Eleven students have accepted bids at the Tabard, Phi Tau and Alpha Theta gender-inclusive fraternities this term, one more than the 10 students who joined during winter recruitment last year. Additionally, Amarna undergraduate society has had eight new members join so far for winter term.
All co-ed houses accept new members during each term through various recruitment and rush processes, president of the Gender-Inclusive Greek Council Matthew Digman ’15 said.
Both Digman and Phi Tau president Aylin Woodward ’15 said that winter rush usually sees fewer students rushing, which is a trend consistent with patterns experienced by sororities and fraternities as well. This fall, more than 30 students accepted bids at co-ed houses.
Phi Tau accepted one new member, Woodward said, although they extended bids to three individuals. Alpha Theta extended six bids and acquired five new members this past week, Alpha Theta president Cristy Altamirano ’15 said, while the Tabard accepted five new members this past week, the Tabard president Connie Gong ’15 said.
Co-ed fraternities have diverse processes for recruiting new members. The presidents of co-ed fraternities said their systems are much less formal than Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic recruitment.
Gong said that the Tabard — which has been co-ed since the College began admitting women in 1972 — hosts rush on a rolling basis, meaning any interested potential new member can join at any point during the term. Although five members have joined the house so far, more are expected to accept bids this week. Gong clarified, however, that most members do join at the start of a new term.
Those who commit to the Tabard for at least one term formally enter into the house, Gong said, adding that there is no distinction between new members and old members. The house held its termly “Meet the Tabards” event on Jan. 21 to formally reach out to potential new members, but any student is welcome to sit in on the Tabard’s Wednesday meetings. Sink night — when new members accept their bids — was the Friday following the “Meet the Tabards” event.
Abhiyant Singh ’16, a brother at Chi Gamma Epsilon fraternity, participated in non-binding rush at the Tabard this term. He said he likes the flexibility that co-ed houses offer during rush and enjoys the community at the Tabard. For any student considering joining a co-ed house, he recommends to “be open-minded about the process.”
Singh has not yet decided whether to commit long-term to the house or not.
Phi Tau also accepts new members on a rolling basis, Woodward said. This term, Phi Tau has favored informal events attempting to attract more ’18s to the house. This term’s numbers are consistent with past winter rush processes, she said.
Alpha Theta’s recruitment period began with two, two-hour sessions on Jan. 13 and 15, during which members of the house introduced themselves to potential new members and gave tours of the house. Students interested in joining Alpha Theta were encouraged to sign the house’s rush book in order to be considered for a bid.
Anyone who is extended a bid has four terms to accept it, Altamirano said, adding that one of the new members this term had received a bid over the summer.
This fall, Alpha Theta began its recruitment process a week earlier than it had in the past to coincide with the IFC and Panhell recruitment periods. Altamirano said that the rationale behind this decision was to clear members’ schedules during the busy times of the term and to allow new members more time to get to know the older members. The new process has so far been successful, Altamirano said.
One of two undergraduate societies at Dartmouth, Amarna has no rush or pledge period. Amarna’s eight new members was higher than expected for this winter, president Julia Salinger ’15 said.
Salinger added that any student who wants to join Amarna is immediately admitted, and all Amarna events are open to the general student body. Additionally, new members are welcome at any time during the term, Salinger said.
This past August, Amarna was recognized as an affiliate member of the Gender-Inclusive Greek Council under the Council’s new constitution.The constitution included a variety of other amendments, aimed at strengthening the Council’s nondiscrimination policy and fostering a more inclusive environment for students. The new constitution was ratified by the membership of each house this past fall.
Panarchy undergraduate society is not a part of the Gender-Inclusive Greek Council.
Woodward is a member of The Dartmouth staff.
