Fraternities’ relaxing rush week ends with new bids

After a week of free food, hanging out, and talking to the brothers of Pitt’s fraternities,… After a week of free food, hanging out, and talking to the brothers of Pitt’s fraternities, rushers were ready to sign their bids. At 5:01 Friday afternoon, Spring Rush ended for fraternities at Pitt.

Throughout the week, different fraternities at Pitt hosted events welcoming interested men to spend some time learning about the Greek way of life.

Compared to sorority recruitment, fraternity rush has a more laid-back atmosphere.

Inter-fraternity Council President Steve Mihlfried observed rush events held by different fraternities.

Wednesday night at Sigma Chi, brothers played pool and ate Arby’s food with rushers at their house on the Hill, the common name for a neighborhood of fraternity houses on Pitt’s upper campus.

Sigma Chi was not able to hold rush last year, so they saw a turnout of many interested men.

“We’ve been packed all week,” said Chris Eboli, the rush chairman for Sigma Chi. “It’s been going really good this year.”

Sigma Chi is one of the largest fraternities on campus, with more than 65 active members. Sigma Chi held a rush event at Peter’s Pub earlier in the week, offering wings and soda to interested men.

Mihlfried visited Sigma Phi Epsilon on the Hill, where brothers were playing table tennis and munching on pizza with rushers.

“Everyone has been real friendly,” freshman Max Zingle said. Zingle decided to rush in the spring instead of the fall. “I wanted to rush when fewer people were doing it,” he explained

The last place Mihlfried visited on the Hill was Sigma Alpha Epsilon, where brothers were eating Chinese food and socializing.

“Turnout has been better than expected,” said Justin Meservie, the president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

“It’s funner than I thought it would be,” freshman Joe Graziano said.

Graziano said he learned that fraternity brothers “definitely aren’t the stereotypical meatheads.”

An engineering student, Graziano waited for the spring to rush. “Just moving in [during] the fall was chaotic,” he said.

Later on that night, Mihlfried met up with SGB President and Lambda Chi Alpha Rush Chair Brian Kelly to watch him hand out bids. Mihlfried is also a Lambda Chi Alpha brother.

Toward the end of the week, brothers decided which rushers they want to join their fraternities. They then surprise them with bids written on University Bid Cards. Bids are official invitations to join the fraternity. Rushers handed bids can wait until the end of rush to make a decision.

At 11:05 p.m. on the third floor of the Hillman Library, Dan Frederick received a bid for the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity from Kelly.

Shocked, Frederick shook hands with Kelly.

“The general feeling of acceptance is great,” Frederick said. Frederick, a sophomore, didn’t rush his freshman year.

“Freshman year, I didn’t even think of it,” Frederick said.

Frederick’s choice wasn’t unusual, according to Kelly.

“Almost every single person in our fraternity never had the intention of joining a fraternity,” Kelly explained.

But Frederick pointed out, “It feels good to be a part of something.”