At the beginning of every semester, rush week allows Greek life organizations vie for student’s loyalties.

“Fall rush week is one of the most important events of the year,” said Keaton Paylor, president of Sigma Pi. “It’s when every fraternity on campus gets most of its new guys.

“New guys equate to more money coming into the chapter, which gives us a better chapter.”

According to Will Lynch, president of Kappa Sigma, rush week takes months of planning.

“Rush week involves planning all the way from the end of the spring semester right up to the beginning of rush week itself,” he said. “It’s our biggest opportunity to recruit new members and really expand Kappa Sigma.”

Besides events on the first week, the fraternities have other events and opportunities.

“It’s a social organization,” said Ian Liss, president of Kappa Alpha. “Many of the things we do in a fraternity are social activities. We have several different parties and philanthropic events through out the year.”

In one such philanthropic event, Liss said Kappa Alpha helped raise about $2000 for MDA last year.

Fraternities, despite their reputations, are not necessarily party groups. Once a member joins a fraternity, they have to keep up their grades and schoolwork.

“After pledging and initiation, members are expected to maintain a GPA above the all men’s GPA average on campus,” said Lynch.

Failure to do so means punishment.

“If we don’t meet grades we become on social probation,” said Liss. “Social probation is where you can’t have parties. The importance of that is so you pass your classes and get out of school.”

At the end of the week, students will receive bids from the fraternities. Students can decline the bid, but if a student accepts the bid, they can join the fraternity.

“No fraternity on campus is supposed to haze,” said Paylor. “Rush week is a lot of fun and I hope everyone on campus will come and check it out.”