DIRTY rush: the connotation of the word, alone, characterizes a mean, lascivious act conducted by Greek societies aimed at soiling the minds of innocent first years. At the beginning of this semester, the Inter-Fraternity Council reprimanded three fraternities who reportedly took potential rushees on a tubing trip outside the Charlottesville area. The fraternities were reported since the formal rush period for first years does not start until the beginning of spring semester. Yet, looking at this supposedly frowned upon act, I find myself searching for the real harm in dirty rushing.
Both the IFC and the Inter-Sorority Council are taking steps to reform illegal rush procedures at the University. The IFC is attempting to obtain self-governance and therefore have the right to choose when to conduct rush. The ISC recently improved their rush procedures, and now allows more contact between non-Greek first-year girls and girls in sororities. These measures aim to make it easier for Greeks to at least engage in normal social behavior at the University. Before the ISC's reforms, sorority girls were not allowed to talk to first-year girls, unless they were biological sisters. Although the ISC and IFC are trying to free the Greek system of unreasonable laws, the principle of dirty rush is still highly looked down upon.
Despite the negative connotations, the whole principle of dirty rushing is exaggerated to the extent that even members of the Greek system automatically associate "dirty" with "bad." The IFC and ISC figure if rushees are only recruited in the formal rush period that everyone has an equal chance at a fraternity/sorority and the IFC/ISC can oversee more of the proceedings. I fail to comprehend the difference between the formal and informal times of rushing because in both cases fraternities are going to select rushees that they like. By starting early, fraternities are just determining whether potential rushees are a good match. Considering there are over a 1,000 first years involved in rush activities, the task can sometimes be burdensome to select rushees in a matter of two weeks. In fact, with more time, fraternities and sororities might be able to make better decisions on rushees and create a more tight-knit brotherhood/sisterhood.
Those opposed to dirty rushing claim it gives unfair advantages to certain fraternities with more money and clout and creates an unequal environment for first years. However, when a first year shows up at a fraternity party and is a potential rushee, he is obviously thinking about this fraternity and its prospects. If there is truly to be no dirty rushing, first years should not be allowed to attend any fraternity events. Obviously this alternative would not excite first years, since they are not allowed to drink in dorms or go to bars. Where would first years go to get a beer?
Because the Greek system at the University has a large presence, it is nearly impossible to avoid contact with a student involved in Greek affairs at a class, club, sport, etc. If a first year befriends a third year who is in a fraternity, he may think highly of that fraternity. Is this not a form of dirty rush? Any type of conversation involving Greek life at the University could easily affect a first year's opinion of particular fraternities or fraternity life in general.
There exists a difference between attending a frat party and having a fraternity spend money with the sole intent of attracting membership. Yet, both cases affect the opinions of first years before official rush begins in the spring.
For some fraternities, rushing is premised on mostly superficial characteristics anyway, i.e. alumni status, popularity, athleticism, etc. Therefore, it does not matter if you are "dirty rushed", since certain rushees will still feel insecure if they fail to receive invites to the "desirable" fraternities during formal rush. Although sororities have more formal rush procedures which force rushees to visit every ISC member house, the process still relies on reputations
Attempts to formalize the rush process here at the University are quite insignificant; fraternities and sororities will always have contact with first years before the formal rush period starts. Rushees will continue to receive special treatment whether it is in the spring or the fall. The process in general is not truly open-minded or one based on principles adherent to modern motives of equality and fair judgment. The rush process is entirely about judging from the time first years head out to Rugby Road during orientation -- there is nothing dirty about it.
(Michael Behr's column appears Wednesdays in the Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at mbehr@cavalierdaily.com.)
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