fraternity.
"It's pretty much split," he said, explaining that "there are certain people that are choosing between different houses, and certain people deciding if they're going to do it (at) all - they're interested because of the people they know in the house, and otherwise wouldn't be interested."
"Mostly kids seem to make the decision last minute," said Virnig, including himself. "I wasn't planning on being in a frat and now I'm the president of one."
