While the arduous admissions process is just winding down for prospective students, Dartmouth's fraternity system has just completed its own screening process: spring rush.
As in the case of the College's acceptance rate, spring rush results were relatively stable compared with last year's, as six more students sunk bids this term than the 71 of spring 2003. With one house yet to report its numbers to Interfraternity Council, 77 students accepted bids to the 12 other IFC houses. The number accepted at each house ranged from one at Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity to 18 at Gamma Delta Chi fraternity. Bones Gate fraternity has yet to report its results.
The number of sunk bids at each fraternity this spring are as follows: Alpha Chi Alpha, two; Alpha Delta, three; Chi Gamma Epsilon, 11; Chi Heorot, five; Gamma Delta Chi, 18; Kappa Kappa Kappa, four; Phi Delta Alpha, eight; Psi Upsilon, two; Sigma Alpha Epsilon, one; Sigma Nu, three; Sigma Phi Epsilon, 10; Theta Delta Chi, 10.
IFC Publicity Chair David Wolkoff '05 said the IFC was pleased with the recent rush results. He noted that the small rise might be due to the low rush numbers in the winter.
"The more kids that rush, and the more kids that sink, the happier we are," Wolkoff said. "We do a lot of positives on campus in terms of community service and entertainment every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night on campus. More dues and manpower mean more programming and parties."
Theta Delt was one house that saw an increase from last year, from six last spring to 10 new members this year.
Former Theta Delt President Eric Erb '04 attributed this spike in numbers to increased yield, and the popularity of the house in general.
"Everyone else plays checkers -- we play chess," Erb said. "That's why we have the most solid class on campus."
SAE, on the other hand, will admit three fewer members than last spring, when four students sunk bids.
SAE President Mathew Ackerman '05 said this drop was due to the house's desire to limit the size of the current sophomore class.
"We already have a large membership with the '04s and '05s, and were looking for a smaller '06 class this year," Ackerman said.
The IFC is still mulling over the College's proposal to move first period rush back to the fall term. Wolkoff said that any move that offers students more time to rush is beneficial, in that earlier rush would mean more dues and manpower for programming and parties.
Erb and current Theta Delt President Matthew Nicholson '05 said that their house will support the College's proposal for a myriad of reasons, including increased money and more sophomores on campus, to rush Fall term.
"Our domination would not be spread out over two terms," Erb said of the new proposal.
