Acacia to hold rush this spring

Three years after an accusation of sexual harassment landed the Acacia fraternity on probation, Acacia "cleaned the slate" by initiating six new brothers last year. Now, the chapter is looking to expand its membership. And while InterFraternity Council fraternities typically hold rush events in the fall, Acacia members decided to start with a less formal rush process beginning next week. "[Although] we're having our rush in January, which is after the IFC rush, we're not looking to work outside the IFC, or to buck the system in any way," said College junior Adam Coates, the chapter President. Its preliminary rush event Monday is designed to attract freshman and sophomores interested in an "alternative" greek organization. "Alternative" means more community service, a smaller group of brothers, and close ties with alumni, according to Coates. The five juniors and one senior volunteer at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia on a regular basis as a fraternity activity, he said. "Right now we're focusing on community service," said Matt Bixler, an Acacia alumnus still working with the new brothers. Acacia members said last night that while they would like to see a large number of rushees, the number of pledges will be kept small. The goal of the chapter is to roughly double membership. "Obviously it is a lot smaller than most fraternities on campus," College junior and Acacia brother Dan Song said. Coates added that it is important to not to expand too quickly. "You get some growing pains," he said. "You want to choose as carefully as possible." Acacia's problems began in 1991 when then College junior Judy Schlossberg filed sexual harassment charges against brothers. Schlossberg alleged they photocopied and distributed nude photos of her around campus. Since November 1991, when the Judicial Inquiry Office and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs ruled that Acacia was responsible for the incident, the fraternity has suffered from a negative image -- and subsequently has had difficulty recruiting brothers. With only four brothers, Acacia lost its house in late 1993 -- and officials speculated that the fraternity could lose University recognition. But after alumni held two unsuccessful rush events the following September, Coates and five of his friends saw an opportunity. "So we decided to call them up and we formed our own group," he said. The new pledges were initiated last April. And plans to acquire a house are proceeding, according to Coates. But Song said the chapter is not looking to move into its old house -- currently occupied by Lambda Phi Epsilon. "Probably we'll have a house sometime next year," he added. The first information session will be held next Monday in Steinberg-Dietrich Hall at 8 p.m. In previous years, between three and four IFC fraternities have held Spring rush, according to IFC President David Treat, a College junior.

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