Oregon State University - Beaver Yearbook (Corvallis, OR)

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Jeff Cundith, freshman in UESP and Delta Upsilon pledge was transported from one person to another, becoming one of hundreds of young men to pledge a fraternity at Oregon State University. Members of the fraternity Delta Tau Delta pass a pledge overhead In the MU Quad at the end of 8id Day. Crrf, R»nn«r Dave McIntosh, junior in business and president of Delta Upsilon uses the house flag as a towel as he runs down 26th street near campus. After running full speed down the Memorial Union stairs, a Pike pledge discovers the meaning of trust when he flung himself high in the air into the trusting hands of his Pike brothers. Fraternity Rush 27

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oming Out On Top Fraternity growth ensured by pledges You're just so hyped up for the moment you don't even care if it's going to hurt. You just run out there. )) Mike McKee, Sigma Alpha Epsilon pledge Mik« Sells, freshman in pre-engineering and Delta Upsilon pledge travels the traditional route taken Oy all pledges on bid day. The doors of the Memorial Union burst open, men came flying down the stairs and flung themselves in the air only to be caught by eager and willing arms admist robust cheers and laughter. Fraternity rush was ending and a week of fun and happy memories was almost over. I had the best time, commented Mark Larson, a freshman in pre-engineering from Kappa Sigma. There were lots of things to do and lots of food to eat. Diving out into the crowd during formal pledging was a really exciting experience, said Mike McKee, a freshman from Sigma Alpha Epsilon. You're just so hyped up for the moment that you don't even care if it's going to hurt. You just run out there. Rush is the most structured thing we do for the whole year, said Jeff Nuss, the president of the Inter-fraternity council. Fraternity rush started a week before fall term officially began at Oregon State University. Rush week was intense and competitive because every house was looking for the cream of the crop. A fraternity needs new blood each year to grow and ensure it's existence. So what actually happened during rush week? It was a week long social mixer where participants encountered the pleasant aspects of socializing. Rush week was divided into two main periods, A and B. Rushees were required to sign up to visit four different houses during period A. Two smokers and two dinner dates took place on Wednesday and Thursday. Smokers are events where rushees may get to water-ski, play miniature golf or participate in a friendly game of volleyball allowing the members and rushees to get better acquainted. Period B started Friday when the rushees gathered once again at Gill Coliseum to get invitations back to houses they visited during period A. They were required to sign up for another four dates at different houses or they had the option to suicide to sign all four dates at the same house. On Friday night, the 26 fraternities sent I.F.C. a list of the rushees that they were extending bids to. Some guys to share my life with, and have a good time going through school with was the reason that Larson decided to go through rush. Rush began on a Monday when most fraternities had open house. This gave the rushees the opportunity to meet the members. This casual open house period was when they were informed about the rules, regulations and procedures of rush. We stress it to be a dry rush, commented Nuss. The fraternities were not allowed to have any alcoholic functions throughout rush week and Nuss stressed there is a no alcohol period. The I.F.C. tried to enforce this rule by sending out a regulations board which visited houses during scheduled rush events. A new pledge takes the Memorial Union stairs three at a time before diving intc the crowd Of awaiting fraternity brothers. Any house caught violating this rule faced serious consequences. Depending on how serious the offense was, the judicial committee would decide to prohibit the house from participating in rush. Improvement on enforcement of rules, to make it a fair rush, was what Brian Lee, a pledge from Farmhouse, commented. Maybe I.F.C. should review and improve on their rules for next year. Smokers were impersonal, a formality to go through because there were so many guys, said Tim Kim of Sigma Chi. When smokers just began they were exactly that. Fraternity men could dress-up and invite potential brothers to their house to stand around and chat... and smoke cigars. When Saturday morning dawned all the rushees gathered at the Memorial Union. There was excitement and anticipation as the rushees were given their bids. They decided then which house to pledge and hence decided their new home. Pledging is the most emotional part, said Lee about bid day. Meanwhile outside the air was crackling with tension. The doors opened, names were announced and the tension was let loose with robust cheers and sighs of relief. Rush is a period of getting to know the house, yourself, and which house would best fit from what you want out of a fraternity and school, said Lee, summarizing rush week perfectly. □ by Lila Asnani i 26 Fraternity Rush

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Tfrry Pof T«ny Pox Cycling along Kings Boulevard on a Brike 2000. an OSU student uses an alternative method of transportation also used in conjunction with stress tests. Hundreds of bicycles can be seen daily on the OSU campus alongside mopeds. skateboards, cars and various other modes of transportation. A clogged drain near the corner of campus of 13th and Monroe created an obstacle for students and motorists alike. 28 Making New Tracks