Clemson University - Taps Yearbook (Clemson, SC)

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IFC Rush Fraternities Attract Fewer i lale Students 28 Student Lite

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This year Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity again sponsored the parade which hallmarked the beginning of the home football season at Clemson. Pound the Hound was the theme forthis parade. In past years, the themes for the parade were Wreck Tech and Dam the Wave. Twenty-five members of the Downtown Business Association pro- vided prizes for the forty-five entries in the seven categories. The three judges were chosen at random. They judged floats on originality, craftsmanship, spirit, color, and theme. The parade started Friday afternoon at the Clemson Baptist Church and ran down mainstreet, through West Campus to Fike Field for a pep rally. Atthe Pep rally winners for the parade were announced: Best Overall-Kappa Kappa Gamma; Fraternity-Alpha Tau Omega; Sorority-Delta Delta Delta; Male Dorm-D-3 Johnstone; Female Dorm-Young Hall; Honorary- Professional-Religious-Catholic Stu- dents; Student Organizations-Block and Bridle; Independent-Chuck Gordon ' s truck. Red Parker ' s Chuck Wagon sponsored by Kappa Kappa Gamma captured first place overall for the day ' s competition. -: .. 1 hr:- •■■ - ; Um y.y- % i. f - m% 1 .♦♦ % • ' v H 0

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Clemson University ' s Inter- Fraternity Council chianged some of thieir guidelines thiis year in wt at appeared to be a nnove to offset current recruitment problems which have emerged in re- cent years. In the past several years, the fifteen Clemson fraternities have failed to see an increase in Greek population in comparison to the overall enrollment for the Clemson campus. Although no fraternity has been threatened by the problem, they are finding fewer and fewer interested males when it comes time for Rush. Rush, the term used for formal recruit- ment parties held at the beginning of each semester, has never permitted a first semester freshman to enter a frater- nity. Although most schools throughout the nation had previously dropped the The brothers of Phi Gamma Delta take time out to pose for a shot during one of their ofterparties. The burden of rush sets in as the brothers of Kappa Phi take time out for one more, before clean up begins for another party on the next night. outdated rule, Clemson ' s Interfraternity Council maintained that freshmen were not capable to handle fraternities dur- ing their orienting period. The rule was finally changed in April as a result of much complaining from various mem- bers. The new rule will permit incoming Freshmen to join even though the Fall Rush will be under the close direction of the IFC. The new rule has brought better hopes to the Clemson ' s fifteen. National trends have been moving in the favorable di- rection. Northern fraternities, for exam- ple, have been experiencing great success. The trend is predicted to hit Clemson in several years. Although fall rush at Clemson was no major success this year, fraternities found their major problems were with the IFC Closed Rush which was held in January, The program requires that all interested males register in advance to the week of parties. The program has been said to turn away any interested underclassman that is even the least bit skeptical. One member of the council said, Closed Rush will be the next major problem that will have to be dealt with. Rush Week at C lemson consists of four consecutive nights of social functions, in which current members attempt to choose future members from interested male students. The first two nights, usu- ally Wednesday and Thursday, provide open parties for those that wish to at- tend. Each night is followed by an after- party, where alcohol may be added to the night ' s activities. Invitational parties follow on the next two nights, where members will make their final decisions. The general fraternity system at Clem- son seems to be growing steadily de- spite their present setbacks. The ad- ministration has limited the number of fraternities permitted to come onto campus at fifteen. It appears that with the increased enrollment predicted for Clemson ' s future, the membership of Greek organizations cannot help but grow, student Life 29