Ohio State Fraternity Rush - On or Off Campus

[ladbroke]

Hello all - a newbie here.

I am an OSU grad, where I was a member of a fraternity. I had a fantastic experience, tons of fun and made lifelong friends.

I am now the father of an 18 year old who has decided to go through recruitment. And it is interesting how much the OSU Greek system has changed. When I went through rush was formal (like sorority rush) - we all visited each house and got narrowed down on successive days. (I was even a Rho Chi). Now it seems much more free form and the guys just drop in and out to various events at will.

The other big change of course has been the crackdown on alcohol and hazing. In my day it was pretty much anything goes (and looking back I cringe at some of the stuff that went on) so now as a parent I feel better about my son going Greek knowing there is more control and sense around what the fraternities get up to.

But there is also now the phenomenon of "official" fraternities and "underground" ones. My son is torn - he has made some friends at a couple of the big underground houses and expects a bid and likes the fact that there are fewer rules - but is worried that they might fall apart a few years down the line and he won't have a great fraternity experience like I did. For my part, I would hugely prefer that he goes official - for my own peace of mind for his safety but also for the guarantee it brings around stability and post-grad benefits. (My chapter is still official, but recolonised a few years back after some extreme goings-on and seems like a really different place from when I was there).

Does anyone have any thoughts, advice or anecdotes around on- or off campus fraternities? Thank you!