Rush and Recruitment:
Spring Recruitment begins with Rush Week. Cornell, which recognizes Greek Life as an integral part of many Cornellians’ lives, opens the dorms a week early so Rush Week can take place. Many people describe Rush Week as the greatest week in their Cornell experience. It is a time when you meet potentially hundreds of new people - many of whom will become lifelong friends. Even if you have no plan of joining a fraternity, we encourage you to come back and enjoy Rush Week with us.
In order to have a great Rush Week there are some terms you should know:
- Rush – The period where fraternities formally recruit new members for their chapter. It is a fun and exciting opportunity to meet new people and take part in a wide range of social events.
Brothers gather in preparation for Rush Week
- Smokers - Open house events during Rush Week where prospective new members (rushees) visit individual chapter houses around campus. At these events, prospective new members get the opportunity to meet the brothers and tour the chapter house. The term “smokers” comes from the early 20th century practice of smoking cigars during these events.
- Contacts – Event where representatives from a fraternity visit a prospective new member in his dormitory room for a more personal small group talk.
- Bid – A fraternity’s formal invitation for a non-member to join their brotherhood. Rushees may receive bids from more than one fraternity.
- Pledging/New Member Education – Period of associate membership where new members become acquainted with the brotherhood and learn the traditions, customs, and history of their fraternity. The term “pledging” comes from the pledge of loyalty that every new member takes to the ideals and goals of the brotherhood. After the pledging period is completed, the new members are initiated as full brothers into their fraternity.
“Coming into rush week, I had no intention of joining a fraternity. But by the end of rush, a gut feeling made me change my mind. I felt that the Greek system was where I could excel at Cornell. It felt right then and it still does now. I haven’t regretted it.” – Joel Crist
“Rushing was an awesome time to have fun, meet new people, and find the right fraternity for me. I highly recommend it, even if you don’t think you’ll end of joining a fraternity. Pledging – despite the negative connotations associated with it – was a great opportunity for me to get to know my brothers and my fraternity.” – Steve Matthews
We invite you come back for rush week and experience the free food, socializing, and opportunities to make one of the greatest decisions of your life.