Correction appended
As winter rush approaches, Dartmouth coed organizations plan to seek a balance between expanding membership and maintaining tightly-knit societies, according to Greek officers interviewed by The Dartmouth. Although declining recruitment numbers have been a concern in recent years for some coed houses, officers said their respective houses are no longer worried about membership.
Some coed houses have seen an increase in new membership, Phi Tau coed fraternity rush chair Lindsay Klofas '11 said.
"Lately we've been doing well, giving about 15 to 20 bids, and half of them generally sink," she said. "We've grown so much that it's hard to get a good seat at meetings."
The number of new members is encouraging since the stability of the house has been threatened by low membership in recent years, Klofas said.
Alpha Theta coed fraternity president Mark O'Horo '11 said that Alpha Theta does not have a preestablished quota for winter rush.
"Last fall we saw a fairly large pledge class, so we're not terribly worried," O'Horo wrote in an e-mail to The Dartmouth. "That said, we are always looking for new brothers and sisters."
Because of Amarna's informal rush process, it is difficult to predict how many new members will join in any given term, Amarna president Emily Goodell '11 said.
Goodell is a former member of The Dartmouth Senior Staff.
Coed houses have historically enjoyed smaller memberships than most traditional Greek organizations, The Dartmouth previously reported.
Despite a lower number of pledges than other campus Greek organizations, Klofas said she appreciated her house's smaller size.
"Having a small house is nice because we get to know our pledges personally," she said.
Coeducational Greek Leadership Council President and Alpha Theta social chair Andrew Manns '11 said that despite these benefits, most coed houses attempt to increase membership every term.
"Some houses like having a smaller character, because they're more tight knit," he said. "On the whole, though, coed houses have been expanding and looking to expand."
Coed recruitment takes many forms, ranging from a formal rush process to open membership, Manns said.
"Each house has its own individual process," he said. "Our rush usually consists of two weeknights. People come to hang out and get to know the membership if they haven't spent a lot of time there."
Alpha Theta holds rush on Jan. 18th and 20th, according to O'Horo. Phi Tau which follows a rolling rush policy begins on Jan. 13 and hosts a second day of rush on 18, Klofas said.
Alpha Theta allows students interested in joining to sign a rush book. After deliberations by members, interested students who signed the book may be offered bid. Students can sink their bids at any point during the four terms after receiving the bid, Mann said.
Amarna, meanwhile, allows any eligible student to join, Goodell said.
"We don't have a formal rush process because people can basically join at any time," she said. "Basically all you have to do is state that you want to join in the presence of a member."
Panarchy also requires very little formal commitment, according to Maryam Arain '11, Panarchy president.
"Membership in Panarchy is not a life-long commitment and does not necessitate a pledge of eternal allegiance," Arain said in an e-mail to The Dartmouth. "Because of that, membership fluctuates depending on general interest and often, the recruitment' of bored friends who want something new to do."
Although they welcome new members, Panarchy conducts "no recruitment at all," Arain said.
Representatives of the The Tabard could not be reached for comment by press time.
