This year, Delta Tau Delta fraternity and music honorary Mu Alpha have both changed their policies regarding fall semester rushing.
DTD decided to allow freshmen and new transfer students to begin rushing first semester, similar to the rules of other fraternities. In previous years, DTD preferred to let new students establish themselves on campus before allowing them to pledge.
“In the past, our rule regarding deferred recruitment for freshmen was one of the distinguishing features of Delt,” said DTD Public Relations Chair Rossteen Salehzadeh. “However, we’ve changed our bylaws to allow ourselves to pick up freshman who demonstrate outstanding initiative and character. We believe that we can offer these freshman our strengths and equip them with leadership skills.”
As a precautionary measure, all new Delt pledges will initiate as active members next semester. As of now, the change seems to be working. Salehzadeh estimated that half of the attendees at DTD’s pancake recruitment mixer were freshman.
While Mu Alpha is also changing their rushing policies for the fall semester, they are not allowing freshmen to rush first semester. Unlike DTD, Mu Alpha is an honorary that is independent of all official Greek rules.
Mu Alpha has traditionally offered only one rush date in the spring of each year. Being smaller than most fraternities, there has been no dire need to create an additional fall date. Many potential Mu Alphas, however, have been unable to join in the spring due to conflicts and have to wait an entire year to join.
Maxwell Kleber suggested offering a time to rush in the fall.
“The subject came up among some of the members of our organization,” Kleber said. “So we brought the idea to the chapter and decided to proceed after getting a lot of positive feedback.”
Mu Alpha has decided to put the idea to a test this year. If it is successful, the group will continue to allow students to rush every fall. This fall, Mu Alpha picked up five provisional members.
Jordan Anetsberger, Mu Alpha vice president, explained why freshmen are still not allowed to rush in the fall.
“The first semester at college is a big adjustment period for many freshman. We wish to afford incoming freshmen the opportunity to adapt to college life before committing themselves to a particular organization.” he said.
