The University’s Board of Trustees mandated last year that every Greek organization offer a spring alternative to fall recruitment, but the reality might not be as clear cut.
At least one fraternity and some sororities are not planning on accepting new members, current members said.
John Childress, president of Chi Phi fraternity, said the house will conduct recruitment, but there is a strong possibility it will not accept any new members due to cost concerns.
But Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Winston Crisp said a fraternity conducting spring rush with the intention of not accepting new members would be unacceptable.
“If an organization pre-determined that it was going to go through the motions of spring recruitment with no intention to genuinely consider new members, I would not consider that to be meeting either the letter or spirit of the standards and expectations,” he said.
Last November, the board mandated that spring rush be offered by all fraternities and sororities. Crisp was charged with implementing the board’s decision.
The decision came in response to a study by the board about the overall experience of freshmen who join fraternities and sororities.
Fraternity spring rush will kick off Jan. 9, followed by a nine-day official recruitment period, said Jack Partain, president of the Interfraternity Council.
All chapters will be required to participate, he said.