The number of men joining fraternities during Winter term rush rose markedly from last year, with some houses accepting up to seven new members.
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.
Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity admitted the most members, with seven of the eight men who visited joining the house. "We had an excellent rush in the fall and had a closed rush this term," said Sig Ep President Peter Hasenkamp '98. In closed rush, only certain students are invited to rush.
Five men joined Gamma Delta Chi fraternity, and Gamma Delt President Greg Hayes '98 said he expects six or seven more men to pledge when they return to campus in the spring.
Fourteen men visited Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, according to President David Belden '98. The house offered eight bids and accepted three new members.
"We had the number we expected," Belden said. "We thought more would sink, though."
Alpha Delta fraternity accepted three new members, President Lazaros Theofilactidus '98 said. He said bids were extended to four of the house's six visitors.
But Theofilactidus said rush was slow this winter.
"We had a really big [pledge] class in the fall," Theofilactidus said. "I think [winter rush] wasn't really well organized or very well publicized."
Several other houses reported slow rushes.
Zeta Psi fraternity Rush Chair Todd Griset '99 said, "Because we got so many people to rush in the fall, there weren't as many in the winter."
Zete extended four bids, but will have no new members this term.
Approximately six men visited Chi Heorot fraternity during rush, according to President Shane Ness '98. Two bids were extended, one of which was sunk.
"I think most people [that wanted to rush] did it in the fall," Ness said.
"We didn't expect a lot of guys to come by," Ness said. "If we had a lot of guys, we were going to have to eliminate because we had such a big class in the fall."
Psi Upsilon fraternity received five visitors, three of whom received bids. Matthew Carluzzo '98, a brother at Psi U, said two new members joined the house.
Three men joined Alpha Chi Alpha fraternity this term. Rush Chair Seth Kelly '99 said bids were issued to four of the six men who visited the house.
Kelly called the numbers "fairly typical" for winter rush and said, "We weren't looking to dramatically improve the size of our class" after fall term rush.
Kelly said he was encouraged that some of the new members are juniors.
"I'm glad to see they still have enough faith in the system to actually go through rush in their junior year," Chi Gamma Epsilon fraternity President Pankaj Gupta '98 said. Although Chi Gam did not hold rush, they offered closed bids to three men who will join the house this term.
Mike Fenzel '98, a brother of Theta Delta Chi fraternity, said six men visited the house during rush. Theta Delt extended a single bid to a student who has joined the house.
Two fraternities held no rush this term.
James Jung '98, president of Kappa Kappa Kappa fraternity, said that due to a perceived lack of interest, the house decided not to hold rush. Instead, they offered a bid to one man interested in joining Tri-Kap.
Jung said Tri-Kap is planning a spring rush.
Phi Delta Alpha fraternity also held no rush, said member Andrew Bonnes '98.
All three coed fraternity houses are accepting new members this term.
Alpha Theta President Lindsay McHenry '98 said the seven visitors they received, three of whom joined the house, was "about average for winter."
McHenry said he supports having winter rush "because we seem to have a lot of people who find out about our house or want to join after fall. We have spring and summer rush as well."
Amy Nathanson '98, president of Phi Tau, said that even though they held no formal rush, "Rush is a continuous process."
Tabard coed fraternity has yet to hold winter rush. Tabard president Miles Bingham '98 said the house expects to hold rush later this week.
Scott Behrens '98, president of Bones Gate fraternity declined to comment on winter rush.
The president of Sigma Nu fraternity could not be reached for comment.
