Reversing a two-year trend, the number of men choosing to rush fraternities this winter noticeably decreased from last year.
While the majority of eligible men choose to rush fraternities in the fall, some choose to wait until winter before rushing or sinking their bids.
"It [winter rush] wasn't too big," Sigma Nu fraternity President Brian Hickey '97 said. "The Fall term tends to be the bread and butter of the houses."
Alpha Chi Alpha fraternity President Matthew Richardson '97 said since relatively few '98s were on campus last term, the fraternities expected more rushees. "Rush really wasn't publicized," Richardson said, explaining the small showing.
Alpha Delta and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternities issued the most bids, each house extending invitations to seven men.
Four of the seven men issued bids at Sig Ep elected to sink their bids, according to Sig Ep brother Dan Niederjohn '97.
"We were expecting a little more attendance, but I think we got a bunch of quality guys," Niederjohn said.
AD President Andrew Bernasconi '97 said the number of men choosing to sink their bids at AD is not yet known, since the house has yet to hold its formal bid-sinking ceremony.
Alpha Chi Alpha fraternity received two visitors, one of whom was issued a bid and has joined the house, according to Richardson.
While expressing disappointment with the low number of men who turned out for rush, Richardson was quick to add, "The guy we got we're really happy" about.
One man visited Beta Theta Pi fraternity and accepted an invitation to join the house, according to Beta President Chris Adamson '97.
"We had a really big class in the fall, so we weren't expecting many visitors," Adamson said.
Chi Heorot fraternity had 10 visitors, four of whom were issued bids, and two of whom sunk their bids, according to Heorot President Chris Winship '97.
Phi Delta Alpha fraternity was rushed by one man, but added no new members, according to Phi Delt President Steve Ripp '97.
Psi Upsilon fraternity had two visitors, one of whom was issued a bid and chose to sink it, according to Psi U President Josh Pristaw '97.
While Pristaw said he was surprised by the decreased number of men rushing this term, but said he felt that the fraternity is still in good standing.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity welcomed 12 visitors to its rush, and extended bids to six men, four of whom chose to sink their bids, according to SAE rush chair Steve Sugarman '97.
Five me rushed Sigma Nu, one of whom was issued a bid and elected to join the house, according to Sigma Nu rush chair David Coleman '97.
Theta Delta Chi fraternity added one new member. Theta Delt Ben Heller '97 attributed the small showing to the large size of the fraternity's fall pledge class.
Meanwhile, some houses have yet to finish rush.
Chi Gamma Epsilon President Greg Gaynor '97 said, "our process isn't really done" and the house has yet to decide on who will be invited to join.
Kappa Kappa Kappa fraternity will be holding rush later this week.
Still other fraternities have opted not to hold winter rush at all.
Gamma Delta Chi fraternity also chose not to hold winter rush. "We feel it's not the best of terms to extend bids" because of the cold weather, house President Alexis Sarthou '97 said. Sarthou said that Gamma Delt is planning a major spring rush.
Bones Gate fraternity declined comment on house winter rush statistics. Officials from Zeta Psi fraternity were unavailable for comment. Coed houses will hold rush this week.
