I'm not really sure why they decided to go back to the fall rush. I do know the weather during rush in January was really bad in Boone this year. Snow, temperatures way below freezing. Some nights when parties were going on it was around 15 or below. They even had to cancel one round of parties because it was snowing so bad, the roads were terrible. And most of the parties are in the new student union, so the girls were either walking there or driving if they lived off campus (no sorority houses at ASU. The university just bought and renovated the old Quality Inn Hotel and it now houses all of the sororities. It is about 7 stories tall and it is really very nice.) It is also mandatory if you join a sorority you have to live in APH (Appalachian Panhellenic Hall) for at least one year. The round of parties that were cancelled had to be moved to APH because of other things that had been scheduled at the Student Union. So the schedule was messed up with an extra night of parties thrown in.
So to me, the fall is better, weather wise. You only have to contend with rain. I think all of the other universities in the UNC system do fall rush, so they may just be getting back with the norm. in NC.
Off course this is my opinion and could be for some totally different reason.
I do think I heard Freshmen will be allowed to rush....