Rush offers camaraderie, philanthropy

Prospective rushees filled Dunn Meadow while rap music blared and frisbees flew through the air as men's Rush kicked off Friday. Twenty-four fraternities set up tables to introduce their houses.\nFreshman Dave Friedman would like to join a house that has 'a good sense of camaraderie between the brothers, a house with a lot of brothers, and is good at intramurals,' he said. For Friedman, it's important the house he ultimately picks meets all these criteria.\n"I want to meet new people and have different opportunities," Friedman said. "I also want to rush and join a house because my oldest brother did it. I got to see him in that type of atmosphere and I really liked it."\nEach chapter set up a table in Dunn Meadow, as opposed to the old system where rushees would visit each house. This system is better for houses like Phi Kappa Tau because they do not have a house yet, said Rush Chair Josh Lyons, a junior.\n"With the way Rush is now, it's more about the brothers in the house," Lyons said, "instead of how big and nice a house is or how many intramural trophies a house has. This is only our second year recruiting. Last year we tried to use other houses as an example but that was wrong. We are individuals and it is important to like the house for the brothers."\nAnother motive for freshmen to rush is the chance to get involved in different organizations and philanthropy. \n"It is also an important opportunity for students who do not know many people to find friends," freshman Mike Cummings said. \nHe said he believes joining a fraternity is a great way to get connections in the future.\n"I am not from Indiana and I don't know many people here," Cummings said. "So I thought coming out here would be a good way to meet people and get involved. I want to join a house where I will have a good time and be with reliable people."\nPi Kappa Phi has a variety of different brothers in their house, which is one of the characteristics that sets it apart from other houses, Rush co-chair and junior A.J. Starksaid. From year to year, the house learns about different types of people they want and try to look for people who will contribute to the house, he said. \n"We have a reputation for excellence," Stark said. "What sets us apart is the size of our house, opportunities to get involved, and we are accepting of a variety of different people. We are also gentlemen, too."\nJoining a fraternity allows students to get involved and be active in campus life, said Rush chair Lance "Tex" Gilliam, a sophomore. He said he believes it is the only time in a student's life they are able to live with all of their friends. \n"Being a part of a house makes it harder to breeze through college," Gilliam said. "It makes you get involved. One of the things that is appealing about our house is the diversity of guys. We try to recruit the same type of guys every year. We go for quality over quantity."\n-- Contact staff writer Maggie Bozich at mbozich@indiana.edu.