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Monday, August 18, 1997
STUDENT LIVING
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Weeklong fall rush crowds greek houses
Rushees learn about chapters, University life
By Sarah McWilliams Kansan staff writer
The back-to-school rush doesn't include just mobs of students waiting in line at stores, moving into residence halls and crowding into Strong Hall. It includes hundreds of freshmen rushing for the 41 fraternities and sororites at the University of Kansas.
More than 800 women will participate in the fall formal sorority rush this week, and 48 men will rush for fraternities. Rush began Friday for men and Saturday for women.
Until next Saturday,which is the final selection day known as bid day, the greek hopefuls will visit several chapters a day to find the house that is right for them. The fraternities and sororites also will narrow their choices for new members throughout the week.
During their visits to chapters, rushes meet the house moms, learn the house songs and talk to members face-to-face.
"We're really geared toward making the rushees as comfortable as possible," said Kara Douglass, vice president of membership for the KU Panhellenic Association.
During a sorority rush orientation session Saturday, sev
eral rushees, including Topeka freshmen Rebekah Hays and Tricia Fairchild, said they decided to go through rush because they thought Joining a sorority would be a good way to meet people.
"At a big university, I thought it would be a good way to break down the school," Fairchild said.
Stephanie Bates, Overland Park freshman, said she decided to rush because she had heard a lot of good things about sororities. "I just hope everything goes well and I gain new friends," she said.
Chad Bodecker, vice president for membership of the KU Interfraternity Council, said the numbers of fall fraternity rushees were low because most would-be fraternity members participate in open rush, which takes place during the school year and is less formal than fall rush.
Bodecker said fraternity rushes will visit each chapter and learn about its traditions, living arrangements and activities.
Rushees also are asked to participate in Hawk Week activities so they would learn not just about the greek system, but about the University as a whole, said Bridget Mason, vice president of public relations for the Panhellenic Association.
Dave Morantz / KANSAN
Sarah Remley, left, Prairie Village senior, and Kelly Entreken, Mission Viejo, Cal., senior, greet a rushee in front of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority yesterday. More than 800 women are participating in rush, which will continue through Saturday.
Allergies pester new residents
People move out, clean but mold still remains
By Sarah Chadwick Kansan staff writer
When moving away from home, there are several housekeeping habits that can help students stay healthy when moving into an apartment or house, especially for people with allergies.
"Vigorous vacuuming and cleaning upon moving in can help ease allergy symptoms," said Randall Rock, Watkins Memorial Health Center chief of staff. "Take up old carpet or if you have hardwood floors, those are even better."
Taking up the carpet eliminates pet dander that may have been there from previous residents' pets and causes pet allergies. Rock said.
Also, people with seasonal allergies should keep their windows closed and
"Older homes make great apartments for college students," Rock said. "Unfortunately, older homes bring with them the problem of mold and dust. Basement apartments may have higher mold counts because of the higher possibility of flooding in basements. People with asthma may have problems due to that."
frequently change furnace filters to keep the air clean. The filters should be changed monthly for those with allergies and every two to three months for others. Rock said.
Some medications, such as antihistamines or inhalers, may help people who have complications because of the air quality in their homes.
Students also need to watch out for hazards in the kitchen.
"Don't prepare raw meat on the same place that you prepare your salad or other uncooked food," Candyce Waitle, head of Peer Health Promotion,
said. "That spreads bacteria from the uncooked food into your salad. Keep things you cook separate from those you don't."
Waitley also reminds students to get perishables into the refrigerator as soon as possible to cut down on bacteria.
"Don't leave food crumbs, plates or pizza boxes lying around either," Waitley said. "That increases the potential for bug infestation."
When cleaning the kitchen and bathroom with sponges and cloths, allow them to completely dry between uses to ward off bacteria. Hang the cloth or sponge over the tap or place in front of a window that will let it dry quicker and kill off chances for bacteria, Waitley said.
"If you let the sponge dry you can use it for up to a week without washing it," Waitley said. "An even better way to go would be to buy those disposable handiwipes and use them for a couple of days, then get a new one."
Moving mountains
Ted and Katy Shaw, Ninneak, Okla., unload carpet outside of Ellsworth Hall. They were helping their daughter, Amanda Shaw, a sophomore, move into the residence hall yesterday.
Geoff Krieger / KANSAN
Phi Kappa Tau's new house at 11th and Indiana was formerly to the Acacia fraternity. The building can hold 24 more members than the old house at 1232 Ohio St.
New houses,new members in store for three fraternities
Facilities represent at least $5 million worth of building
Phi Kappa Tau has moved from its old house at 1232 Ohio St. into a newly renovated house at 11th and Indiana. Alumni of the fraternity raised $1.5 million for the renovation of the Victorian-style house, which the fraternity purchased in 1993, said Damon Miller, Phi Kappa Tau vice president.
By Sarah McWilliams Kansan staff writer
Three fraternities at the University of Kansas will have more than new members in the next year—they'll have new buildings in which to house them.
"We were fortunate that we had strong alumni support and that we finally get to move into the house we've had since 1993," he said.
The new building now houses all 45 of the fraternity's members, and there is room for 24 more.
rheta Chi took a step further in renovations and tore down its old house at 10th and Missouri to make way for a newer style of fraternity dwelling.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon also tore down its house last fall to make way for a new house. Former Sigma Alpha Epsilon president Pete Getz said that after 63 years it was time for the house to be torn down and a newer, better facility to be built.
Construction of the new house is scheduled to be finished next fall. The building will cost an estimated $3.5 million, which was raised during the past several months by alumni of the fraternity. Getz said.
"It's going to be incredibly beneficial to the chapter and to members to live in apartment-style housing and still have the benefits of a fraternity," he said. The apartments will make the fraternity more competitive with on-campus residence halls, which also are moving toward apartment-style units.
He said apartment living for fraternities was becoming more and more popular on the West Coast and was recommended by Theta Chi's alumni association.
"We're very excited for the new house to be done," Getz said. "We've worked very hard on raising funds for it."
The house plans to build apartments with a central meeting room for the fraternity members, said chapter adviser Dave Stras. The two- and three-bedroom apartments will house 80 people, approximately four times as many members as the old house, Stras said.
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