Ryan Abramow is a typical recruitment candidate – he loves the parties greek houses throw, but is hesitant to join one.

The freshman retail major got his first experience with greek life when he visited Syracuse University last fall and met with a friend from home, who swore he wasn’t going to pledge and fraternity life wasn’t worth it. By the end of the second semester, however, the same friend had joined a fraternity, and encouraged Abramow to do it himself.

‘I went around to some parties in the beginning of the year and really got a feel for frat life,’ Abramow said. ‘All the frats were just real nice, good guys. That is what really sparked my interest, but it is merely a spark.’

Abramow is just one of the many students who are eagerly, and nervously, awaiting their chance to explore the very personal side of greek life.

‘Rush is a very exciting time of year for all Syracuse University students,’ said Brendan Perlee, president of Sigma Alpha Mu and a junior consumer studies major. ‘It creates a buzz around campus that very few other events do.’

Recruitment, formally known as rush, is the process where unaffiliated students observe different fraternities or sororities in order to select a house that fits their personality and that they would like to pledge.

Josh McIntosh, senior associate director of the Office of Greek Life and Experiential Learning and advisor of the Interfraternity Council, said recruitment is a great opportunity for students to come and learn about different fraternity and sorority houses. Students don’t necessarily have to be certain that they want to join to participate in the process, and recruitment is a great way to determine their level of interest.

Many participants, like Julia Ehrenfeld, a freshman advertising major, have already met some of the brothers and sisters through previous welcoming events. Ehrenfeld said she has felt a lot of excitement after meeting many sisters during the teas and through other women around campus.

‘I was a jock in high school and I was very anti-greek and I believed that everything in it was superficial, and didn’t really care about each other,’ said Danielle Rodrigues, president of Alpha Chi Omega and junior public relations major. ‘But once I went though rush, I realized how opposite what the truth was from the stereotypes. It’s the best experience I’ve ever had here at SU.’

The men and women within greek life pride themselves on the good aspects and deeds that happen within, no matter what people outside the organization think. Steve Hass, president of Kappa Delta Rho and a junior broadcast journalism and history major, likened the fraternity atmosphere to that of a sports team, in which each member is working to maintain the ideals of its founders.

‘It’s not a drinking club where you pay dues to keep your friends; it’s a family,’ Hass said. ‘It’s a place where religion, athletics, social events and community service are molded into one giant ball.’

Those planning on joining a fraternity or sorority already know there is a negative reputation behind the greek system, set forth by movies like ‘Animal House.’ But they also realize that Hollywood steps over the limit of normality and pushes things toward the unreasonable.

‘That movie is crazy and a bit unrealistic,’ Abramow said. ‘I’ve spent a lot of time in some of the frats and it’s nothing like that. If you believe it, well, I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe stop doing drugs.’

As nervous as the prospective new greeks are, the houses are equally awaiting the start of recruitment and the ability to bring new blood into their community. Houses take the process very seriously and spend a lot of time planning for the pledging period. It obviously is very important for the growth and strength of each house, said Ali Hunter, president of Kappa Alpha Theta and a sophomore entrepreneurship and supply chain major.

Despite all the effort houses put into recruitment, Ehrenfeld doesn’t want to set her expectations too high. She said that after going through the process, she may not find the idea house. However, she’s ready for the experience, and to leave with no regrets, regardless of the outcome.

Beyond everything else, recruitment is just another way for SU students to experience something different and meet new people. It’s a learning opportunity with the potential to become a leadership opportunity for a student, McIntosh said.

Though he’s interested in learning about what the different houses have to offer, Abramow said he already has a pretty good idea of where he’s going to pledge – and so do most male prospective greeks.

‘The guys at the frats happen to be very open to the guys who come in, and are really friendly,’ he said. ‘Girls don’t have the same opportunity because the sororities don’t have parties, so the girls never really meet until that ridiculous tea.’

Published on January 26, 2005 at 12:00 pm