So you are interested in rushing a fraternity at the University of Colorado Boulder? 

Depending on who you ask and definitely depending on who is in your circle, Greek life can be a significant or a minute part of campus life. For some, Greek life equates to the ideal college experience. For others, it simply is a nuisance. While there are many students at CU Boulder who are not involved in Greek life, for those who are, it can be a formative experience. 

Fraternities have a rather checkered history at Boulder. Many of the fraternities at CU Boulder have been kicked off campus at least once since their founding. However, they also provide philanthropic elements and can help make a university of 30,000 feel significantly smaller. Regardless of their benefits and deficits, there are three “types” of social fraternities at the university. 

First, there are those fraternities that are affiliated with the university. Consisting of seven fraternities, the University of Colorado Boulder Interfraternity Council (IFC) is the most recent addition to Greek life.  This IFC hosts seven different fraternities. CU Boulder lists a plethora of benefits for fraternities that partner with the university’s IFC. Here is a list of all of them. 

The main benefits of associating with CU Boulder boil down to two things: being allowed to use the university’s resources and being able to officially partner with sororities. However, it’s important to note that unaffiliated fraternities also partner with sororities outside of university-related activities, so university-affiliated fraternities are not the only ones that hang out with girls. 

This brings us to our second group: the IFC on the Hill. Officially titled the Undergraduate Interfraternity Council at the University of Colorado, the IFC severed ties with CU Boulder in 2005, essentially signifying that the fraternities are no longer affiliated with the university. Currently, the IFC represents 22 different fraternal organizations ranging in size and is the largest group of Greeks. 

Finally, there are two fraternities, Kappa Sigma and Sigma Pi, who are not affiliated with either CU Boulder or the IFC on the Hill. However, these fraternities are nationally recognized. Because of this recognition, they do report to their nationals– the international organization that oversees all chapters of the fraternity. 

Forest Coon, the president of Kappa Sigma, elaborates, “We still do comply with rules and we are still regulated. We just have to report to our nationals as opposed to a third party on campus, which is the IFC. We don’t have to pay the extra IFC fees. They don’t regulate what we do, but when it comes to rush and when it comes to being a pledge and stuff like that, it is very, very on par with everyone else.” 

Now, normally all three groups will rush at the same time in order to ease the burden on rushees; however, in the COVID-19 era, each group will be handling the rushing process differently. The CU Boulder IFC plans on rushing virtually, while the IFC on the Hill is allowing each fraternity to handle the rush process differently. Regardless of the format of rushing, the end goal still remains: to find the brotherhood that’s right for you.

Rushing is a fancy term for man-flirting. You, a rushee, will visit houses (virtually or not) when they are “open” to see if you fit in with the brothers, or official members, in the house. Basically, you go have a conversation with the brothers and see if they like you, and more importantly, if you like them. 

I want you to remember that last point. A fraternity is a commitment for as long as you want it to be. For most, it is a lifetime commitment. This brotherhood is something that you should be proud of sharing, associating with and being a part of. So as you rush, don’t just ask about parties or girls or activities; ask about philanthropy, ask about grades, ask about brotherhood. Because in the long run, these all matter. Ultimately, the choice is yours: where do you belong? 

“We all wanted the opportunity to meet people different from ourselves and establish a community of brothers,” explains Arthur Didinsky, president of Sigma Alpha Mu, when asked why he and his brothers decided to rush. 

Is your reasoning for rushing similar? Maybe you are like Tyler Nichols, president of Sigma Tau Gamma, who felt a draw to Greek life because of his family history with it. 

Scott Albertoni, president of Beta Theta Pi, describes the benefits of rushing: “I can honestly say I am not the same person I was when I first got to college. The conversations, education and leadership experience I have gained while being in a fraternity is something I haven’t found anywhere else on campus.”

The growth Albertoni described is just one of the reasons many students decide to rush. Each person has his or her own reason to rush. And at CU Boulder, there are houses that cater to those reasons. So you can take it from me or take it from the presidents I interviewed: authenticity matters. The goal is not to become a brother at the perceived coolest house on campus or the house that throws the best parties, but to find a group of people, or brothers, that you can associate with the rest of your life.

Forest Coon explains, “The most important thing someone rushing should know, in my opinion, is to explore a variety of houses and while doing that, to be true to themselves. I know that is corny but like I previously said, if the rushee is acting ‘fake’ then they will most likely be disappointed in their final placement.”

Greek life is not without its controversies, but during COVID-19, Greek life affords an outlet. 

“Now, more than ever, Greek life presents the opportunity to connect with the CU Boulder community,” describes Didinsky.