University of Kansas - Jayhawker Yearbook (Lawrence, KS)

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New Students Rush Scholarship, individual achievement and service to the University were among the major emphases of 1966 men ' s rush. Increased pressure from the draft and increasingly rigid Universi ty scholastic requirements found KU fraternities stressing their roles as college service organizations based on enhancing, rather than detracting from, a man ' s educational experience. Through the Interfraternity Council—the student governing body of fraternities—open rush during August and formal September rush provided over 600 men an opportunity to evaluate the offerings of the 27 KU fraternities in context with their educational re- quirements. Spring and summer rush parties, visits by fraternity men, and other rush functions designed to acquaint the rushee with KU and its fraternities re- sulted in 331 men pledging before the end of August. Formal rush, September 6-9, brought rushees three days of concentrated decision-making. Train date din- ners casual parties held by each fraternity on the eve of rush week—were the first of a series of organized rush functions which filled rushees ' days. Each of the two and one-half days of formal rush con- sisted of a series of two-hour visits at fraternities of the rushees ' choice. At Templin Hall, the KU rush week dormitory, counselors helped answer rushees ' questions about fraternities and KU life. By the end of rush week 241 men the pledge class openings which remained from August, bringing 89% of those participating in rush into fraternities. Nineteen sixty-six women ' s fall rush began the sec- ond year of separate upperclass and freshman rush. The fall system helps sororities fill their houses from the beginning of the semester and also relieves some of the numerical problems posed later by mid-year freshman rush. This year 173 women participated in the four-day rush period, September 10-13. Teas, dinners, and skits served as means to acquaint rushees and members of the 13 KU sororities. Visits completed and decisions made, rushees signed preference cards and anxiously awaited pledge class announcements from the Dean of Women. Three yell-ins held by groups of KU sorori- ties formally introduced the 55 new pledges to the campus. DURING FALL RUSH, members of the Phi Psi house explain various aspects of fraternity life to prospective pledges. 6

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PrievH(; Twelve years have passed since the Office of Ad- missions and Records established a summer program to facilitate new students ' transition to KU. Now an established institution, the KU Previews program has grown from its 1954 beginning when 28% of entering freshmen attended to this year ' s Previews when over 80% of the freshman class attended. Composed of ten three-day summer orientation sessions, Previews provide the entering student an advance opportunity to complete several enrollment prerequisites. Scholastic placement exams and phys- ical examination evaluations fill the basic schedule. To augment the orientation process Previews include time for meetings with representatives from each aca- demic department, the offices of the Dean of Men and the Dean of Women, and with undergraduates from the Student Advisory Board. Previews serve an important function in KU ' s annual venture to orientate and enroll several thousand new students. The weeks intervening between placement exams takenat Previews and September enrollment allow time for placement score evaluations to be made before students select courses in September. Simi- larly, physical examination evaluations at Wat- kins Hospital help distribute students more evenly and comfortably in the enrollment process. Administration of Previews is overseen by Registrar James K. Hitt and coordinated by Max F. Fuller, As- sistant Director of Admissions. Previews ' help to new students eases September orientation and enrollment. The program also serves to help new students to acquaint themselves with their prospective classmates, the campus, and the spirit of life as a Jayhawker. FROM THE FIRST Previews session in June until the end of Orientation week in September, numerous informal dances intro- duce entering students to the lighter side of KU life. 5

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WITH THE CONCLUSION of formal rush week, a new pledge is drawn into KU fraternity life by a warm handshake from an upperclassman. FRAMED BY A SPRAY from their fountain, Chi ' Omega ' s serenade fall rushees after one of several organized parties. 7