The Interfraternity Council’s recruitment week ended over a week ago, on September 3rd, with most fraternities claiming large gains in numbers over previous years.
“Rush Week”, which took place from August 29th, through September 3rd, is the formal time frame that fraternities accept new members. Interested UF students participating in “Rush Week”, called “rushees,” spend the week visiting fraternities for lunch and dinner events, getting to know brothers at all of the respective houses, and deciding which house would best suit them individually. If the brothers of that house think the rushee is a good fit, they give him an invitation, or “bid” to join. If the rushee accepts the bid, this signals the beginning of the new member process.
IFC enjoyed a substantial increase in numbers of both rushees and new members this year over last year, with an additional 200 rushees, and 150 new members. All in all, estimates were that 900 UF students rushed, and over 750 accepted bids from various houses. The highest numbers were at Theta Chi and Sigma Phi Epsilon, both with well over 50 new members.
To accommodate the increased numbers, the executive board of the Interfraternity Council inaugurated what they called “Ride to Rush”. IFC partnered with local startup company “Zip Carts,” in order to provide the rushees with transportation to on and off row houses.
One explanation for increased numbers is the exclusivity of the University. “As UF becomes a more challenging school to get into,” explained David Devinney, IFC Vice President of Membership, “incoming freshmen are more well-rounded students who immediately seek opportunities in service, leadership, and scholarship. Many of them have realized that IFC can help them attain their goals. ” Sean Smith, the IFC president, also credited, “a stronger, more proactive effort from the individual chapters and a significant presence at summer preview sessions.”
Although these numbers are in increase over last year, IFC is still anticipating a stronger spring rush than in the past. These numbers have encouraged optimistic projections, and IFC expects that recruitment numbers will only increase in the coming years.
