Sacramento State’s fraternities and sororities kick off their formal recruitments as rush week begins Thursday and Friday.-

Rush is the process that prospective members ?” or rushees ?” go through to interact with members of the campus community’s various fraternities and sororities in search of a group that is a mutual, good fit.-

Sac State is home to fraternities that belong to the Interfraternity Council and sororities that belong to the Panhellenic Association. Both are national organizations. –

As nerve-racking as it may seem to walk the path in the quad that is lined with Greek symbols, fliers and crowds of students, rushees shouldn’t turn away if they are interested in joining. –

“I know that walking through the quad and past all those booths can be a little intimidating,” said sophomore Adam Miller, a business major and vice president of recruitment for Sigma Phi Epsilon. “But don’t be shy. Go up to a booth, have the courage to say hello and shake hands with the guys there.”-

Although most prospective members are freshman or transfer students, Miller said he encourages everyone interested to rush and see what these organizations are about.-

“Part of a fraternity is developing the social skills that can last through the rest of your life, so we are open to anyone,” he said. –

Rush week for Sigma Phi Epsilon, which begins Thursday, includes activities such as steak and cigar night at the fraternity house, a “Monday Night Football” party at Mountain Mike’s and a 1-pound burger challenge at Fuddruckers. –

“These events put people in a social arena and they get a chance to interact with everyone,” Miller said. “These types of settings aren’t as intimidating, and they enable rushees to keep an open mind. Any one of the guys you go to will be willing to answer questions.”-

Sigma Phi Epsilon is a part of the IFC, making it a social fraternity. But its members are held to a 2.6 GPA requirement, more than the university’s requirement of a 2.0 GPA, Miller said. The fraternity currently has 30 members.-

And while fraternities and sororities are often like families, with members helping each other, hazing problems at other universities have overshadowed the positive side of joining. Thomas Kando, sociology professor and a former Phi Sigma Kappa member, said the hazing that occurs at some schools should not turn students away from joining an organization at Sac State.-

“The fraternities and sororities are not the nefarious and obsolete institutions that many people make them out to be,” Kando said. “Sure, there is often too much drinking and some hazing practices are out of bounds. But by and large, they are social clubs that enrich the students’ social life. I favor them.”-

Nicki Croly, vice president of public relations for the Panhellenic Council, said that sororities are a sisterhood that should be a positive part of a member’s life. –

“We don’t even use the term pledging anymore because it is associated with the idea of hazing, which no Panhellenic sorority does,” Croly said. “We call the introductory period the new-member period.” –

And while the new-member period is six to eight weeks, the five days of rush are packed with organized social events. All six Panhellenic sororities will be in the University Union the first day of their rush week, Friday.-

“The first day girls get to go and meet all six sororities and learn a little bit about them,” Croly said. “They rank them in order that they feel they fit best in the chapter.”-

“It is a quick process of elimination with potential members learning of selected sorority’s community involvement, dressing up for more formal events and eventually choosing two sororities to get to know better,” Croly said. –

“The last day is bid day where the girls get a bid to join a sorority and spend an evening with their new sisters,” Croly said. “Our process is all about mutual selection and finding the chapter that is the best for you.”-

On the guy’s side, Sigma Phi Epsilon has been in recruitment mode since school started, Miller said.-

“We have the same rush week as the sororities but we are recruiting all the time,” he said. -Miller said he encourages rushees to do their homework before the formal fraternity recruitment begins on Thursday.-

“Check out the fraternity and sorority Web sites, not just on the local level, but also on the national level,” he said. “That’s a good way to know what they expect of their members and also what they should expect form the fraternity.”-

The quad at Sac State has also been home to booths for fraternities and sororities that are not a part of the IFC or the Panhellenic Council. –

Sigma Omicron Pi, a social sorority, has been on campus since 1993 and has also been recruiting at their booth near the library. While they don’t have a formal rush week, Sigma Omicron Pi President Kat Lew is actively looking for new members. –

“We’re open to anybody,” said Lew, a senior interior design major. “We like to get to know the girls and interact. During the weeks of recruitment activities are free and we provide rides to the girls that need them.” –

With 13 active members, Lew is looking to recruit with sisterhood events where rushees play icebreaker games, decorate cup cakes and just have a chance to get to know each other.

Being a social sorority, Sigma Omicron Pi also participates in events throughout the school year with other sororities and fraternities, Lew said.-

Croly said though the process is full of excitement, rush week is about students finding the best fit for them and joining a fraternity or sorority that will give them friends that will last a life time. –

“You have girls who will be there for you for everything ?” when your car breaks down or when a family member dies,” she said. “This sisterhood is a bond that can only come from your experience in a sorority.”-

For more information on the fraternities and sororities at Sac State, visit www.csus.edu/studentactivities.

Lora Simmons can be reached at [email protected]