Panhel may move rush to the fall

Panhellenic Association members are engaged in an internal battle over whether to move the formal rush to the fall semester. At the group's bi-weekly meeting last night, members and officers argued heatedly about the proposal, which has been under consideration since last semester. Fall rush advocates said last night that moving rush would eliminate "pettiness" between sororities as rush approaches. They also said the change would free up the spring semester for system-wide projects. But those opposing the move argued that first-year women need a semester before rush to join other organizations so that pledges will be more involved in the University. Several sisters said that if formal rush had been held during the fall, they would not have rushed because they were not fully informed about the system. Members will vote on the proposal at their next meeting in two weeks. If the proposal passes, formal rush would be held next fall. It would begin either at the end of September or the beginning of October, with pledges possibly being initiated as early as January. In order to move formal rush, six of the eight Panhel representatives must approve the measure. Each Panhel sorority receives one vote. During last night's hour-long debate, several sorority members defended keeping formal rush in the spring while members of Panhel's executive board, who said they were "playing the devil's advocate," explained reasons for holding rush in the fall. Executive board members stressed that the board's arguments for fall rush during the forum were made so that both sides of the issue would be presented. Panhel President Anita Hsueh said the executive board was divided on the issue. Hsueh, an Engineering senior, said the idea to move rush came from suggestions from former sorority presidents. The presidents told Panhel officers that fall rush would be easier to plan and said the pledges would have an additional semester as sisters, Hsueh added. Sorority members who advocated formal fall rush at last night's meeting maintained that the move would ease the pledges' transition from high school to a college environment and that the rush would be graced by better weather and increased alumni involvement. Advocates also said it would improve rush because sororities could hold rush over a series of weekends, rather than over the one week spring rush allots. According to members of the Panhel executive board, the organization has experimented with both fall and spring formal rush. Approximately every three years Panhel considers switching semesters for formal rush, they said. Panhel has held formal rush in the spring for the past three years. The University's Panhel system presently mandates that "formal" rush be held in the spring, although "informal" rush may be held in the fall. During formal rush, rushes must attend three rounds of parties and must attend all eight parties held by Panhel sororities during the first round. For the informal fall rush, rushes need only attend rush functions at the sororities of their choice. One Panhel sorority, Kappa Delta, held informal rush this term.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.