Fraternities adjust to
summer rush, ‘98 style
By Tim Karstens
Staff Reporter
At first glance, little seems to
have changed for the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln’s summer frater
nity rush.
The only thing to distinguish the
1998 rush from those in years past
is a new rule that requires a parent’s
signature on bid cards — the greek
system’s version of a letter of
intent.
According to Ryan Buschkamp,
the overall recruitment chairman
who monitors UNL’s summer rush,
the 1998 rush is different but the
changes are not procedural. What
makes this rush unique are evolving
philosophies, the addition of two
new fraternities and an unusually
high number of applicants.
“There have been more rush
applications this year than in previ
ous years,” said Buschkamp, a
senior agribusiness major. “There
has been a big publicity push.”
Rush begins with a student’s
application for admittance to UNL.
All applicants receive a greek sys
tem brochure and rush application,
Buschkamp said. After a student
registers and pays a $20 registration
fee, the completed rush applica
tions are distributed to every frater
nity. Rush chairmen review the
applications and choose applicants
they want to recruit using criteria
such as grade point averages and
high school activities.
During the summer, rush chair
men may contact recruits at home
or during the rush functions to
which rushees have been invited.
During this time rushees may be
extended invitations to sign bid
cards.
t Before any of this can be done,
fraternities must first submit plans
for summer functions to the
Interfraternity Council during the
spring semester preceding rush,
Buschkamp said. One of the major
tenets of IFC rush policy is the
strict adherence to a ban on alcohol
■at summer functions.
'-aieo Jensen, a rusn cnairman
ifor Sigma Alpha Epsilon, said the
ban on alcohol during summer rush
jevents shows a change in the priori
lies of fraternities. And in light of
;.the death of a fraternity pledge at
{Louisiana State University in 1997,
Ihe attitude change is important to
(prospective members and their par
ents.
Many men primarily join frater
nities for camaraderie and acade
mics, not just social events, Jensen
.said. And, he added, recruiting
members is easier when parents see
that fraternities are concerned for
the student’s well-being.,
1 “There are a lot of positive
^things going on,” Jensen said.
“Many houses are going dry.
^Parents like it.”
f! Another change in rush is the
^mergence of two new fraternities
at UNL. With the colonization of Pi
w
Kappa Alpha and Sigma Lambda
Beta, a traditionally non-exclusive
Latino fraternity, the UNL greek
system has taken a step forward.
“I think it is a positive addition,”
Buschkamp said. “Anytime you can
add new members, it is positive.”
Although the new fraternities
have been incorporated and the
number of rush applicants is higher
this year, Jensen said more could be
done to find those who might not be
aware of what fraternities can offer.
“(Fraternity life) needs to be
more publicized,” Jensen said.
“There needs to be more applica
tions sent out. We need to find those
who fall through the cracks.”
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