Rain doesn’t hamper recruitment

Rain did not deter freshmen from attending men’s formal fraternity recruitment Friday.\nInterfraternity Council President Mike Piermont said it looked like “about the same flow” as in years past – about 800 to 1,000 students.\n“See how dedicated the greek community is?” Piermont said.\nAfter standing in line and signing up formally, students walked around Dunn Meadow gathering information about each of the fraternities and meeting members to narrow down the ones they might be interested in. \n“This is (the potential new members’) chance, and they’re excited, so they’re coming out,” Piermont said.\nPi Kappa Alpha member and sophomore Jake Lawrence said formal recruitment was an important event for male students to attend because they can see and be seen by fraternity members and “talk to people who look like (them).” \nSigma Alpha Mu sophomore Matthew Polis said his fraternity is looking for “guys who want to do something in the fraternity in bettering us as individuals and participating on campus.”\nAfter Friday’s event, the recruits were randomly split into groups to tour houses so they could continue to narrow down their choices. Throughout the rest of this week, the fraternities will hold different events, such as basketball games and cookouts, to determine the students to whom they want to give bids, Polis said. \nBut it’s not only the fraternities that are being choosy.\nFreshman Ben Gauwens, who came to network and meet new people, said he was looking for “something that has good academics and athletics, not all crazy partying.”\nOthers had already decided to join a fraternity before their IU arrival. \n“My mind’s been made up for a while now (about joining a fraternity),” said freshman Justin Mantell. \nHe said fraternities were probably looking for guys who wanted to have a good time.\n“That’s what it’s all about,” he said.