Despite University's warning, 104 accept sororities' bids

The three on-campus sororities concluded formal rush Friday, offering bids to 104 of the 150 students who initially registered, Panhellic Association President Emily Somerville '06 said.

Twenty-three students dropped rush and the remaining 23 did not receive a bid from a sorority or the sorority of their choice, Somerville said.

Neither sororities nor fraternities are officially recognized by the University, which for the second year in a row sent letters to incoming freshmen and their parents discouraging participation in Greek organizations.

This year there were fewer participating sororities because the on-campus chapter of Delta Delta Delta lost its charter last spring.

Rush began Oct. 2 with two nights of open house parties, held at some of the eating clubs, during which rushees rotated between the Panhellenic reception and three half-hour parties given by each of the sororities — Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Beta Phi.

The parties were meant to be an opportunity for people rushing "to get to know as many sorority women on campus as possible," Somerville said.

At the first day's parties, each sorority performed a skit about the social events it participates in each year.

Parties on the third and fourth nights were invitational. After the third night, rushees had to choose two parties to attend if they were invited back to all three. After the fourth night, rushees submitted their preferences for their first and second choices. Pickups were the next evening.

The Panhellenic reception was a new event this year, replacing the fourth sorority party and also serving as a "chance for people to ask questions outside of a particular sorority," Somerville said.

The reception elicited a very positive response, Somerville said, because rushees were able to ask questions about cost or "whether or not a particular sorority was for them" in a "completely unbiased setting."