Scriptwriter looking for help

[Barbie's_Rush]

Originally Posted by MikeEllis

So being a pledge last's one semester, which means there must be two initiations per year, toward the end of each semester. That answers one question (thanks, BTW), but I'm back with more.

Right now, this is going to be very general stuff, which will no doubt reveal my utter ignorance of the subject. You guys talk about "driving out of your lane." Hear now questions from someone who doesn't even have a license.

When does rush (or I believe "recruitment" is now the preferred term typically begin? In my memory, we had "formal rush" the week before classes began, followed by a couple of weeks of "casual rush." This gave every house three weeks to decide whom to give bids to, but from what I've read here, this is not typical.

Formal rush, by the way, was very organized, largely run by the IFC office, and the rules were very strict: the guys called it "dry rush" as well, if that tells you anything. "Wet rush" were more laid back event organized by the fraternities themselves; there was more drinking and mixers, and it was a great chance for the PMs who came out for formal rush to come back and bring their friends from the dorms.


Also, in building the environment for the story, I want this to be somewhat realistic, which means detailed background. Bear in mind that you're talking to someone who wrote a novel set in a farmhouse-turned-recording studio, and before I wrote anything I had to draw the floorplan of the house.

So I'm trying to work out some numbers regarding enrollment. I've read repeatedly that only 5% of college students join a GLO. How realistic does that sound? I'm imagining our fictional college has eight fraternities of roughly 50 guys each. That means 400 fraternity members, plus a largely equal number in 8 sororities. If they are 5%, then total enrollment would be about 16,000. Does this sound believable to everybody?

I have other questions, but these will do for now, and -- once again -- I appreciate all this help. We're scheduled to start writing in earnest in July, and with your help I'll be more than ready to make this guy's pledging seem believable.

I think you really have to decide what kind of Greek campus your school is, then write around that. If you put a mishmash of features from all sorts of schools together, then nothing is going to sound realistic.

[MikeEllis]

Originally Posted by Barbie's_Rush

I think you really have to decide what kind of Greek campus your school is, then write around that....

Can someone explain this?

Thanks for the help. Especially to AlphaFrog for the advice regarding numbers.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by MikeEllis

Can someone explain this?

Thanks for the help. Especially to AlphaFrog for the advice regarding numbers.

I think she means in your (fictional) university what is Greek life like? Is it a huge part of that university's experience? Is it a relatively small Greek system? Part of this is yours as the writer to decide, but take into account your location. If your school is set in New England, it wouldn't make sense to have a hugely Greek school where 50%+ are Greek. If it's SEC, you can't write in a tiny Greek system.

Once you decide the basics about your campus climate, we can help you more accurately fine-tune your rush.

[33girl]

5% is all the colleges EVERYWHERE averaged together - including those that don't have Greeks at all. A school with 5% Greek involvement is going to be pretty boring to write a book about.

The eight fraternities with 400 guys sounds like my alma mater (on a good day) and we had 6000 students.

Like AF said, figure out your campus first, and then it'll be easier for us to help with a plausible Greek system.