Editor’s Note: We sent staff writer Erin Zwirn to a rush to find out what it’s all about. She explains her experience and takes a look at what rushes mean to Greek life.
Colorful flyers promoting Greek organizations decorate the Gorham and Portland campuses. Rush season has started.
1980s trivia, kickboxing, Blackjack and football are a few samples of the themed rushes and activities being offered. During the next two weeks, any non-Greek USM student can attend a rush and meet sorority and fraternity members.
Last Monday, I attended an Alpha XI Delta rush; it was 80’s trivia night.
The sorority was very easy to spot. Each member was wearing a white shirt with bright multi-patterned Alpha XI Delta letters. Smiles and hellos from the sorority greeted me as I entered the Presidential Dining Room. Introductions were made and a name-tag was swiftly made for me. Within moments, I was offered soda and chips. My coat magically disappeared from my hands and was placed on a table.
Shortly after my entrance other non-Greek women arrived and the same hospitality was bestowed upon them. The mingling began, and conversations sparked between all 30 women. The room was decorated with pictures of sisters performing community service, going to formals and having car washes.
Caitlin Regan, membership assistant and senior social work major initiated the “getting to know you game.” We sat in a circle, introduced and told a fun fact about ourselves.
“Let’s do something that will get us moving,” said Regan. She took a chair from the circle and began the “Mail game.”
That is when one person sits in the middle and says something like, “I have mail for anyone who is wearing black boots.”
At that point everyone wearing black boots had to get up and find a different chair. The person who couldn’t get to a chair had to sit in the middle. After a few near-death moments, when chairs and people were falling all over each other, Regan stopped the game.
Then the group separated into three teams and the 80’s trivia began. The competition was fierce. The game brought back memories and everyone questioned why they knew so much about the 80s.
After the trivia session, non-Greek people settled back into a circle and the Alpha Xi Delta sisters began to talk about the sorority.
“The important things to our chapter are consistently having high grade point averages and helping out our national chapter,” said Elizabeth Millett, a senior sociology major and President of Alpha Xi Delta.
Alpha Xi Delta sisters had a question and answer session about the pledging process, fees, and national chapter information.
“During the pledging process, you will learn about the history and founders of Alpha Xi Delta,” said Millett. “It’s almost like taking another class,”
The rush ended with sisters thanking the participants for coming and encouraged anyone with last minute questions to speak up.
“Sisterhood is an incredible lifetime bond,” said Millet. “We encourage everyone to attend all rushes, because each sorority is different and has so much to offer.”
All rushes are setup with a similar idea that Greek organizations use the “opportunity to show off what the chapters have to offer, and the chance for chapters to meet prospective new members,” said Rodney Mondor, Greek advisor and assistant director for student involvement.
According to Mondor, a rush is a nonalcoholic event. It gives non-Greeks the opportunity to see what types of philanthropy or community service the organization is involved in. During the rush, non-Greeks are informed of the financial components as well as the benefits of belonging to a national Greek organization.
Ultimately, a rush is organized for the non-Greek to see if Greek life is a right fit, since each chapter is very different.
The organizers take time out of their winter break to plan and create rushes to entice non-Greek members to attend and see what their sorority or fraternity is like.
“We do varied rushes which will appeal to all groups of people,” said Andrea L. Briggs, a senior, linguistics major and Kappa Iota sister. Kappa Iota organized a stress relief kickboxing rush in hopes to eliminate the stereotypical “girly” sorority rushes.
“We try not to make it all just ribbons and bows,” said Briggs.
According to Alpha Xi Delta, Kappa Iota and Phi Mu sororities, there is a schedule developed by the Greek Women’s Council allowing each sorority to have at least four rushes on campus.
Rushes are organized so that they do not coincide with another chapter’s; this gives the opportunity for a non- Greek to attend every rush.
After rush season ends, there is a preference or an invite gathering. It varies among the chapters.
The invite is offered to non-Greeks who show an interest and mesh with the dynamics of the sorority or fraternity.
Each sorority and fraternity has a diverse range of contributions for a student interested in Greek life. However, each organization feels it is important for the non-Greek to find one that fits and suits his or her needs.
According to Mondor, the rush program is just a glimpse of what Greek life is about.
“I encourage non-Greeks to ask a lot of questions about what’s involved, the time commitment, the pledge program and the academic excellence portion. “It’s important to not just join for the fun aspects, it’s a life long commitment, you are a brother or sister for life,” Mondor said.
According to the fraternities, a rush is an open invitation for non-Greek males to attend and have fun, much like a sororoity.
“I think rush is an opportunity for people to meet members of the frat and find out what it is about,” said Frank Farrell, a junior industrial technology major and rush chair for Phi Kapa Sigma. “It’s also important to meet people and have a good time, whether or not they join the fraternity.”
According to Farrell, Phi Kap’s rushes range from poker night and football night to shirt and tie formal night. Ultimately, their goal is to have variety and attract a diverse group of non-Greek men.
USM has three sorority and four fraternity chapters. Each Greek organization encourages non-Greeks to attend a rush and discover the benefits, fun and community activities of Greek life. Please feel free to contact Rodney Mondor, Greek advisor with any questions at 870-5470.
Staff Writer Erin Zwirn can be contacted at: [email protected]