Otterbein IFC working to move recruitment

Formal Greek life recruitment has only taken place in the fall since 2011, and could be moved to Spring Semester after only 4 years.

The InterFraternity Council (IFC) at Otterbein University is currently working to move recruitment to Spring Semester in 2015. Until 2011 Otterbein used a quarter system, on this system Greek recruitment took place during winter quarter. Recruitment, also known as rush, was moved to the fall semester upon Otterbein’s switch to semesters.

“I’ve wanted rush to be moved for a few years.” Said Samuel Lawless, senior philosophy major and vice president of Pi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Lawless has proposed this to his chapter. “Our biggest concern will be getting our alumni back for our pledging process.”

Though concerned, Lawless was excited about the change. “It would be difficult to change, but I think it is worth it.”

One reason for the change would be to give Freshman a full semester to adapt to the college lifestyle, and learn to properly manage their time. The IFC is looking to lower the number of pledges who drop out of pledging due to academic struggles.

Potential new members are encouraged to visit all greek houses to get to know the members and find what organization is best suited for them. Under the current set up, rush is a two week process beginning at the end of September. This gives potential new members only a few weeks to figure out which organization is best suited for them.

Zac Hamilton, senior middle childhood education major and president of Zeta Phi Fraternity and captain of the Otterbein football team, said “I think that moving pledging to the spring will help our chapter specifically, as we have a high population of fall athletes.” Said Hamilton. “Football and pledging have conflicted recently and moving pledging to the spring will allow athletes to focus on their specific sport and not overload new members that have to balance their first semester playing football, pledging a fraternity, and staying on top of their academics.”

Hamilton has been a regular attendee of IFC meetings, and involved in organizing the change. Zac also mentioned possibly letting upperclassmen rush during fall semester. This would give all athletes an opportunity to balance their schedule by rushing in their off-season.

Fraternities won’t be alone in moving rush to spring, Sororities would have to change also. “I think moving recruitment to spring could have both a positive and negative effect on students.” Said Senior broadcast major, Alicia Lawson. Lawson is the vice president of Theta Nu sorority. “It could help give incoming freshman more time to adjust to college, but a negative is that spring recruitment means preparing more time in the spring, which is usually a busier semester for students.”

Though she saw both the good and bad in the idea, Lawson seemed against moving recruitment saying that she values spring semester as a time to bond as a chapter.

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