What is Rush?

SUNY Potsdam’s rush process affords every individual, with the right eligibility requirements, to rush. Rush is a time period where non-Greek members and Greek members come together for the purpose of getting to know each other. An individual is given the opportunity to visit fraternities or sororities and determine whether or not going Greek is something that is suitable for them. If it is, then this prospect also allows them to determine which house they fit and feel the most comfortable with, should they decide to pledge. Although one must sign up for rush, it is neither a commitment nor an obligation to pledge.
There are two types of rush periods, one is informal rush, and the other is formal rush, and these two types of rush vary from fraternity to sorority. Please visit the links below to find out more about the difference between fraternity and sorority rush.

Fraternity Rush
Sorority Rush

Why Rush?

Rushing is a great opportunity to explore different extra-curricular and social activities on SUNY Potsdam campus. You get to interact with different people and even make some friends along the way, whether or not you decide on pledging. Exploring your horizons and wagering out all the options afforded to you by SUNY Potsdam campus can only serve as a benefit to you and your collegiate experience.

Eligibility Requirements for Pledging

To pledge a fraternity or sorority in SUNY Potsdam, you must be at least a second semester freshman, with a minimum of 12 college credit hours, matriculated in either SUNY Potsdam or Clarkson University, and cannot be on academic probation or on academic warning. You must have formally signed up for rush at the Student Union. These above mentioned requirements are for both fraternity and sorority prospective members. Further requirements for either fraternity or sorority eligibility can be found in the links below.

Fraternity Rush
Sorority Rush

Why Pledge?

Being part of a Greek letter organization here at SUNY Potsdam opens many doors to otherwise unknown opportunities. Campus involvement, social networking and community service are just a few of the opportunities permitted to Greek members. Members of the Greek Community are the leaders of SUNY Potsdam campus and will be most likely to be leaders in their future. One learns the true meaning of determination and perseverance once one becomes Greek; a lesson hard yet extremely beneficial to master. The skills learned range from goal orientation, leadership, to teamwork, and self-responsibility.

Benefits of Greek Life
at
SUNY Potsdam

Leadership Skills
Each Greek chapter here at SUNY Potsdam is self-governing and relies on the capacity of its members for thriving outcomes. Although leadership opportunities vary from house to house, there are a vast number of headship positions that one can hold. They may range from President to First Vice President to Secretary or Social Chair. There are also leadership opportunities in Greek Life’s governing bodies such as the All Greek Council, The Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC) and the Inter-Sorority Council (ISC). All offices help develop ones leadership skills in areas such as responsibility and discipline, decision-making, and communication. Greek Life here at SUNY Potsdam affords you the opportunity to expand your delegating skills, goal setting abilities, group work, and problem solving ability.

Social Involvement
Here at SUNY Potsdam we recognize that although academics are the main reason for one to attend college, social interaction can maximize ones college experience. An appropriate balance of scholastic and social activities can benefit every student in various ways. Whether it’s strengthening your leadership skills, academic support, alumni networking or participating in service and philanthropy events, joining a fraternity or sorority affords you all these benefits. Members of fraternities and sororities take great pride in themselves and in their ability to help their fellow brothers and sisters grow socially and academically, and learn to have fun in a safe environment.

Brotherhood & Sisterhood Bonds
The friendships that you make throughout your college experience are difficult to compare to the bonds that you build with your brothers and sisters in your Greek organization and the ones in other Greek organizations. Brotherhood and Sisterhood extends to not just your house of choice, but to the rest of the Greek Community. These bonds last a lifetime, are irreplaceable and see you through the thickest parts of your life. This unity is built and strengthened not by the fact that we wear Greek letters on our chest but by the reality that we all committed ourselves to reach a certain goal and in the end we attained this goal. Perseverance and determination are just a few words that describe the cement that binds all of us together, not just in our individual houses, but the Greek Community as a whole.

Alumni Networking
Being a part of the Greek Community guarantees you a lifetime membership to a large network of alumni that may assist you in forming your career. Here at SUNY Potsdam there exists a Greek Alumni Council (GAC), which consists of xyz members. The GAC serves several purposes, which support the active house in any future endeavors. Whether it’s to assist in career orientation, financially or academically, Alumni serve as an excellent vast resource of connections.
Service and Philanthropy
The Greek Community at SUNY Potsdam prides itself on its contribution to the Potsdam Community. Being Greek offers you the unique opportunity for campus and community involvement. Whether its fundraising money for Watertown’s First Frost Aids Walk or for Habitat for Humanity, or participating in campus and town clean up, we strive to continuously contribute to our surrounding community.

On an individual house basis, each fraternity and sorority organizes either their own service projects and/or provides services for their chosen philanthropy.