by Lucy Hebb
Like most aspects of Sewanee’s social scene, our Greek life is not like that of any other university. From Shake Day attire to the Assistant Dean of Students showing up at fraternity houses with pizza, most students would agree that joining a Greek organization at Sewanee is an easy, laid-back process. What most of us don’t realize, however, is how much behind-the-scenes work goes into rush.
For Channing Title-Fiske (C’14), ISC Vice President of Rush, the weeks surrounding upper class rush were anything but relaxed. Channing’s role was to “facilitate the events, make sure that all of the Greek presidents and rush chairs were clear on dates, times, and details of the week, as well as communicate these events to the upper class rushees.”
Additionally, Channing helped Dean Hagi Bradley deliver pizzas on Shake Day, for which I know we are all eternally grateful. During the week of upperclass rush, men had open house visits on Wednesday night and turned in their bid cards on Friday. The women’s schedule was more eventful.
“For women’s upperclass rush, there were two major events that occurred leading up to Shake Day: Around the World and Meet and Greet.” Channing explains, “Around the World gave the girls a feel for each sorority in an informal setting. At Meet and Greet they were instructed to sign in at their top four sorority choices, then return to the ISC table to fill out their preference cards. This was a more intimate setting because it only included the upperclass women and the officers from each sorority, whereas Around the World was also a pre-rush event for the freshman.” This year, the goal of the IFC and ISC was to “implement new systems” so that “the rush process would go more smoothly than it’s ever gone before.” Overall, Channing views upper class rush as a success and “feel[s] that [it] was a great trial run for what is to come in the Spring and [is] confident that the IFC and ISC will work to make this year the best it can be for the Greek Community.”