Although it has been two years since former Dean of Students Robert T. Canevari moved formal rush to the spring, the issue still stimulates debate among the Inter-Fraternity Council and some University administrators.
Now, even with the release of a detailed financial report compiled by two Darden students, the debate still has not come to a close.
While some administrators want to keep formal rush in the spring, fraternity leaders claim spring rush hurts fraternity houses not only financially, but also with overall pledge numbers and with housing situations.
The debate over the rush date began during 1997's Fall Convocation, when then-Faculty Senate Chairman Jahan Ramazani made a speech urging the University community to consider moving formal fraternity rush to the spring. Two years later, the IFC commissioned Darden students Edward F. Davis and James M. Grimes to release a report of 1999 rush statistics, analyzing the financial effects of spring rush on the Greek system.
Davis and Grimes examined the 1998 spring rush's effects on fraternity housing and the number of formal rush participants and investigated financial losses. The report found revenue changes ranged from an increase of 44.6 percent to a decrease of 53 percent. Davis said more students participated in formal rush this spring than last year. This year 410 men accepted bids while 380 accepted bids in 1999.
"The individual fraternities will need to make decisions that they hoped they would not have to make, but in three to five years, no one will think anything of conducting rush in the spring instead of the fall," Grimes said.
But despite the graduate students' findings, IFC leaders said they are committed to keeping the rush date dialogue open.
IFC President Justin Saunders said fraternities favor fall rush not just for financial reasons.
"Fraternities have the potential to be the best mentorship program," Saunders said. Having a connection with upperclassmen is "an invaluable experience that really helps first years get involved."
Saunders said although Davis and Grimes' report did give the IFC good advice, the report was not necessarily conclusive. He said the IFC will continue to collect financial data to investigate the matter.
Davis said he agreed that the IFC should continue to collect information on the issue.
Because the data was only from one year and did not include all 32 houses, Saunders said, the distribution numbers are accurate but the information is inconclusive.
Grimes noted that the change from fall rush to spring rush had its effects, but that fraternities will be able to cope with changes.
University administrators said they intend to help the IFC recover from possible financial losses.
This June, administrators from the Dean of Students Office will hold a meeting with the Board of Visitors where they will address ways in which the administration can help the IFC.
"A committee of administrators, undergraduate students, alumni and faculty are going to be assessing what the University can do to help with the financial problems," Saunders said.
Asst. Dean of Students Aaron Laushway said any decisions about exactly how to help the IFC would not be made until June.
In February, the Board passed a resolution to stay out of the rush debate until the fraternities could prove they were in financial jeopardy but Board of Visitors Rector John P. Ackerly III said the purpose of the meeting in June is for the University to come up with a plan to strengthen the Greek system.
"What I would like to see come out of the discussion is a cooperative effort by the University to publicly support the Greek system," Saunders said. He said that support from the University does not necessarily mean money, but also can include helping to increase the number of formal rush participants as well as examining housing situations.
Since first-year students who decide to live off Grounds often sign a lease before rush starts, this leaves fraternities with few second-year members living in their fraternity houses.
Grimes said the housing situation was one of the IFC's main concerns. Rent is one of the greatest sources of revenue for fraternity houses.
Board member Joseph Wolfe said he feels the Greek system is a time-honored University tradition and needs to be dealt with accordingly.
"The very essence of college life, the camaraderie, the loyalty, the working of projects and the tradition of the fraternities needs to be preserved and protected," Wolfe said.
He said the "Board is there to offer support" and that he would personally like to see "the University exhaust its wherewithal to see if [the situation] can be corrected with their efforts."
Saunders said University aid would help the fraternity system remain viable for years to come.
Although the IFC still wishes to have control over the decision of rush dates, when fraternity houses sign their Fraternal Organization Agreements, they give the administration the authority over deciding rush dates. The FOA is a contract that each fraternity house signs with the University. This formal recognition from the University is often necessary to receive financial benefits from fraternity national chapters.
Student Council College Rep. Nathan A. Cook said the only way to get around the rush stipulations in the FOA is to try to convince administrators to change its format.
"The IFC's best hope is to inform and arouse student opinion and to continue to hammer away at any opening they can find. This isn't like negotiating the contract for a car or a house; in this case, the administration holds all the cards," Cook said.
Because of the financial benefits of having an FOA, most fraternities are "backed into a corner" about signing the document, he said.
"Only by changing the minds of administrators can the IFC win the right to hold rush when they want and exercise full self-governance," he added.
Inter-Sorority Council President Allison White said while sorority women prefer spring rush, they "favor the fraternity's right to choose when they hold formal rush."
Dean of Students Penny Rue said she feels spring rush is beneficial because it allows a more stable first-year experience.
Oct. 31, 1997: During his address at Fall Convocation, then-Faculty Senate Chairman Jahan Ramazani calls on the University community to move formal Inter Fraternity Council rush to the spring.
Feb. 12, 1998: The College of Arts & Sciences faculty members unanimously pass a resolution to recommend that formal rush be moved to the spring.
Spring, 1998: The IFC is given a formal proposal from the Dean of Students office. The proposal, if passed, would ban fraternity-bought alcohol at fraternity parties. Former Dean of Students Robert T. Canevari said he would keep rush in the spring if the IFC accepted the proposal.
April 3,1998: Canevari announces his decision to move formal rush to spring after the IFC voted not to accept the proposal.
Jan. 20, 1999: First day of spring rush, the first time in more than 20 years that rush has been in the spring.
Spring and Fall, 1999: Fraternity presidents claim financial hardship as a result of spring rush. Rush discussion continues between IFC members and the new Dean of Students Penny Rue.
Feb. 26, 2000: In a resolution, the University's Board of Visitors stays out of the rush debate, affirming the authority of the University administration to determine the start date of formal rush.
March, 2000: Student Council puts a referendum on the elections ballot asking student opinion of the rush debate. 50 percent of students were in favor of giving fraternities the authority to decide the rush date, 30 percent did not and 20 percent abstained from voting on the referendum.
April 3, 2000: Darden financial Report is released, showing that fraternities have not suffered financial hardships this year as a result of spring rush.
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