Why the big Rush?
Miles Bryant
Issue date: 9/17/08 Section: News
The time of year has come again, when rowdy "fratters" scramble for their favorite rushees and nervous freshmen line the sidewalks of bettered fraternity houses. It's time for the process that is most appropriately called "Rush."
Rush began Tuesday, Sept. 16, and will last until Saturday, Sept. 20. On Sept. 16, rushees were divided and squeezed into different rooms full of strangers. They were dragged in and out of houses every day for brief sessions for a decision, as they are told time and time again, that will affect the rest of their lives.
As the week charges along, house sessions will become longer and the number of houses visited will dwindle as fraternities and rushees make their nightly cuts. All the cuts lead up to the final night that brings everyone to the edge of their seats, when rushees have their "pref night" forever burned into their memory.
The rules: "There's signing up for Rush, going through Rush and basically no early bids," said Ryan Mattiza, Interfraternity Council president.
"Keep an open mind about going through recruitment, and have a good time," he said.
Why would anyone put himself in such a position to be tossed in, chewed up and sometimes spit out by a group of strangers?
Oftentimes the answer to the question is, as freshman Justin Ternes said, "family tradition."
Frank Udoge would agree.
"My dad, my grandpa, my uncle, they've all gone through the same sort of thing and they went to the UA," Udoge said.
Another popular answer is that it's a way to meet people.
This, Jordan Verastique said, helps in business.
"Business is definitely one big tie," Jordan said. "It helps you climb up a social ladder."
Blake Brewer also encouraged students to Rush.
"It's a great way to meet people and a great way to be connected with your university," he said.
But Rush isn't for everyone, and it isn't the only way to meet people.
"I think it's easy to meet people in any situation," said Josh Coherst, resident in Maple Hill. "You don't need to join a fraternity or a sorority in order to meet people."
Many freshmen, like Coherst, decide not to go Greek.
Nick Candido is another freshman who is not rushing, but he has a strategy to get involved and stay connected his freshman year.
"I want to be a part of student government, through classes and my dorm," he said. "I'm definitely going to be in a dorm next year and maybe the year after that."
Sophomore Stephen Counce began Rush last year but dropped out "when I decided it wasn't for me," he said.
"Go into it cautiously," he said. "You don't have to be tied down. [Being in a fraternity or not] are two different lifestyles. One isn't better than the other; they're just two different styles."
Whether Greek or not, there is one thing all students can participate in during Rush: driving down Stadium Drive and checking out the mobs of nervous freshmen dressed in slacks and picked at their pockets.
Rush began Tuesday, Sept. 16, and will last until Saturday, Sept. 20. On Sept. 16, rushees were divided and squeezed into different rooms full of strangers. They were dragged in and out of houses every day for brief sessions for a decision, as they are told time and time again, that will affect the rest of their lives.
As the week charges along, house sessions will become longer and the number of houses visited will dwindle as fraternities and rushees make their nightly cuts. All the cuts lead up to the final night that brings everyone to the edge of their seats, when rushees have their "pref night" forever burned into their memory.
The rules: "There's signing up for Rush, going through Rush and basically no early bids," said Ryan Mattiza, Interfraternity Council president.
"Keep an open mind about going through recruitment, and have a good time," he said.
Why would anyone put himself in such a position to be tossed in, chewed up and sometimes spit out by a group of strangers?
Oftentimes the answer to the question is, as freshman Justin Ternes said, "family tradition."
Frank Udoge would agree.
"My dad, my grandpa, my uncle, they've all gone through the same sort of thing and they went to the UA," Udoge said.
Another popular answer is that it's a way to meet people.
This, Jordan Verastique said, helps in business.
"Business is definitely one big tie," Jordan said. "It helps you climb up a social ladder."
Blake Brewer also encouraged students to Rush.
"It's a great way to meet people and a great way to be connected with your university," he said.
But Rush isn't for everyone, and it isn't the only way to meet people.
"I think it's easy to meet people in any situation," said Josh Coherst, resident in Maple Hill. "You don't need to join a fraternity or a sorority in order to meet people."
Many freshmen, like Coherst, decide not to go Greek.
Nick Candido is another freshman who is not rushing, but he has a strategy to get involved and stay connected his freshman year.
"I want to be a part of student government, through classes and my dorm," he said. "I'm definitely going to be in a dorm next year and maybe the year after that."
Sophomore Stephen Counce began Rush last year but dropped out "when I decided it wasn't for me," he said.
"Go into it cautiously," he said. "You don't have to be tied down. [Being in a fraternity or not] are two different lifestyles. One isn't better than the other; they're just two different styles."
Whether Greek or not, there is one thing all students can participate in during Rush: driving down Stadium Drive and checking out the mobs of nervous freshmen dressed in slacks and picked at their pockets.
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