Two fraternities see contrasting outcomes during Rush Week

With rush week over, and bids accepted, two of Nicholls’ storied fraternity chapters had very different experiences.

Eighty-seven students rushed during the week of August 21 hoping to receive a bid from any one of the six chapters here on campus. One chapter, Kappa Sigma, had the best overall rush week with 40 new members having accepted bids.

“As far as rush goes, it’s one of the best weeks of the year. It’s a time where we get to share our fraternity with others and come together as brothers,” said Tommy Thibodeaux, President of Kappa Sigma.

Last fall was also a good haul for Kappa Sigma as well, with thirty-six new members accepting bids. With Greek life growing each year, it is now one of the largest organizations on campus.

“With this being my last year, I’m always impressed by how much Greek life on campus grows, and I’m very lucky to be a part of this,” said Thibodeaux.

On the opposite end, the Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) chapter did not have as much success as they had hoped for. Out of the eighty-seven total students that rushed this year, TKE only managed to pull in seven new members.

“One downfall to rush week this year was that it was the first week of school, as opposed to the third or fourth week like it usually is,” said Joseph Tardo, President of TKE. Tardo cited a lack of time to introduce the students to their own chapter, as well as difficulty to network with students and establish their roots.

“…didn’t allow new students very much time to learn about Greek life before making the decision to sign up for rush, therefore a lot of guys missed out and the majority of students already knew which fraternity they wanted to join from meeting people over the summer,” said Tardo.

Tardo said that keeping rush week pushed a few weeks into the semester would help his fraternity recruit members more accessibly.

“Having rush a few weeks into the semester allows guys who know nobody in, and nothing about, any specific fraternity, or Greek Life in general, to see us around campus,” said Tardo.

The fraternities on campus can also look forward to gaining new members during the spring semester when Spring Rush takes place.