Rushing to pledge

As students settle in their chairs to mark a new semester, an outside pull may capture their attention.

The period between Sept. 8 to Sept. 18 is the Interfraternity Council Rush week, a time where students decide whether Greek living is for them.

Many of the 17 social and academic fraternities and sororities have already started to recruit new pledges to color their social lives outside of lecture halls.

Paolo DeVito, chapter president of Tau Kappa Epsilon, is taking advantage of this opportunity by holding several events at the Student Center and at football games to entice potential pledges.

DeVito, who rushed in the spring of 2005, quickly dispelled notions that fraternities are only synonymous with partying.

“We are holding an event in the beginning of September at the Bell Tower called ‘Camping for Cans’ where we will be camping out on the grass from noon Tuesday, Sept. 12, until 6 p.m.”

On Sept. 13, the fraternity will collect canned goods and monetary donations for Delaware Valley’s Philabundance.

Some fraternities and sororities, each comprised of five to 75 members according to Temple’s Office of Greek Life, identify themselves with certain religions and races. Alpha Epsilon Pi, a predominantly Jewish brotherhood, will pack boxes of food for those in need and donates money to Share Tzedeck, a hospital in Jerusalem that aids victims of suicide bombings.

Although active with foreign aid, its charity begins at home.

“Most don’t know that Temple Greeks are two percent of the population and take part in over 50 percent of the community service done by Temple students,”
said Marc Ian Prine, an AEPi brother.

As for the old adage of all work and no play, both fraternities say they know how to keep a balance.

“Part of going to college is having an active social life to ensure that you don’t go crazy from the books, teachers, ticked-off cafeteria workers, and all the other stresses that a college like Temple offers,” DeVito said.
 
“We provide opportunities for our members to get together, but it is up to each member to be responsible and party at their own rate.” Becoming Greek can be costly too. To maintain
a certain standard of living, social fraternities and sororities can charge each member upward of $400.

Half of that monetary requirement is to ensure each brother’s insurance and rights at the national level. The other expenses cover the chapter and house accounts which fund events.

Although pledging is often notorious for commiting various acts of self-derogation, such hazing is not recognized by any chapters.

It is all good clean fun of, “… getting together either to watch football, go bowling, pretty much anything we can do in large numbers,” DeVito said.

Stephanie Guerilus can be reached at qsteph@temple.edu.