The Inter-Sorority Council will consider abolishing the no-contact rule between sorority women and first-year women, which is in effect in the fall prior to formal spring rush.
Sorority presidents will meet today to discuss and vote on the specifics of the new rules. While the no-contact rule most likely will be abolished, full contact still will not be permitted, ISC President Allison White said.
There still will be some restrictions such as forbidding sororities from spending money on first years or inviting them into sorority houses before rush, White said.
"We are still in the process of working out all the kinks," she said.
Now the no-contact rule forbids sorority women from having any contact with first-year women during the fall semester. The ISC originally established the rule to allow first years to become accustomed to University life before being introduced to rush and the Greek system.
But studies conducted this year by the ISC found that the no-contact rule actually deterred many first-year women from rushing.
The ISC also received unofficial reports that many sororities were ignoring the rule and contacting first years.
"It didn't work anyway because lots of sororities were breaking the rule," Alpha Chi Omega President Julie Sears said.
White said she hopes the new contact policy not only will increase rush numbers but also foster a friendly environment between sororities and University community members.
The no-contact rule "adds to the impression that sororities are snobby," said first-year College student and Sigma Kappa Cindy Rockholt.
"I can see [the rule's] point but I found it to be a little unnecessary," first-year College student Ellen Loney said.
Asst. Dean of Students Aaron Laushway commended the ISC for exercising its right of self-governance and reviewing its rules and regulations.
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