Denali Kemppel '96 participated in sorority rush this term from Anchorage, Alaska, by simply sending a letter to Assistant Dean of Residential Life Deb Reinders.
Denali has been training with the U.S. Cross-Country Ski Team since Fall term and was not on campus to rush last term either.
Kemppel sent Reinders a facsimile explaining why she would not be on campus this term but that she still wanted to rush. The letter was distributed to each of the five sororities that held winter rush.
"It's unfortunate that people like me really don't seem to fit into the system," Kemppel said in a telephone interview from Alaska.
Students who rush from off campus are evaluated under the same criteria as anyone else, Delta Delta Delta sorority President Emmie Jones '95 said.
"It's the same process, it's just that they don't come to the party," Jones said.
It has always been possible for women away from campus during rush to receive an open bid from a house upon their return, said Tamara Busch '95, vice president of the Panhellenic Council, the governing body of the College's sororities.
But Busch said she did not expect many other students would rush by mail in the future. She said she does not think anyone has ever rushed this way before.
"In my opinion this is sort of a one-time deal," Busch said. "In the future I think you'll need to be at the parties. We can't control everybody's D-plan."
Although those rushing by mail are treated the same as women who are on campus, Kemppel said she was upset she could not be more involved with the process.
"I missed not being able to rush with my class," she said. "I was disappointed that I missed out on meeting sisters but also on meeting members of my own class."
Kemppel said she kept in close contact with her friends during the rush period.
"To rush is such an experience," she said. "It's a shame that all people can't rush. I missed not being able to rush with my class. It's definitely hard to miss out on."
