What's all this rush about anyway? Can you feel it? The sun starts setting just a little earlier and the night temperatures warrant a sweater or jacket. Cooler temperatures and the colors of autumn are calling us all. Well, actually, fall isn't the only thing calling: there happens to be a little thing called recruitment going on too. "Rush" or as we prefer to call it, recruitment, are the common terms given to the period of fraternity and sorority chapter recruitment that occurs twice per year, once in the fall and once in the spring. This year's dates are Sept. 25 - Oct. 1 (Women) and Oct. 2-7 (Men).
On our campus at UNH, the recruitment chairperson from the Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils have a great Fall 2005 Recruitment prepared for you all. Beginning next week, there will be a table in the MUB for you to register for this year's recruitment ($5.00 fee for Panhel and no fee for IFC). If you have any questions regarding recruitment, please feel free to call Victoria Brock (Panhellenic Recruitment Chair) or Tim Franciscovich (Interfraternity Recruitment Chair) at 862-0078, or the Office of Greek Affairs at 862-1002.
So what's the big deal with recruitment anyway? Well, recruitment is the great opportunity to visit our fraternity and sorority chapters in their own surroundings. That's right, at the houses themselves! A typical rush will give you a chance to meet members, learn about what each house stands for, and take a tour of the house. The real treat of rushing is meeting the members. How else would you know if you fit in, right? Think about it. We all want to hang out and be a part of something with people that think like we do and enjoy doing things that we do. Do you know what we call these people? We call them our friends. Some of our friends are closer than others. We have our best friends, who we place so much trust in when we share our secrets with them. When you're welcomed into a fraternity or sorority, you immediately have people there who care for you. From there, you build your friendships that will last a lifetime. These are your friends who you love, trust, count on and call a brother or sister.
Contrary to some messages you may have heard, as a first semester student, you are eligible to join a fraternity or sorority. Right now is a good time to join one of our recognized chapters. I say this because right now, all of our recognized chapters are operating at a level that is gaining respect in our community. They continue to live by the pillars of their existence: leadership development, life-long friendship, service to the surrounding community and the commitment to academic achievement. This year is an exciting and challenging time to be a fraternity or sorority member at UNH. You get to be a big part of making this fraternity and sorority community the best it can be. The fraternal experience is one of the most rewarding, enhancing, personal growth and development experience in which you could choose to associate yourself-not only for your undergraduate years, but for your entire life.
I know that joining a fraternity or sorority may not be for you, but how else will you know if you don't give it chance. Check it our for yourself. If you were waiting for an invitation, wait no longer. Allow me to invite you all to this year's Fall Recruitment 2005! Get out there and leave your mark! I hope you will take advantage of this great opportunity to get involved.
Steve Pappajohn,
Coordinator of Greek Affairs
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