Fraternity rush has ended, and initial estimates show overall sink numbers down significantly from last year despite gains in select houses.
The Interfraternity Council believes the lower numbers are due to a smaller class of 2006 and rush being held during Winter term for the third year, IFC president Jonathan Lazarow said.
"There's some disappointing rush numbers, to be honest, but we're positive about the spring term," Lazarow said.
Based on initial estimates, Psi Upsilon fraternity had one of the better turnouts. The fraternity gave out 26 bids and received 26 sinks, a higher than average acceptance rate.
Sigma Phi Epsilon and Chi Heorot fraternities also had sink numbers in the twenties. Heorot received 21 to 22, while Sig Ep received 28, according to the house's rush chair, Morgan Brown '05.
"We think that rush went great. All the upperclassmen are really excited about the '06s, everyone seems very interested in the house," Brown said.
But, many fraternities didn't fair as well. Most averaged between 11 and 14 sinks, according to the IFC.
Alpha Delta fraternity had low rush turnouts, and, consequently, received few sinks, Lazarow said.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity took in 10 sinks total, according to SAE rush chair, Christian Littlejohn '05.
Gamma Delta Chi fraternity also had very few sinks. The fraternity gave out four bids and received four sinks.
"Gamma Delt is a Spring term house, which poses some problems," said Lazarow, who is a Gamma Delt member.
Since a number of football players typically join Gamma Delt, current members expect the spring, when more football players tend to be on campus, to bring increased rush numbers. The fraternity expects a larger pledge class of 20-25 men next term.
Other estimates include Phi Delta Alpha fraternity receiving 16 sinks, Alpha Chi Alpha fraternity receiving five and Chi Gamma Epsilon fraternity receiving 15, a slight increase from last year.
"We saw a decrease in the number of people because of the difference between the '05 class and the '06 class is about 50," Lazarow said, referring to the class of 2006 as a whole, not the number of men who rushed.
The IFC declined to provide statistics Monday on how many men rushed, or how many received bids overall.
For some of those rushing, the process meant evenings spent trying to decide between houses and, ultimately, difficult decisions.
"It shouldn't have been a very stressful process for me, but it was," David Quaid '06 said. "It was something I hadn't really given thought to."
In the end, Quaid decided against sinking at any house, "Some of the people I met, during rush process, were really cool. I had to decide if the Greek system was for me."
With several open houses stuffed full of pizza or Panda House, rush week was a busy time for many sophomores who decided to join the process.
Quaid said he recommends thinking about decisions prior to rushing.
"In order to avoid a really stressful time, it's important to give it a decent amount of thought beforehand," Quaid said. "Overall the process seemed very good."
