Greeks increase numbers
By Dave Stephens
Assistant
Campus Editor
Changes in the way fraternities and sororities
recruit new members are helping to ensure that the Greek system at Purdue
stretches into the new millennium.
"The numbers for fall fraternity rush have remained
stable," said Andy Robison, assistant dean of students. "Last year was
a dramatic increase and this year's numbers match those."
Last semester's fraternity rush, with 85 percent
of chapters reporting, brought in 571 new members to the Greek system.
The fall rush of 1999 brought in 619 new members. Both years represent
a large increase from the 1998 to 1999 school year, when the fraternity
system brought in 441 new members.
"The sorority system has been really stable over
the years," said Robison. "It's actually starting to increase because
of informal rush options that allow women to rush later in the spring."
Robison said that the number of women who began
sorority rush was actually lower this year because the Panhellenic Association,
the governing body of sororities, raised the minimum grade point average
from 2.0 to 2.3.
"Last year we had 496 out 750 students who went
through rush receive bids," Robison said. "This year we had 659 rush
and 510 receive bids.
Robison said that he believes that the numbers
are going up in the fraternity system because the students who are choosing
to join are more concerned with grades and community service then they
are about partying.
"The chapters are starting to recruit differently,"
said Robison. "They just can't say 'We got beer and chicks' anymore."
"I think there's been a shift away from the 'Animal
House' mentality," said Stephen Parker, the former director of recruitment
for the Interfraternity Council, the governing body of fraternities.
"There's been a whole mentality change from concentrating
on rush to concentrating on recruitment. We try to go out and sell ourselves,
instead of just letting people come to us."
Robison also said that while the number of men
living in fraternities has been going up, there is still room in many
of the houses.
"Most fraternities are just rushing enough to break
even. Most chapters have a live-in requirement and many times they can
just barely reach it," Robison said. "You can't have a 100-man house
with only 50 people living in it and expect to keep it open."
Robison said that when a fraternity doesn't have
a full house, it would only be making enough money to pay expenses and
not be able to save for later capital improvements.
"Without the extra money, many alumni boards have
to spend money on fixing up the houses, instead of on scholarships or
programs for the members," Robison said.
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