How To:
Josh Dover
Staff Writer
We guys have it good when it comes to Greek Recruitment. We don’t have to deal with who we can and can’t talk to, there will be no matching outfits worn each night, incessant singing and inane chatter is kept at a minimum and best of all, in guy’s rush there will definitely be no arts and crafts day. The fraternities do as guys do. There will be baseball games, poker and cigar nights, broomball, “Monday Night Football” and, of course, at least one guy each year makes the traditional trip to the emergency room for stitches or X-rays.
Step One: Get to know them
Unlike a large school, Pepperdine has only four fraternities and each of them has its own distinctive personality. You will hear rumors and talk from people about which fraternity is the “cool” group, which fraternity “parties” or which fraternity is “most like a sorority.” Here is the deal: ignore the stereotypes. (Unless you are a freshman and a gorgeous blonde senior gives you some insight; if so, listen to every word she says.) For everyone else, the first weekend is key: go out and meet all the brothers in each fraternity. Figure out with which guys you can see yourself hanging out. Some will find one fraternity they love, others will find two fraternities that they can see themselves in and others will just find that the entire Greek system isn’t for them.
Step two: Know the lingo
When showing up to the events make sure you are using the right Greek vocabulary. Fraternities hate the word “frat.” It conjures up images of “Animal House,” and let’s be honest, none of the fraternities at Pepperdine are in the same vein as John Blushi’s Delts. So for your convenience here is a little recap: “Psi U,” “Sig Ep” and “Beta” are appropriate abbreviations for Psi Upsilon, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Beta Theta Pi, but no one wants to hear “Sig Chi.” Know why? Because it’s obnoxious and no upperclassman refers to Sigma Chi that way.
Step three: Legacies
If you are a legacy, meaning your brother or father was in a particular fraternity that you are interested in, let the brothers know. If you are a legacy, the fraternities are obligated to take a better look at you. However, don’t flaunt it. No one wants to let in the little brother who is constantly hanging around like a lost puppy.
Step four: Talk to everyone
Once you are at a rush event, talk to everyone. Yes, it may be cool to have a great hour-long, in-depth, gut-spilling talk with one brother, but if in a brief moment of weakness you blow off another brother, you could be toast. Also remember you are going to meet a ton of guys this week, and many times you won’t be able to recognize the actives from the other “rushees.” It’s OK to make the mistake once, but if you are repeatedly asking the president of the fraternity how he likes his freshman seminar class, then you might have to kiss your bid goodbye.
Step five: Make your mark
There are definitely ways to go about this and here are few simple rules:
1. Talking about what you were into in high school is a good thing, but obsessing about your fourth-quarter touchdown in the state championships is kind of sad.
2. Breaking a bone or having to get stitches from a rush event is definitely a plus for you. However, stripping naked and running around is definitely not going help your case.
3. Knowing guys or girls from the active’s hometown is a good thing, but talking about how hot a brother’s youngest sister is probably is not a good idea.
4. Dressing up for the theme nights shows initiative, but the brothers not being able to tell your regular clothes from your theme clothes is a problem.
5. Talking up why you are a good fit for the fraternity shows that you are serious about pledging, but don’t rip on the other fraternities. It’s kind of tacky.
Step six: Bid day
The last meeting where bids are finalized takes a while. Don’t get discouraged if 2 a.m. comes around and there is no knock at your door. However, if the sun is coming up and you still haven’t heard from the fraternity, realize that a bid probably isn’t in the cards. Also, along the same lines, if you are going to go to sleep and wait to see if the brothers are going to wake you up, don’t sleep naked! It’s embarrassing for everyone.
Finally, if and when you do get a bid, a smile and a hand shake is a good way to react. Crying can be awkward, and definitely wait until the guys leave your dorm before you call your mom.
09-23-2004
