Throughout the past week, slogans such as "Be your own person. Join a sorority" and "Don't pay for friends" have appeared on fliers posted across Grounds.
Decrying fraternity and sorority rush, the posters have attracted the attention of many students just as sorority and fraternity rush winds down.
"Everyone I saw in the Newcomb bathroom took the time to read the fliers," first-year College student Mikel Brancato said. "It's getting pretty crowded in there."
Slogans on the fliers urge students not to participate in the rush process for sororities and fraternities. The fliers range from humorous, incorporating well-known 1980's television stars, to serious, listing statistics citing deaths of fraternity members due to alcohol poisoning.
"The fliers made me more skeptical of rush," said first-year College student Fred Arens, who currently is participating in fraternity rush. But "they are somewhat more misleading in the sense that they show severe results of extreme behavior."
Aaron Laushway, assistant dean of students and director of fraternity and sorority life, said he was aware of the fliers.
"I don't know how long they were put up," Laushway said. "They were clearly aimed at highlighting the stereotypes of students who rush."
Anti-rushing propaganda is not new on Grounds. Two years ago, Laushway said, a graduate student in the Engineering School, who was a member of the Inter-Fraternity Council, assumed responsibility for similar fliers.
Some proponents of the Greek system, however, said they believe that the fliers do not have an effect on rush.
"I don't think the fliers have much effect at all," IFC President Phil Trout said. "Most people form their own opinions before they get to school. It is a personal decision."
Trout added that he was against whatever message the fliers sent.
"Speaking for the IFC, I think it's silly," he said.
Laushway said he supports free speech but felt some of the fliers might misrepresent the IFC and Inter-Sorority Council.
"Free speech is encouraged," Laushway said. But "I feel that the ones targeted at the sororities are terribly acerbic because the ISC tries to be a welcoming group and works hard so that anyone who wants to join a sorority can join."
Many people around Grounds said they wondered who is responsible for the fliers, as the distributor remains unknown.
"Why don't they identify themselves?" Trout said. "They are entitled to their opinions, but why are they hiding behind these fliers and not openly speaking their opinions?"
Trout added that the anonymity of those responsible for the signs makes discussion impossible.
"This is a one-sided debate if they are not willing to divulge who they are," he said.
Despite their anonymity, the fliers drew responses from many at the University.
"I thought the fliers were right," Brancato said. "I think it was a good effort to try to get people to realize what they're getting into by rushing frats."
The fliers amused other students even though they did not reflect their opinion of Greek life.
"I didn't really see a problem with them, but they didn't stop me from rushing," first-year College student Katie Sheehan said. "I thought [rushing] was a great opportunity to meet a lot of people, and I didn't know a lot of people since I am from out of state."
Still other students say they agree with some of what the fliers say.
"There were times when I was rushing that some of the stereotypes portrayed through the fliers seemed to be true," said first-year Architecture student Brittany Gjormand, who began rushing but eventually dropped out before the fliers appeared. "It felt that you would become like the rest of the girls in a sorority and you wouldn't be an individual--you don't get to pick a sorority you want, they end up picking you."
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