Last week marked the beginning of rush week for the university’s fraternities with more than 300 students signed up for the recruitment process.

This number is not uncommon, Vice President of Communication for the university’s Interfraternity Association Kevin Cunningham, said.

“Over the last few years, Greek life has seen consistent growth,” junior management major Cunningham said.

Currently, there are 1,288 students in Greek life.

The number will be much larger after fraternity and sorority recruitment is over, Cunningham said.

“The purpose of rush is to provide a structured format for young men to meet all the options and come to an educated decision,” Cunningham said.

Being a part of Greek life on campus has its advantages, community involvement, leadership opportunities and social networking to name a few, he said.

Freshman economics major Nick Lavella said he is rushing Tau Kappa Epsilon and Phi Gamma Delta this fall.

“I’m rushing because I have always wanted to be in a fraternity, and I want the brotherhood that it brings along,” Lavella said. “Greek life seems like a great way to make connections and new friends for the future.”

Freshman athletic training major A.J. Furnier is a rushing Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Sigma Nu.

“I played football in high school, and I really miss the bond of a team,” Furnier “I feel like a fraternity would help me get that back.”

Rush ends with preference dinners followed by Bid Days last weekend where recruits will find out if they’ll be invited into a fraternity.

Appalachian has 11 fraternities on campus recognized by the Interfraternity Council and three not including Pi Kappa Phi, which was the first fraternity to come to Appalachian 1972 as a colony.

Three more fraternities have come to the university this year.

Alpha Tau Omega came on campus last fall, followed by Sigma Nu in the spring.

This year, after rush, Delta Sigma Phi is going to begin recruiting men, as well, Cunningham said.

Story: JOSHUA FARMER, Intern News Reporter