[Firehouse]

I think this is terrific. The line between the good guys (the aggressive entrepreneurs) and the bad guys (restrictive bureaucrats) have never been more clearly drawn. This is EXACTLY the sort of thing that will elevate Sig Ep to prestige & power. In a well established fraternity system like OU's, the traditional big dogs don't like newcomers stepping on their turf. They tend to make rules, like sororities do, to keep the low ranking houses in line, all crafted piously in the name of "stability". They even offer ambiguous "Fraternity of the Year" honors to the lower ranking houses, but everyone knows where the real power lies. It might - might - be legit for sororities, but restrictive rush rules are anathema to men and their competitive, heirarchican natures. It's been awhile, but I remember the Betas, the SAE's, the Kappa Sigs and the Delta Tau Deltas were the large powerful houses, and the Sig Eps weren't on anyone's radar screen. Apparently, the Sig Eps have made a big move and are now taking on the system. Great for them! All the psychology is on the side of the aggressors. Let IFC do their worst. Sig Ep will get attorneys and I absolutely guarantee they will win. They will get their fine $$ back and they will get to keep their pledges and win the right to rush anyone they want at any time. But most important, they will achieve legend status for having the muscle and the manhood to take on the bid dogs and beat them at their own game.
My own fraternity at OU has struggled for years with low-to-middling membership. In spite of winning some nice-sounding awards, they are a solidly mid-tier, low prestige shop. I wish we had the vision and ambition to be a dominant force on that great fraternity campus. Good for you, Sig Ep. Go after 'em!