Correction Appended
The ASU Interfraternity Council kicked off Rush Week on Tuesday with a walk-around event in the Memorial Union’s Arizona Ballroom where prospective members interacted with the 21 chapters on campus.
IFC Walk Around allowed potential new members to meet members of each fraternity by having them pass every table before exiting.
IFC President Brent Pearlstein said he expects to see about 800 rushers this fall, up from 500 last fall.
“I like to be pretty optimistic,” he said, attributing the expected increase to increased promotion of Greek life at the start of the semester.
To advertise Rush Week, the IFC placed informational signs in high-traffic areas and fraternity members wore “Go Greek” shirts on the first day of class, Pearlstein said.
Fraternities will host a number of events this week, including barbecues, bowling nights and pool parties, but Pearlstein said IFC strictly enforces regulations that forbid both alcohol and women at fraternity events during rush.
Pearlstein said a “rush marshal” monitors houses and events during the week to make sure they abide by IFC and ASU regulations. Any houses caught violating these regulations will be referred to the IFC judicial board.
The main event for Rush Week this year is “Greeks Battle Cancer” on Saturday, when fraternities will raise money for the American Cancer Society by selling food before the football game.
Pearlstein said the event was created to benefit the community and set precedence for future IFC boards.
Sigma Alpha Mu member Ken Tyma said his fraternity is hosting fancier events this year to attract new recruits. He said his fraternity expects 10 to 15 new members this year.
Sigma Alpha Mu will have a barbecue and events at a hookah bar and a laser tag facility to get people interested, but Tyma said the main purpose of the events is to get to know the potential members personally.
Tyma said Rush Week has fun events but said no one in his fraternity will drink.
“We’re going to play it by the books,” he said.
Business freshman Nick Salgado attended the IFC Walk Around because he is looking to meet people at ASU.
Four fraternities caught Salgado’s attention at the event. He said members at the tables told fun stories and were holding events he would like to attend.
Business and sustainability freshman Max Pote said he wants a fraternity that makes ASU feel smaller.
“If they don’t have a house, it defeats the purpose,” he said.
He said networking is an important part of joining a fraternity and he hopes to have the feeling of a strong community.
For fraternity involvement this year, IFC President Pearlstein said ASU fraternities would work with the Programming and Activities Board and the Undergraduate Student Government.
“You’re going to see a lot of teamwork and collaboration,” he said.
A photo caption accompanying Wednesday’s “Fraternity Rush Week kicks off” incorrectly identified one of the participating fraternities. The pictured student was signing up at Delta Sigma Phi.
Reach the reporter at adam.sneed@asu.edu.
