In Greek Life, Rushes Discover Community

As sororities’ rush season draws to a close and fraternities’ recruitment period moves ahead full-steam, those seeking a place in Harvard’s Greek life scene say they want more than to be just another frat brother or sorority sister—they want community.

While acknowledging that extracurricular activities and House life do offer a social outlet, rushes interviewed by The Crimson said that fraternities and sororities fulfill a different role.

“With fraternities, it’s specifically about the camaraderie,” said Stephen P. Murphy ’13, who is currently rushing Sigma Chi.“Fraternities are more focused on the people whereas the extracurriculars are more about the interest.”

Louis A. Cid ’14, who received an invitation under his door encouraging him to come and to bring friends to Sigma Chi’s rush event, said that the variety of students within fraternities appealed to him.

“All the other groups that are around have a very specific goal and a common interest,” Cid said. “I think Sigma Chi is cool because everyone has all kinds of interests.”

Women rushing Harvard’s sororities had similar reasons. Distance runner Catherine G. Hasbrouck ’14—a baby, or new member, of Delta Gamma—said she rushed because she wanted to meet girls who were not on the track team.

Greek leaders added that the purchase of spaces by fraternities and sororities may have contributed to increased interest.

Sigma Chi has had a house on Arrow Street for ten years and Sigma Alpha Epsilon recently purchased an apartment on Harvard Street, according to the fraternities’ respective presidents.

Delta Gamma said on its Facebook page that it acquired an apartment last year and a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma said that the group is in the process of purchasing its own space.

Phillip J. Morris ’12, president of SAE, said that it was possible that the club’s recent acquisition of a social space contributed to the increase in rush numbers this year.

Morris also attributed the increase in rush numbers to the collaborative efforts of both fraternities and sororities to expand the Greek presence on campus.

“I think just Greeks getting their name out has had a big effect,” Morris said.

—Staff writer Monika L. S. Robbins can be reached at mrobbins@college.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Hana N. Rouse can be reached at hrouse@college.harvard.edu.