IN THE RUSH
By Derek Poore, Tyler Montgomery, and Adam Sichko
The Kentucky Kernel
Published: Tuesday, August 31, 2004
To hear the leaders of UK's Greek community tell it, Greek life really is for anyone.
"Of the 22 fraternities, there's a chapter for everyone," said Alex Thiele, president of Phi Sigma Kappa and an economic and political science senior. "Different chapters excel at different things, but all are proud of their brotherhood."
Ryan Schoonover, Interfraternity Council vice president of public relations, echoed that sentiment. He is a member of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity.
"It's definitely benefited my college experience - very much so," the English and political science senior said, citing academic and leadership skills that he has gained through the Greek community.
Preliminary numbers from the UK Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Office for this year show that about 1,100 men participated in Rush Week recruitment events. That is over 150 more eligible students than in 2003, despite the fact that about 200 fewer men enrolled at UK this year, the office said.
But is the Greek experience truly for anyone? The Kernel followed three "prospects" from three fraternities throughout Rush Week to find out.
Alex Wahl, Phi Sigma Kappa
Alex Wahl had decided he'd wait to rush until his sophomore year. But the marketing freshman from Owensboro thought it might be good to visit at least one fraternity during Rush Week to get an idea of what rushing would be like next year. Wahl walked by the Phi Sigma Kappa house on South Campus with friends and went in.
He realized next year wouldn't come soon enough.
"I knew I wanted to rush once I went through this house," he said. "I met everybody and it was just like being back in high school. Everybody was great."
The atmosphere was exactly what he was looking for.
Last Tuesday, Wahl played volleyball at the house, and the next night, he put on his best poker face for a round of cards.
"It was basically just a revisit back to high school, getting to know everybody," he said. "It's been a great experience."
Wahl said he felt comfortable about his bid. Thursday afternoon, Phi Sigma Kappa called him to the house.
"I pretty much knew it was going to be a bid," Wahl said, when he and three other prospects were ushered into Phi Sigma Kappa's alumni room. They were all given bids and Wahl gladly accepted.
"I'm excited about getting a bid," Wahl said Thursday. "I'm glad I didn't wait until next year."
He said he felt like there would have been a lot of missed opportunities if he had let his rush ambitions linger until his sophomore year.
Chapter President Alex Thiele said Wahl was just what Phi Sigma Kappa seeks.
"He represents the character we look for in brothers," Thiele said. "Brotherhood, scholarship and character."
Wahl said his father was happy for him, too. Wahl's dad pledged the same fraternity while he attended UK in 1970.
Like many fraternities, Phi Sigma Kappa requires a pretty consistent approval for each bid it gives out. "Unless there's a strong objection," Thiele said, the decision is pretty much unanimous.
Bobby Huff, Farmhouse
The real question for Bobby Huff during his Rush Week experiences was whether he would accept a bid if Farmhouse offered one.
The answer varied depending on which day you asked.
On Monday, Huff said he definitely wanted to join the Farmhouse brotherhood if given the chance.
"This is a real down-to-earth group of guys," said Huff, sporting a white T-shirt with blue jeans, work boots and a John Deere hat. "I couldn't ask for anything better.
"If I go Greek anywhere, it would be Farmhouse."
However, after his first day of classes, the pre-pharmacy major's course load clouded the picture. "I don't think I can go Greek this semester," the Clinton County native said Wednesday. "With the difficulty of classes I'm taking, I can't put in as much time as I would want to or need to." Huff is taking 17 credit hours this semester and had to weigh his classroom assignments with his would-be responsibilities as a member of Farmhouse.
Huff did not attend Rush Week activities at Farmhouse either Wednesday or Thursday, leaving town both nights. During those two days, Huff debated the decision to accept a bid over and over again.
"I've thought about it a lot, and I really want to take it this semester, but I don't see how I can," Huff said Thursday night. "It will be really, really hectic for me."
He learned Friday morning that he got a bid, and returned to Farmhouse Friday night for more Rush Week activities.
Once again, Huff's mind had changed. "This is just something that I can't pass up," he said. "These guys are straight-up cool.
"Huff also found that many of the guys in Farmhouse were taking similar classes and many members told him they'd help him out during Farmhouse study tables.
Later in the evening, Huff accepted his bid. "I thought about it a little bit," Huff said, "and I think with the guys that are in the fraternity, it's a chance that I can't pass up. "I think it will help my college experience tremendously."
Thomas Cunningham, Sigma Chi
Thomas Cunningham entered the Sigma Chi house Thursday afternoon, expecting to see members of that fraternity who earlier that day asked him to stop by.
Instead, the philosophy and pre-med freshman walked into a quiet and almost empty house.
"I was a little nervous because I wasn't really sure what was going on," Cunningham said. "It was very 'hush, hush' in the house. I actually said 'See you guys later' and almost headed out to go study.
"Then one of the guys came up to me, covered my eyes, put his hand on my shoulder and said 'Come with me'. I was like 'Oh, God, what's going on?' but pretty soon I figured it out."
What Cunningham figured out was that he was being offered a bid.
For the Louisville native, that moment ended a decision-making process that had Cunningham continually weighing his options.
"It was definitely a hard choice," Cunningham said. "I was back and forth the whole week. I got back at 2 a.m. (Wednesday morning) and really started fretting about it."
Cunningham sought the same type of close-knit friendship that he enjoyed on his high school varsity soccer and swim teams.He also said he hopes to one day be a leader within a fraternity, especially because his mother and father served as presidents of Delta Delta Delta and Psi Upsilon, respectively, at the University of Minnesota.
Cunningham first had to overcome the intimidation that came with rushing alone, because none of his friends were rushing, and UK does not have a chapter of his father's fraternity.
But soon, he began to fit in.
"You know when you walk in if you'll fit in with the other guys," he said. "The dress, the interaction, the girls in the house - just the overall atmosphere lets me know if I'd be a good fit in this frat.
"Sigma Chi has probably been the most persistent with me," he continued. "They make you feel like you're a part of it before you get in."
By Wednesday night, Cunningham had narrowed his field of choices from seven to two - Sigma Chi and Sigma Phi Epsilon. He received four bids Thursday, ultimately choosing Sigma Chi.
"I definitely see a brotherhood here," Cunningham said. "At certain frats, you can sense a vibe that you'll be good with some guys but clash with others. That wasn't the case here.
"I felt more wanted here than anywhere else."
As for the bid announcement - which requires 100 percent approval from the house's current members - Cunningham wouldn't share any of that tradition's secrets.
"I can't go into all the details," the newest member of Sigma Chi said with a smile, "but it was a memorable experience."
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