For a group of organizations centered on tradition, change could be coming.

The Delta Force, a task force of 10 Interfraternity Council men, presented a proposal to the presidents Sunday night after more than a month of research and preparation. Their mission was to address aspects of the recruitment process that have come under increased scrutiny, most notably the strong presence of alcohol and the current practices of the semester-long informal recruitment system.

"The whole purpose of the Delta Force is to rope in the guys that we were losing because they only saw the social aspect by highlighting the philanthropic and brotherhood aspects of rush," said IFC Recruitment Chair Patrick Seamens, a sophomore.

Currently, men who wish to join an IFC organization participate in a deferred joining system. During the fall semester of their first year, potential new members participate in the semester-long informal rush process before potentially receiving a bid to a chapter in January.

Junior Jesse DeOms, the chair of the Delta Force, said the current recruitment process has given the fraternity community a bad reputation in the eyes of parents, alumni, faculty and administration, as well as allowed potential members who were not as focused on the social aspect of fraternity life to fall through the cracks.

"We need to focus on the things that we do well as a community and stop behaving so publicly in ways that reflect poorly on the community," DeOms said. "... There have just been so many issues that have b ecome public this year. The traditions and the way things have been done in the past, our community will no longer stand for. The Vanderbilt community is improving and progressing in many ways and the Greek community needs to acknowledge that and change the way they recruit according to that."

DeOms stressed the need for the changes to come from the Greek community itself, saying the proposed changes were more meaningful and more likely to be effective because they came from within.

"We realized that change is something our community needs, and if we don't take the initiative to improve our own process and community, then we give the administration and those who care about the process no choice but to implement the change themselves," he said.

The proposal was presented to the IFC chapters by their presidents Monday night. The main theme of the proposed changes was a focus on encouraging different types of recruitment, including more alcohol-free rush events and a focus on community service. The most notable changes are the move to a formal recruitment process during the first week after winter break, no longer allowing first-year students at winter semi-formals and $5,000 penalties for violations.

DeOms said even with a formal recruitment process, the informal rush period during fall semester would be maintained.

"We know (fall rush) helps people find where they actually fit in. The strength of the houses we have is a testament to how good the semester-long rush is in helping people find where they work best and making friendships that will last and will keep the houses strong and contributing positively to the community. We don't want to lose that," he said, also adding that the new process would allow first-year students to be able to keep their options open throughout first semester and to not be penalized for having to miss a rush event due to schoolwork or other commitments.

The decision to no longer allow potential members at winter semi-formals is both because of the major presence of alcohol at the event and its tradition as being essentially a bid, often forcing first-year students to choose only one fraternity to continue to rush while still having to face the potential of being cut from that house afterward.

"It's a recruitment event with alcohol that forces the freshmen to choose the fraternity before the fraternity chooses them, which is a bad situation for everybody," DeOms said.

Seamens said the $5,000 penalties were proposed in order to best encourage fraternities to follow the key rules of the proposal. These penalties would go to the IFC Greek Legacy Fund, which will serve as a trust fund to provide scholarships to IFC men to pay their dues.

The IFC leadership will vote on each aspect of the proposal Monday. Presidents will be able to vote to accept, deny or amend each concept.

"If any portion of the proposal is accepted by the group, then everyone will be held to that. I would anticipate that there will be some amendments that people will want to make to portions to it," said Director of Greek Life Kristin Torrey. "... The proposal offered has some wonderful aspects to it that would enhance the fraternity experience. I'm hopeful that the changes the proposal has offered will be accepted by the IFC community at large because the buy-in of everyone is imperative."

DeOms agreed, saying it would be imperative for the upperclassmen of the fraternity community to agree to the proposal.

"The way to change recruitment is through changing the upperclassmen perspective on recruitment. We need to get all the upperclassmen on board if there's actually going to be a change," he said.

While DeOms said he is proud of the work the Delta Force has done, what is most important about the task force and the proposal is that a conversation about the problems facing the Greek community and how to address these has begun among its members.

"Should it all go through or should none of it go through, at the very least it's opened up a discussion and we will see significant change next year - change that's come from within our community," he said.

 

The Delta Force’s proposal suggests changes to the IFC recruitment including:

• GPA recruitment requirement would increase from 2.3 to 2.5.
• IFC recruitment registration fair on The Commons.
• "Open Dores on Greek Row" — Afternoon on Greek Row for first-year students to learn about opportunities for Greek life in alcohol-free setting.
• Creation of a Greek Legacy Fund that would reduce financial burden and make participation more accessible.
• There would be a $5 increase in IFC semester dues for each active Greek man to help fund the Greek Legacy Fund.
• Formal recruitment process lasting four days following Winter Break to “level the playing field” by allowing for a multiple bid process.
• Recruitment Chairs submit a “no bid” list prior to the beginning of this process, indicating potential new members not under consideration for membership. This list is not to exceed 20 percent of the total number of registered potential new members.
• Each fraternity must engage in a minimum of three community service events in the fall semester (with at least six brothers in attendance) that potential members are invited to and encouraged to attend.
• Institute a two event or three service hour minimum requirement with an IFC chapter for a potential new members to be eligible to participate in formal rush and receive a bid.
• No potential new members at winter semi-formal.
• Institute serious financial penalties (minimum of $5,000 fines in addition to other sanctions mandated by the IFC Judicial Team or Formal Conduct Board) for violations of IFC policy that threaten community.