Fraternities begin spring rush with goal of genuine recruitment

Fraternity spring rush kicked off Monday night with hopes for genuine recruitment, though no chapter is actually required to take new members.

But fraternities’ leaders said chapters this year plan to do more than just go through the motions.

“The University can’t mandate that any one chapter take members, but we want every chapter to be engaged in the process and really try to take full advantage of this recruitment period,” said Jack Partain, president of the Interfraternity Council.

The IFC hosted a Monday event for men interested in rushing.

“We’re always open to new guys, meeting new people,” said Drew Newman, vice president of recruitment for UNC’s chapter of Delta Upsilon.

The Board of Trustees mandated that all Greek organizations offer a viable spring alternative to fall recruitment in November 2010.

“We need to make sure that when students come to Carolina, they don’t feel pressured to go through the fall formal recruitment process — men or women — their first semester freshman year,” said Aaron Bachenheimer, director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Community Involvement.

Prospective members said the spring option is a welcome addition.
“I wanted to test the waters, just get a feel for school first,” said freshman John Raphael Rodrigo.

“UNC prides itself on having a great balance between social life and academics. I wanted to see what I needed to do first academically.”

Partain said he is excited about recruitment.

“Last year, we found that some chapters were just kind of going through the motions with no intent,” he said.

“This year, we’re moving toward the right direction, which is trying to have every chapter get new members in the spring. I think we’re making progress.”

Bachenheimer said Greek organizations are asked to open up the opportunity to take new members and not do it for show. He doesn’t want groups to make a mockery out of that opportunity, he said.

But Bachenheimer added that there is an important difference between genuine recruitment of new members and offering bids.

“Even if we don’t get people rushing now, it’s all about the future. This opens up a lot more opportunities for more people to come,” said Jordan Murphy, recruitment co-chairman of UNC’s Sigma Chi chapter.

Relationships established during spring recruitment will carry over into the fall, even if few of the prospective members are offered bids, Partain said.

“We want to keep the momentum going because we had a really good fall pledge class. We’re not going to mess with the flow,” said John Ahlert, recruitment co-chairman of Sigma Chi.

Bachenheimer said he expects a smooth process.

“We are doing a lot of work with our chapters, and they are meeting us more than halfway.”

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