Formal vs. Informal

[sdbeta1]

Basically, which is better?

[Firehouse]

You asked which is better for fraternities.

Informal rush is better for fraternities for these reasons:

1. Formal rush guarantees a pledge class but makes fraternities lazy. They tend to rush who shows up rather than seeking out the top candidates on campus.

2. If there's an off-year in overall numbers or quality in formal rush, the fraternities will tend not to correct it by aggressively going into the student body and getting new members. They'll tend to stay in their houses and rationalize.

3. Many of the guys who go through formal rush are attracted by the image of fraternities that they have seen in Animal House or spring break videos. Nothing wrong with having those guys in a chapter, but there's a problem when they become the big majority.

4. Formal rush generally does not attract the already-established campus leaders who are not Greek, nor the varsity athletes who are not Greek. Those guys tend not to join fraternities unless it's a small private campus.

5. For the reasons above, a lot of men who would be good members do not join. Varsity athletes, campus leaders, serious students often choose not to go through formal rush. As a result, the chapters turn inward and hazing becomes more likely.

6. With formal rush, the chapters learn not to work hard to seek out top candidates on campus. That takes effort and organization. The payoff is tremendous for a chapter willing to recruit all year round, and to go after the top names and faces on campus.
There are exceptions: top fraternities at Ole Miss will each pull 50-70 pledges out of formal rush. Quarterbacks Archie and Eli Manning are Sigma Nus; a lot of ole miss atheltes pledge fraternities (not in formal rush). And, fraternity men run most campus organizations.
Small private universities like Wofford, Duke, Wake, SMU and others make formal rush work well. But generally - generally - the larger the campus, the less helpful formal rush is for the fraternity system.

[sdbeta1]

I like your explanation on the different type of guys that join through formal and informal rushing. I have also seen that informal rush, while takes a longer amount of time and more dedication, has the ability to produce results that formal can't touch. I am not excluding the fact that there are men that go through formal who are excellent candidates, as there are plenty as well. But with an informal system, you aren't competing with other fraternities for the same guys. There may be some who are interested in a couple, but informal provides a more laid back setting where a potential pledge can get deep inside the house as opposed to seeing little at a time.

[Akkus]

So when we look at fraternities' perspective informal rush is much better. Is it any different when we look at rushees' perspective? What are the advantages and disadvantages of both systems for people who are rushing?

[Tom Earp]

I am wondering about the discussion is all about here?

There seems to be talks about which is best among Sororities and Fraternieties as I have heard.

There should be a combonation of both, Formal and Informal.
We used to have Formalo Rush which was a Cattle Call.

Everyone did it and that was all there was.

Now, there is an open recruitment in some colleges.

But, why not really try the combonation of both ways.

Do not Lock PNMers into a system.

If they are not comfortable with one, then there is also the possibility of recruitment coming in at a more relaxed pace. This does give an open door for more people to actually check out the local GLOs.

Many in the Southern Schools are going to be Legacies and have4 only one place that parental apptitude will allow them.

If they are not gong into Mom/Dads, they are not going anywhere! DA!

[Firehouse]

I've never thought about it, but I suppose formal rush is best for the rushees because they see every house and every house sees them. Informal rush makes is more difficult to connect with a particular house, especially if you don't know anyone there.
As a rush chairman I prefer informal rush since that gives me and my chapter every advantage. For the top houses with the best reputations, I suppose the ideal combination would be intense summer rush with open pledging, followed by formal rush in the fall so I could have a shot at anyone I'd missed.

The University of Arkansas had that system; so did Missouri, Kansas and Kansas State. I don't know what they have today.

[TSteven]

Firehouse - excellent posts.

I would also add spring rush to the mix. Some guys may be under the chapter's radar until the middle of the fall semester. Or they might just want to wait until spring to rush. Fraternity rush should be 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.