Fraternity Rush logistics...

EXColony · #1 07-14-2004, 12:06 AM

First, let me say that I am SUPER happy that GC is back up!

Secondly...I was wondering if someone could do a play by play of IFC Rush...I know that campuses do it differently, but I just want info...like what activities are done and what you talk about.

Any help would be appreciated.

JP

Firehouse · #2 07-14-2004, 01:32 AM

Almost all sorority systems conduct formal rush. Few fraternity systems have formal rush today, although at one time nearly all rush was formal for both men and women.
If your campus has men's formal rush, then your key to success is "time". Your chapter rush program must be highly organized and you must be prepared to make fast decisions about who to recruit. For good fraternities this is not a problem. The best, most successful fraternities spend their time & energies recruiting the men they know they want, instead of laboring in endless meetings trying to reach consensus about who they want to bid.
Unless you have a small school with small chapters, rush is a competition that requires organization, decisive leadership and a will to win. And above all, to succeed in a super-competitive atmosphere, it requires the chapter to have a strong sense of identity.
Good fraternities know that rush is work; it's business, so don't let the members get too wrapped up in distractions. Here's an example: one year a neighbor fraternity of ours got an unexpected will gift of something like $25,000 cash from an alum who died over the summer. They decided it would be great to hire a top name band an throw a super rush party for the whole campus. All their brothers brought their girlfriends and had a great time. Most of the rushees on campus came and had a great time, and the house & grounds were flooded with hundreds and hundreds of students-in-general.
We knew all our rushees were going to our competitor's party, so we put together a 'guerrilla rush team' of a dozen or so Brothers who could move through the crowd, find our rushees, and enjoy the party with them. We ended up actually pledging eight men that night, and our competitors pledged not one man. Yes, they had a great party, but all their members came to play, not to work.
You asked about "activities". Keep it simple. If you have rush girls there to help, make sure both they and the Brothers understand that this is business. Pay attention to the rushees. Have fun with them, make friends with them and talk to them about Sigma Chi. A mistake you're likely to make is to NOT talk to them about your fraternity, because that's a mistake a lot of inexperienced chapters make. The purpose of rush to get your pledge class. Decide who you want as quickly as possible, then spend your efforts talking to them about your fraternity. Think of it this way: it's like NCAA Division I football recruiting. The top schools are all after the same pool of talented guys. Oh, some schools concentrate on prospects from particular geographic areas, some need to emphasize certain positions this year, but in the end everyone wants a first class recruiting class made up of the most talented players thay can get. The best schools decide up front who their top prospects (blue chips) are, who the red and white chips are, and they prioritize their efforts. In fraternity rush, always - always - go for your blue chips first. Those guys are going to pledge somewhere, and they are generally going to commit quickly, so they are your first priority. The more blue chips you get in the beginning, the more excited and motivated the Brothers will be.
So, summing up: 1) tell your chapter/colony going in that this is business and that everyone is expected to contribute, if not by being a great salesman then at least by being there and being nice to everyone; 2) tell your chapter that the rush leadership is going to be moving fast and that the members will be told who to target. If you have any questions about individuals, take it up with the rush chairman privately; 3) tell the chapter that you are going to hold basic social events, nothing too cute or elaborate. They will be fun, but their will be to make rushees feel comfortable and surrounded by friends who make the feel at home. 4) Learn how to talk about your own fraternity; be able to articulate why a man should join. Not only don't trash your rivals, don't even mention their names if you can help it. If the rushee asks, deal with it delicately. "What makes Sigma Chi the best?" "Well, I can tell you that Sigma Chi is the best for me, and for all these guys. And you seem like you feel at home here with us, is that right?" Remember this mantra: the rushee is going to choose the best fraternity he can find where he feels he has the most friends (however he defines friendship).
One final thing - and this illustrates the brutally bottom line nature of fraternity rush in a competitive system. If you want to know who won, wait a week and ask the top sororities. The girls make it their business to know who got the stud classes.
All my best to you, and good luck. I don't know if my fraternity has a chapter at UT-Martin. If we do have a chapter there, well, give them some good competition to remember.

Betarulz! · #3 07-14-2004, 02:39 AM

First things, check out my summer rush threads in the Recruitment Stories sub forum.

Second, like Firehouse said: Go after the top guys.

Also have some minimum standards set. Things like Min GPA, Min ACT/SAT scores (if you find out that type of info). Also setting things like the number of times you have to meet a rushee or the types of things he has to see to get a bid. My chapter usually says that he has to be seen by members at least twice (one must be with members other than the rush chairs) and take a tour of the chapter house in order to get a bid.

Further, and this was somewhat implied in Firehouse's thread, but rush guys based on friendship. Don't start selling your chapter right away, you come off focused too much about yourself, and not about making sure the fit is right. So ask him questions, let him do the talking about himself for a while and then when you think that this guy would fit in, then start telling what you can do for him. Plus, the guys that get excited about being friends first are going to stick around and your retention rate is going to be much higher. (not to mention be more likely to be involved as those crucial early alumni in a couple of years)

Another thing I think is important is to go with the attitude that you are rushing Sigma Chi's, not making them. In other words, your looking for guys who have always been Sigma Chi's - they just never knew it by that name. You'll know those guys when they come through the door, they'll have that aura that says they belong in your chapter, and in talking to them, you'll see that they fit in with your chapter when it comes to goals and principles and expectations of your fraternity.

Finally, don't be afraid to tell someone no, if the kid is not going to get a bid, then let him know that so he doesn't waste your time or his own. I'll be honest that it's hard but it's dissappointing to see the same kids keep coming back when the chapter knows it's not going to happen. I'll speak from experience this summer when I saw a legacy sitting all by himself with his dad and his dad's friends and not one brother would talk to the kid b/c he was such a major tool that pissed everyone off the week before. Luckily his parents didn't seem to notice too much b/c they were having a great time. But still it sucks that the rush chairs didn't just tell the kid we didn't think it was going to work.

TSteven · #4 07-14-2004, 01:19 PM

Good advice.

Since y'all are a colony, rushees may be hesitant at first to join since they may not be familiar with the Fraternity. As such, it might be helpful to have alumni and active Sigs help with rush. This helps sell Sigma Chi as a brotherhood.

Check with HQ to see who lives in the area. Also, there are quite a few chapters in the area: Murray State, Austin Peay, Vandy, Middle Tennessee, and Memphis that might be able to send a few brothers to help with rush.

However, do not let them *run* the show, but be there to offer and show their support.

IowaStatePhiPsi · #5 07-14-2004, 06:41 PM

JP- do you have informal recruitment or formal recruitment at your university?

As for recruitment as a colony- our colony has used the edge of "Leaving your mark at Iowa State- seeking Men of Excellence to help found the new traditions of Phi Kappa Psi".

It ties in how as a colony they can help shape the chapter.

EXColony · #6 07-14-2004, 07:40 PM

UT Martin DOES have formal recruitment, but b/c we do not have charter-in-hand we cannot participate in formal recruitment. We may start recruitment after IFC's is over. It's been drama, but I think it's settling down now...

JP

MattUMASSD · #7 07-15-2004, 12:22 AM

Hey JP how big is UTenn Martins?

ATO/terp · #8 07-15-2004, 09:14 AM

"Finally, don't be afraid to tell someone no, if the kid is not going to get a bid, then let him know that so he doesn't waste your time or his own. I'll be honest that it's hard but it's dissappointing to see the same kids keep coming back when the chapter knows it's not going to happen"

Very well said.....I feel horrible for those guys that keep on coming back trying way to hard to try to be "cool". Some of the guys that come out try to be someone that they aren't and if they acted like who they truely are they could have a chance.

EXColony · #9 07-15-2004, 01:37 PM

We are have about 5,900 students - only 12% Greek.

TSteven · #10 07-15-2004, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EXColony
UT Martin DOES have formal recruitment, but b/c we do not have charter-in-hand we cannot participate in formal recruitment. We may start recruitment after IFC's is over. It's been drama, but I think it's settling down now...

JP

I posted this elsewhere but may be worthy repeating.

If y'all are allowed to participate in any campus wide "Meet the Greeks" type of event, during the summer or in the fall, be sure to do that. At the time, let potential new members know - and understand - that Sigma Chi *will* be having rush after formal.

MattUMASSD · #11 07-16-2004, 12:09 AM

My school is a small greek system but growing at a rapid pace. There arent summer rush activities, or anything like that. Recruiting in the summer is having a info tables at the 5 orientation sessions. Does anyone in a smaller system have recruitment events in the summer, if so is there a big turnout?

GeekyPenguin · #12 07-16-2004, 08:33 AM

One thing that I've seen a fraternity do that works really well at my last school, which sounds similiar to yours, is have a really fun rush event planned the Saturday before school - a couple fraternities at my old school do this. One has a bbq at their house which has an enormous backyard with a volleyball court, a basketball court, room for frisbee, and a horseshoe pit. Another one goes to a state park and has a cookout and swims all day. Invite your blue chip guys and tell them to bring girls. A lot of guys get signed that weekend andthen are eager to tell their wingmates/classmates "Hey, XY took me to this great cookout this weekend and I met all these girls and the guys were so chill - I'm going to pledge there and you should come to watch Monday night football with us tonight."