After record-high turnouts during fall rush, smaller rush classes and a condensed schedule this term resulted in mixed sentiments among participants and fewer new members joining the College's fraternities and sororities.
Whereas most fraternities experienced a sharp drop in the number of rushees they received, Gamma Delta Chi fraternity hosted 20 rushees on shakeout night and took only one.
At the time of publication, Alpha Chi Alpha fraternity had one sunk bid; Alpha Delta, one bid deferred until the spring; Chi Gamma Epsilon, 2; Chi Heorot, 2; Psi Upsilon, 3; Sigma Nu, 9. Three fraternities -- Kappa Kappa Kappa, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Theta Delta Chi -- welcomed no new pledges. Bones Gate declined to respond to inquiries by The Dartmouth.
Sixty women participated in sorority rush this term. Alpha Xi Delta sorority extended 11 bids; Delta Delta Delta, 9; Epsilon Kappa Theta, 7; Kappa Delta Epsilon, 11; Kappa Kappa Gamma, 5; and Sigma Delta, 10.
Panhellenic Council President Krista Sande-Kerback '05 said sorority members had mixed opinions about the smaller rush class.
"Some people weren't excited because it was much fewer women. I think people were happy with the smaller parties, with one party per round, and we didn't have to worry about midterms," Sande-Kerback said.
While most sorority members tended to favor the smaller rush groups and shorter schedule, some fraternity members felt the single shakeout night was insufficient.
Psi Upsilon rush chair Dan Goddin '05 saw big differences between fall rush and winter rush and said he favored the process last term.
"This term was good, but it was very different from last term because it happened so fast," said Goddin. "I almost wish we had had more time first to meet the people before the formal rush started."
Goddin said he preferred last term's rush process, which gave the brothers more time to develop opinions on rushees who visited the house.
The condensed sorority rush schedule made the process less stressful for some current members because of the smaller groups and an earlier start date that did not conflict with midterm exams.
"It was really nice to have it all in one week," said Laura Kistler '05, one of KDE's three rush chairs. "There were a lot less girls and a lot more one-on-one interaction with everyone in the house."
Having fewer rushees to get to know also allowed sororities more time to make their decisions.
"After each round we weren't sitting there for hours until one in the morning discussing things," she said.
With mixed reactions after this term's rush has completed, Greek leaders expressed uncertainty about changing next year's process given the low turnout of rushees this term.
"We're expecting another big recruitment in the fall, so it's harder to foster the smaller, more intimate parties," Sande-Kerback said.
