Rush Violations Show Lack of Respect

   After reading "Living Groups Fined for Rush Violations" [Nov. 30], I
   was appalled by how the rush rules created by the Interfraternity
   Council and the penalties that IFC imposes on rush violations seem to
   be regarded as a total joke by many members of MIT's Greek community.
   
   As a member of a sorority, it is my understanding that rush rules are
   created to promote the spirit of rush, and I am very disturbed by the
   fact that certain fraternities treat these rush rules as a nuisance
   rather than a necessity. Rush rules should not be looked upon as
   obstacles that need to be avoided or ignored in order to run a good
   rush; rather, they are created with the intent to encourage a fair
   rush so that all members of MIT's Greek community can benefit from
   rush without giving any unfair advantages to a particular fraternity
   or sorority.
   
   Before rush, all members of MIT's fraternities and sororities are
   prepped extensively on the rush rules; every member of MIT's Greek
   community knows what the rush rules are, and most of the rush rules
   are common sense anyway. When members of a fraternity or sorority
   blatantly and purposely ignore the rush rules it shows that those
   members are either sadly ignorant or so insecure about their house's
   abilities to run a good rush that they need to resort to cheating not
   only the incoming freshman class and all other rushees, but also their
   own house and the entire MIT Greek community. The violation of rush
   rules also indicates an incredible lack of respect for all members of
   MIT's fraternities and sororities and makes a mockery out of the Greek
   system and IFC.
   
   I also think that the penalties for rush violations need to be
   strengthened. Obviously the fines and other penalties for rush
   violations aren't effective if some houses are paying the same fines
   for the same violations year after year. Fines of $1,200 may seem like
   a lot to pay for rush violations, but in a house of 60 brothers, the
   fines are easily taken care of. It is also an insignificant amount if
   through dishonest tactics, the house is able to obtain the pledges
   that it wants, who will eventually pay back the money and much more in
   dues.
   
   For those members of MIT's Greek community who have a warped sense of
   fair competition, there really is no reason for them to follow the
   rush rules. Penalties for rush violations need to be made more
   significant and more appropriate; for instance, social probation or
   having to start rush a day late. The penalties should put the
   offending fraternity at the disadvantage that it put other
   fraternities at by cheating during rush.
   
   Although I feel that the penalties for rush violations need to be
   strengthened, these penalties wouldn't even be necessary if all
   members of MIT's fraternities and sororities respected the rush rules.
   It is unfortunate that rush at MIT is criticized by many because of
   its tendency to resemble a mass meat market rather than a way for
   freshmen to find their home away from home. Members of MIT's
   fraternities and sororities should work together during rush to change
   that kind of negative thinking. The flagrant disregard of rush rules
   that is often exercised during rush not only contributes to rush's bad
   reputation, but also detracts from the integrity and friendship that
   should be the hallmark of MIT's Greek community.
   
   Audrey C. Wu '96
   

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Copyright 1993 by The Tech. All rights reserved.
This story was published on  Tuesday,  December 7, 1993.
Volume  113, Number 63
The story was printed on page  4.
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