Another year and another rush

Another year and another rush
By Wheeler Cowperthwaite
Tuesday, September 4th, 2007

A new wave of policy enforcement, increased vigilance from police and a fight for more participation in Greek life mark the yearly return of fall rush.

Rush week kicked off Thursday for the fraternities and sororities. The sororities finished Monday and the fraternities will end rush week Sept. 13.

The sororities are expecting at least 250 pledges, said Kate Rice, 21, of Delta Gamma. Most of the fraternities are optimistic about this year’s rush, as well.

“We’ve seen a bigger turnout so far,” said Jeremiah Todd, president of Lambda Chi Alpha.

Sally Morgan, the director of student conduct, said Greek participation in new student orientation is stronger than ever.

The Greeks have also been working with an alcohol-free rush week during the past few semesters.

“We’re stepping up enforcement (of Fraternal Judicial Council rules) from last year,” said Nate Digangi, chief justice of the Fraternity Judicial Council.

The Fraternal Judicial Council didn’t exist until last fall, said Digangi, 24. Because of the judicial council’s existence, enforcement can be stepped up.

“This is the first semester that we’re playing a major role in the Interfraternity Council,” he said.

Digangi said he plans on patrolling fraternity row to make sure all the frats are obeying Interfraternity Council and Fraternal Judicial Council bylaws.

“I hope to have nine FJC members checking up on the fraternities during rush week,” Digangi said. “I expect four or five members to work the parties and events.”

In the past, the university was the only entity doling out punishment, Digangi said.

“(If a violation is found) we file a complaint with the FJC,” Digangi said. “Then we compile evidence about the infraction. We can write a letter to their national headquarters or revoke their charter.”

Sgt. Kevin Stein, of the University of Nevada, Reno Police Department, is not too worried about this year’s rush.

“The fraternities have gotten better over the years,” Stein said.

He said UNRPD will be making sure that no one is doing the “Reno Shuffle” – where someone stumbles and staggers down the street while inebriated – down fraternity row.

“We are more vigilant in the rush areas,” Stein said.

UNRPD is required to make a docket for every call, Stein said. If a student is cited or arrested for minor in possession or minor in consumption, the case also gets forwarded to Sally Morgan, the director of student conduct.

“We’re not here to get people in trouble,” Stein said.

“We’re here to maintain the safety of the people.”

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