Since rush is the main focus of many chapters at this time of year, perhaps we ought to see how the Founders did it. Well, actually, that's a somewhat longer subject, some of which is not quite suitable for a public forum. But at the very least we might consider what they actually recorded for us:
Quote:
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Minutes of Alpha Chapter
October 10, 1839
The society met in the Erodelphian Hall. Present – Messrs. Duncan, Gordon, Marshall, Hardin, and Smith. Mr. Gordon read the essay which he had been appointed to prepare for the evening, and Mr. Hardin was appointed to prepare one for the next regular meeting. H. H. Johnson was then proposed as a gentleman possessing every qualification for membership in the Beta, Theta, Pi association, and all those present having expressed a wish that he should be admitted as a brother member, Mr. Gordon was selected as the most suitable person to make the proposition to the member-elect, and, in case he should accept of membership in the B. Th. P., to introduce him at the next regular meeting. The society then adjourned to meet on the second Thursday of November.
John H. Duncan, [i]Pres.]/i]
James G. Smith, Sec.
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How short are these minutes - and yet how rich! I could write pages about it. Imagine the scene: the five undergraduate Betas, two Unions, three Eros, met in the Ero hall. Interesting that this time it was not Union, as on August 8. This was the southwest corner of Old Main, next door to Union Hall. The regular business proceeds: Gordon reads his essay (alas, not in our archives) and Hardin is assigned to read next time.
Then comes the first "rush" meeting, with the unanimous vote: "all those present having expressed a wish that he should be admitted as a brother member". Note the ancient form of name: "the Beta, Theta, Pi association" - so much more accurate (brothers who read this will immediately know why I say that). Ever wonder why they had this thing with the definite article? It's how Greek works!
But let us think some more about this first "rush" - which was definitely not like our own. This was an election to
membership, of which the proposed candidate
had not the slightest awareness! I might call attention to the term "gentleman" here, or the clause "possessing every qualification" but there is a fact hidden by these terms - the single most important idea about the way the Founders went about their business of growth. That fact is simply this: they
already knew Johnson, considered him a gentleman who possessed "every qualification" for membership! I will not go into what the Founders considered those qualifications to be, though anyone who cares to explore this can read Linton's essay from the founding, which will give plenty of hints. But if this were our kind of "rush" you would be more likely to ask "how did they know the guy?" Well, for one thing, he was not a new student, but even more relevant, there were maybe 200 students total at Miami - the founders must have already had many opportunities to observe him in all kinds of situations, in class and out.
Yes, things have changed since then, and not just in number of students, or living arrangements. Betas like Shep and Chandler have attempted to explore these changes, and examine the pros and cons of things like "pledging" and chapter house life. But there are other things which have
not changed, and in this brief record, the Founders told us what was important to them.
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