On Sept. 15, Associate Dean of Students Benjamin Williams announced the extension of the dry recruitment period, and a survey conducted by the Trinitonian suggests that 71.9% of 327 respondents strongly agreed the extension will affect Trinity’s social scene. Students shared their thoughts via Fizz posts or campus discussions, and potential new members (PNMs) and first-year students voiced their concerns about how the dry recruitment extension may impact their college experience.
Students like Oliver Billings, first-year mathematical finance major and first-year SGA senator, found that Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) was less intimidating at Trinity compared to larger state schools. He said that rushing allowed students to find a community, and the extension had already impacted his ability to connect with fraternity members.
“I think [rush season is] impacted, especially for the frats. I feel the events they hold outside campus at their houses [are] a big part [of rush],” Billings said. “The rush date process is different for the guys, and you have to rely on the parties and the informals.”
Compared to his friends rushing sororities, Billings has noticed they go on multiple rush dates a week. Differing from his rush date experiences, Billings wants to attend rush events held off campus as well.
“If I’m unable to attend these events and not know what the vibes are or the environments of the houses and frats are, I wouldn’t be interested in rushing anymore,” Billings said.
Maddie Stansberger, sophomore marketing major, saw the various Fizz posts after Williams’ email and said she worried about what this might mean for party safety. Stansberger and Billings both said that sober monitors make parties safer than those at other universities.
“Let’s all calm down and be rational. I understand why people are upset. I also understand why the email may make people not want to rush,” Stansberger said.
Stansberger also said she didn’t like that PNMs weren’t included in the email announcement. According to Billings, the retaliation against Williams was unacceptable, and he understood Williams’ actions were in the students’ best interest.
Luke Schaper, first-year engineering major and first-year SGA senator, is also a PNM and said he does not party that much. Upon the extension announcement, Schaper expressed concern about the length of the period.
“People can’t really get a feel for how these frats are when they do have alcohol, what they do and how they treat you,” Schaper said.
As he rushes, Schaper said he prefers to be himself. The red zone extension has not impacted his experience so far, but he said that he can see the conflict for those who are interested in the social scene or believe fraternities only party. Schaper said students who are rushing to consume alcohol should understand that’s not the only thing you can gain as a member.
“If that’s all they wanted from a frat, and they’re not getting that because of the red zone, then I feel pretty bad because you aren’t getting the experience you wanted, and that is not fair,” Schaper said.
In a survey conducted by the Trinitonian, 62.6% of 326 survey respondents said they strongly feel that the extension will affect the rush process. Like many students, PNMs Stansberger and Billings said they are concerned about the changes to the Trinity social scene.
