Common Rush Info

What is Greek Rush?

Rush is for everyone. Rush is primarily a period when the fraternities on campus hold events where men who might be interested in joining can meet the brothers and find out more about each fraternity. Rush is a time when we can get to know you and you can get to know us. Rush takes the form of a series of events that each organization holds independently. These events are non-alcoholic, and are designed to provide the rushees with an open atmosphere to choose the organization or organizations that suit them best. Typical Rush events include barbecues, casino nights, sporting events, and lots of fun! During Rush, flyers are posted all over campus advertising the Rush events that each fraternity is holding. Fall Rush at Idaho State is a week long and is held during the second or third weeks of the semester. The end of Rush is marked by Bid Day where each fraternity delivers its invitations for membership, which are called bids. Most fraternities throw socials that night or the next to welcome their new members. There is also a Spring Rush during the spring term, which follows the same guidelines as Fall Rush.

How much does Rush cost?

All Greek Rush events are absolutely free!

What am I required to do if I want to Rush?

You are not required to do anything. Being part of Rush simply gives you the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. Just show up to one or as many of the events as you want and get to know the brothers. Just be open and be yourself and remember our anti-hazing policy.

When is Rush?

Greek Rush traditionally begins at the start of each semester, during the second or third week. You can get a complete calendar of Rush Events by clicking the calendar button on the side. Events may not be posted yet.

What will I be asked during Rush?

The ultimate purpose of Rush is to allow Greek Organizations to recruit new members. The process of becoming a new brother is called pledging, and to pledge an organization a student must meet certain guidelines required by our organization. The personal information you provide to us will only be used to verify requirements that need to be met to pledge and to learn more about you. It will not be distributed or available for public viewing.

How do I learn more about Rush?

You can send us your information by clicking the Contact Us button so that we know you are interested in our fraternity. The info you provide does not obligate you to anything. You can also email the Pledge Educator, Brother Mondo Bondo. It is extremely easy and only takes a few seconds!

Which one to join?

Each fraternity is very different, and it is important to choose the right one. The best advice is to meet the brothers of every organization on campus. One way to do this is attend as many Rush events as possible. It is easy to visit just one fraternity and like it so much that you decide to join. However, it may be the ideals that all fraternities share that appeal to you, and not so much the brothers in it. If you join a fraternity for the wrong reasons you are not as likely to maintain interest and you will not get as much out of it. It is essential to choose the right men to be your brothers. Not only is this important for your personal success, but for the betterment of the fraternity as well - the better the brothers within the organization get along, the stronger the brotherhood.

Are the brothers involved in other activities on campus?

Delta Sigma Phi brothers have pride for both our fraternity and university. In addition to the Greek activities in which we participate as a fraternity we have many brothers who participate in non-Greek affairs. While some brothers take an active role in the Greek Council, others participate in intramurals, club sports, Resident Advisors, jazz band, ROTC and many other student organizations on campus. We encourage brothers to follow their own interests while taking advantage of the opportunities Delta Sigma Phi provides.

Facts About Greek Life

Joining a Greek organization opens doors for students that never existed for them before. Ask any Greek on campus what they have learned from their time in their fraternity or sorority and you will hear things like leadership skills, budgeting, organization skills, philanthropy, initiative, social awareness, moral and personal values, and much more. If you're not convinced yet, check out the facts below. Greek individuals comprise only 2% of the population of the United States. However, this 2% is a very powerful group of individuals:

• 9 million members comprise all of the Greek organizations. Within that 9 million, 750,000 current undergraduate members make up 12,000 Chapters and are located on 800 campuses in the USA and Canada!
• As undergraduates, Greeks raise approximates $7 million per year for charities.
• As undergraduates, Greeks give approximately 850,000 volunteer hours per year.
• A U.S. Government study shows that 71% of Greeks graduate, while just over 50% of non-Greeks graduate.
• 43 of the 100 members of the U.S. Senate are members of a fraternity or sorority.
• 85% of Fortune 500 executives are Greek.
• All but two Presidents and Vice-Presidents, born after the founding of the first social fraternity in 1825, were fraternity members.
• Since 1920, 85% of all Supreme Court Justices have been members of a fraternity or sorority.
• 63% of all U.S. Cabinet members since 1900 have been Greek.
• All of the Apollo 11 Astronauts were Greek.
• A study by the University of Missouri found that Greeks throughout the US and Canada are more involved on their campuses are rate their overall university experience better.
• The same Missouri study found Greeks are more financially successful after they graduate than independents, are more involved in their communities, and five more generously to their alma maters.
• Greeks not only participate in their own fraternity or sorority leadership, but are also involved in the same extracurricular activities as nonaffiliated students.
• Greek alumni are more satisfied with the social and cultural aspects of the college experience than nonaffiliated students and are much more likely than nonmembers to participate in community service activities and campus support after graduation.
• Employers consider 18 key factors in evaluating job interviews. The Greek community provides opportunity to develop 12 of those key factors: real-world experience, leadership qualities, personal presentation, attitude, communication skills, problem solving, community service orientation, adaptability-drive-initiative, proven track record, ability to learn, and preparation for interviews.

Useful Greek Terms to Know

Click here for the Greek Alphabet

Active Sister/Brother:
Any member of a Greek Organization. An active member has gone through the pledge process and has been initiated.

Bid:
A Greek Organization's official invitation to join their organization. Bids are normally given at the end of Rush week.

Brotherhood:
Delta Sigma Phi is a brotherhood that is founded on the basis of loyalty. The loyalty shared between the brothers is great. Delta Sigma Phi is brotherhood for a lifetime. Many of the brothers not only reap the benefits of brotherhood, but make lifelong friends in the process. Delta Sig can offer you bonds and friendships that will last well beyond your college career. There are chapters scattered across the country and you will always have a brother, no matter where you go.

Chapter:
The local branch of a Greek Organization. Delta Sigma Phi at ISU is called Theta Nu, designated by when they were chartered.

Depledge:
An individual who has formally accepted a bid to an organization and has begun pledging, but has decided to stop pledging.

Greek Council:
ISU's council that all fraternities and sororities must belong to that set and reinforce rules for all Greek members.

Hazing:
Being forced to do things that are against your will, and violate you as a human being. Hazing is illegal in most states. Delta Sigma Phi's policy on hazing states, "No chapter shall conduct hazing activities. Hazing activities are defined as any act or attempt to embarrass, humiliate, intimidate, ridicule, shame or endanger physically or mentally any person, or to compel physical activity or do physical or emotional harm to any person, or to require consumption or ingestion of liquids, food, or other materials." You can read about other DSP policies here.

Inter Fraternity Council (IFC):
National council who makes and reinforces rules for the male Greek system. The Delta Sigma Phi and Sigma Nu fraternities are members of the IFC.

Legacy:
A rushee who has an immediate family member that is a sister or brother in the Greek Organization they are rushing.

Lifetime Membership:
Membership is a solemn commitment. Joining a fraternity or sorority is a lifelong dedication to the ideals and principals of Greek life. Greek men and women are successful in life because the values learned during the undergraduate years of affiliation continue to be put into action long after graduation.

National Panhellenic Conference (NPC):
National council who makes and reinforces rules for the female Greek system. The Alpha Xi Delta and Sigma Sigma Sigma sororities are members of the NPC.

Pledge:
An individual who has formally accepted a bid from a Greek Organization, is in the education process and has not yet been initiated as an active member.

Pledge Class:
A group of people who have accepted a bid to the same fraternity or sorority and are pledging together.

Pledge Educator:
Someone who is designated to teach pledges about the fraternity and lead them to accomplish project they are required to complete before initiating. This semester the pledge educator is Brother Mondo Bondo. Feel free to contact him with any questions.

Rush Chairman:
Someone designated to look after the needs of their Rush group. Your Rush chairperson is there to see that Rush runs well, and that rules are obeyed. Rushees will be assigned a Rush counselor they can contact any time with questions and concerns.