News
February 22
Tufts' rush this spring is a crucial indicator of the strength of Greek life after its struggles of the 2002-2003 school year.
So far the rush has been successful. "We've had more kids than I'd ever seen," Matt Senko, president of Delta Tau Delta (DTD) said.
"It was a blast," freshman Bharat Battu, who rushed DTD and Theta Chi, said. This year's rush events ranged from lobster dinners to Hooters restaurant, and presented what the fraternities hope was a variety of contexts to get to know the brothers.
"Recruitment is the lifeline of your fraternity," John Kluge, president of Sigma Phi Epsilon (Sig Ep), said. "[New members] are what keep your organization going."
The 2002-2003 school year marked a low for Greek life, where involvement was down to 11 percent from an 18 percent high of a few years ago. Multiple negative hazing incidents, which resulted in disqualification of nearly 20 pledges and the probation of three houses, led to increasingly sour relations between fraternities and the Tufts administration.
Amid confusion and resentment from fraternity and sorority leaders about the perceived "crackdown" on social life, the administration demanded that the system change.
In order to alter the image and influence of the Greek system, Todd Sullivan was hired to fill a new position as Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs.
Sullivan aimed to bolster the dwindling popularity on campus through open Greek events throughout the fall semester. These included the "Meet the Greeks" barbecue and a block party at the beginning of the school year.
"I am here to be a liaison, an advisor, an advocate, yet someone who will help hold them accountable, too," Sullivan said.
The efficacy of these events was questionable, however, as attendance was sparse. Greek leaders, however, appreciated the organizational help and concerted effort.
"In the past there wasn't really a lot of structure," Delta Tau Delta President Matt Senko said. "It helps to have someone who actually lays out a plan."
While Sullivan's policy has had the potential to contribute to publicity, ironically, the fall's dampened social scene may have also led to greater interest in Greek life this spring.
"Interestingly enough, being on probation had a reverse effect," Senko said. "Because we had no social events [last semester], kids seemed more intrigued and excited about the house."
The Delta Upsilon (DU) and Delta Tau Delta (DTD) fraternities struggled to maintain publicity and name recognition while under social probation from pledge abuses last semester. "Last year was a hard one for many of us," DU President Philip Oates said. "But from what we have seen from the recruitment process, we should have around 15 guys and we should really be on our way back up."
Sig Ep also struggled over the past year to increase its popularity and visibility. "[There was] a time when people talked of the house basically folding, but we had a huge spring recruitment. A lot of it is that you want to promote your name on campus and have people hang out at the house. Rush is a way to get all these [interested] people together at once," Kluge said.
Sig Ep has so far received "a pretty good turnout", according to Kluge. "A lot of it is quality, not quantity," he said.
Sullivan has also worked to minimize pledge hazing and prevent the abuses of last year. The Tufts anti-hazing policy, as well as the Massachusetts hazing law, is now in the Pachyderm in order to "help clarify what is and what is not acceptable." Similarly, Sullivan has assembled handbooks for fraternity and sorority presidents including "positive new member education programs and alternatives to hazing". The Inter-Greek Council will also host a new member education program for on March 7th.
A combination of hazing abuses and poor maintenance of their house placed Theta Delta Chi (123) "under a lot of pressure to stay alive," 123 President Shawn Hansberry said. The national chapter and alumni board demanded reformation: a new anti-hazing policy and renovations to the house. The new Pledge Education program, Hansberry said is "more brothers-oriented. We do events with them. Hazing doesn't prove anything about the person."
The tone of the house may have changed, Hansberry said, but energy in this spring's pledge class is running high. "I feel we are receiving many more freshmen who share the same idea of joining a house for the people [in] the fraternity and what the house is, rather than just a place to party in," Hansberry said.
123 has joined Tufts' chapter of Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT) in its no-pledging practice. ZBT has not conducted a pledge period since 1989, when its national office mandated that any rushee accepting a bid be initiated within 72 hours. "I know of no one who looks down [on] this," Jay Kim, ZBT treasurer said. "I doubt [people] are deterred from ZBT because of it, but more so attracted. I mean, nobody wants to go through certain aspects of pledging."
Though 123's changes to its house certainly points to a trend against hazing, the relational benefits and bonding from the pledge process are still firmly entrenched in fraternity life. "I don't think [the new precautions are] an overreaction," Senko said, acknowledging the legitimacy of hazing concerns and alluding to steps taken by DTD's national organization to standardize the pledge process at eight weeks. "[But] we try to make [the pledge process] so that a lot of the kids become familiar with each other and become united as a group and develop friendships with other kids and people in the house."
Despite the bad rap from negative hazing incidents, such as incidents with Zeta Psi's pledges last year that put some in the hospital, rushees agree that the traditional pledge process would not keep them from joining a fraternity.
"I'd rather get hazed," freshman Nick Schroback said, who rushed Alpha Epsilon Pi this past week. "It doesn't bother me. Alternatives are definitely cool, [but] it's all about the real frat experience."
According to fraternity members, Sullivan's most helpful contribution has been improving the relationship with the administration to lend optimism to the process. "We have a pretty good working relationship. He's been very easy to communicate with, and has been very helpful communicating with our neighbors," Kluge said.
"People have told me they are excited about the increase in positive Greek activity on campus, and they want to be a part of that," Sullivan said. "Many students are looking for more than just parties, and they realize that fraternities and sororities offer so much more than just a social outlet. It's about service; about values; about finding a support network for college years and beyond."
"It's really the people in both frats and the bonds they have with each other that got me interested in joining" Battu said. "Everyone's really tight with each other. I think the frats here aren't really the same at other stereotypical party schools. They definitely bring different, interesting guys together."
