Increased numbers from this year’s fraternity rush and the introduction of a new fraternity next year means that Greek life is on the rise.
Forty men rushed for each fraternity chapter this semester, according to Greek life adviser Courtney McKenna. That’s “higher than usual,” she said.
Delta Tau Delta invited 28 students to join their fraternity, according to McKenna. Tau Kappa Epsilon invited 27, and Sigma Phi Epsilon asked 15 to join.
“Spring rush always has the largest numbers,” said Matt Hudak, vice president of recruitment for the Interfraternity Council and member of SigEp.Hudak said the numbers had to do with freshman recruits–more freshmen rush during their second semester.
Heightened interest will be met with a new fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi, next fall, according to McKenna.
A new sorority, Pi Beta Phi, will also be inaugurated next fall. Kappa Delta, another sorority, is expected to colonize in the fall of 2012.
This year’s number of Greek lifers is upward of 800, Hudak said, a large increase from just four years ago.
“My freshman year, seven percent of the campus was Greek,” he said. “As of last year, 14 percent of the campus was Greek.”