Sophomore Maddy Bornstein rushed for a sorority more than a year ago.
She still vividly remembers the process though. But not in the sense that she can recall conversations she had with other women, or what the foyer of each of the 19 houses looks like.
She does remember being cold.
She remembers the moment at what was then called 6 party when it seemed “weird” – foreshadowing, she said, that she would not get a bid by the time the whole process was over.
And in the end, she remembers trying to scramble to find a living situation.
“We definitely have a lot of greek students who come in and take whatever we have left,” Melissa Brown, who works for Pavillion Properties said.
She said the company is usually able to rent to the students and does see an increase in leases after rush.
According to IU Panhellenic Association Vice-President of Recruitment and junior Nicole Solman,1498 women rushed beginning in December and 874 were offered a bid.
Bornstein and her friends started looking for houses and apartments immediately following rush but did not sign a lease until March.
“The fraternities rush earlier, so I wish sororities did, too,” Bornstein said. “In January, everyone’s already got a place to live. We could have found a better place to live or lived with our friends.”
IU’s recruitment process is unique both in how and when women rush. Solman said rushing in January allows women to transition into college, get involved on campus and do well academically before joining a sorority. IU also operates on a bed total, which means the houses accept as many girls as they have room for regardless of how many girls are actually rushing.
“The bed system has not always been an issue with numbers,” Soloman said. “It’s what works best for our chapters. We like to have the opportunity to allow all our women to live in the sorority house and have that experience.”
Though PHA offers its potential new members support through rush counselors and house tours and lectures, there will always be people similar to Bornstein who make it all the way to the end with nothing to show for it.
And people such as freshman Jackie Head become too overwhelmed to finish the process entirely.
Head, similar to Bornstein, rushed because her friends were but did not have her heart set on going greek. Initially she planned to live off-campus and had even signed a lease but rushed anyway, for the experience.
“I went into it with the mentality that if it’s supposed to work out it will, but if doesn’t I don’t really care,” Head said “But after 8 party, it just felt kinda weird. I could only see myself in two of houses I got back for 8 party, and I didn’t get any of those back for 3 party, so I decided to just drop.”
Both girls agree that what they would have valued most from the greek experience, they can still have on their own.
Head volunteered frequently in high school and said she realizes now that she does not have to be greek to continue volunteering, and she hopes to take a leadership role with IU Dance Marathon.
“I thought rushing would be an easy way to branch out,” Head said. “There is so much information thrown at you at once when you are a freshman. I’m not involved now, but next year, now, I know what clubs I want to be involved in and where I want to help out.”
Bornstein said she was slow to get involved because she thought rushing would give her so many opportunities. Not getting a bid instead forced her to figure out what she wanted out of college and how she wanted to be involved. Now she volunteers at the IU Art Museum, is joining the independent council and is writing a blog.
“College is the one time in your life when you are away from home,” Bornstein said. “It’s about finding the individual in you. There are always ways to get involved.”
After the Rush: not everyone gets a bid
Women adjust housing plans after not going greek
Get stories like this in your inbox
Subscribe