Spring IFC recruitment takes casual approach

A month ago IU women who wanted to go greek were returning from winter break early. But they had Rho Gammas to meet with, dress codes to abide by, houses to tour and specific schedules that told them where they had to be when.

It was the only chance they had all year to join sororities. 

The men take a more casual approach.

The Interfraternity Council kicked off spring recruitment in the Indiana Memorial Union on Friday and about 316 men attended.

Though each of the 28 chapters could set up a table, several houses were not represented at all. Men who attended were not required to visit every table but could chose houses to visit. 

“If we could change it up, I would prefer to do it how the girls do it,” said sophomore Jeff Poczatek, recruitment chairman for Pi Kappa Phi. “It’s a little more proper, a formal way and you really get to meet the people before you give them bids.”

But IFC’s more flexible approach to recruitment and pledging has its benefits, too.
Men have two opportunities to rush – once in the fall, which is more formal and attracts bigger crowds, and again in the spring.

Senior Jay Tipton, IFC’s vice president of recruitment, said spring rush allows men to adjust more to college, learn what it means to go greek, become more familiar with the individual chapters and even learn from the experiences their friends had in the fall. 

Freshman Danny Malter, who was visiting tables at Friday’s kick-off, rushed in the fall and is doing so again because he has met more people and has a better understanding of what he wants in a house and an overall greek experience. 

“With rushing you can always meet more people,” Malter said. “Everyday I’m continuing to meet new people. I’ve mostly been to parties so far, but it’s been good.”
Tipton said this experience is typical in spring rush.

It is smaller, more casual and shorter, lasting three weeks as opposed to the fall semester’s four.

Men already have specific houses in mind, which they have already been in contact with, and the specific houses are more familiar with the men rushing. 

“Many men may have tried rushing in the fall and it didn’t work out, or they didn’t find a house they really liked to the extent of a bid,” Tipton said. “And we want guys to join our community. Giving them more opportunities, the more likelihood that we’ll get more, better guys to do it.”

Possible members are often invited to several events from watching football games, to eating pizza or just attending fraternity events before they are offered a formal bid. 

Though spring rush officially kicked off Friday, Tipton said that several bids have probably already been extended and more will be offered at the end of this weekend and early next week.

Junior Travis Nier, vice president of recruitment for Delta Upsilon, sat at his chapter’s table Friday, meeting potential new members and answering questions.

“Joining the greek community is big, and it’s going to affect you for the rest of your life,” Nier said. “So make sure you understand it now. And just take your time.”