What is Rush?

Rush is simply a time when a person is checking out fraternities, or just one, to see which one he wants to join. It's called rush because usually you meet so many people in such a short period of time. You may hear fraternity members refer to you as a rush or rushee. Although it is difficult to remember everyone's name when you're rushing, don't feel intimidated or nervous - just be yourself and have a good time. Rush begins with “open rush” events where anybody interested is welcome to attend and get to know the fraternity. After a few “open” events, prospective members will be invited to “closed rush” events. At the end of “closed rush”, prospective members will be given a “bid” which they are given the choice to accept and continue into the pledging process.

Why not just live in the dorms?

Living in the DKE House is better than any other place on campus. It is located on the fraternity quad, right next to most academic buildings. On a nice day, you'll probably find Dekes on the fraternity quad playing stickball, football, horseshoes, or corn-hole. Downstairs, there is a full service kitchen with our own private cook, a new charbroil grill, microwave, dishwasher, oven, and juice machine. Unlike Douglass and Danforth, our kitchen never closes... you might find someone grilling hamburgers at two a.m. The social community that you will find inside the halls of DKE is unlike any other residence area on campus.

Why rush DKE?

Because you have nothing to lose. Rush is an informal period where you can familiarize yourself with our brotherhood and after the various rush events, you can decide for yourself whether or not DKE is the place for you. DKE has a rich tradition dating back to 1844 and the Beta Phi chapter has been at the University of Rochester since 1856. The ties of brotherhood are unparalleled.

So how do I rush DKE?

It's so simple. You can contact any of our brothers, or just stop by our house at 597 Fraternity Road (next to Todd Union, the first house on the left on the Fraternity Quad). Come in and say "Hey, how's it goin', I'm thinking about rushing DKE."

If you're ready to continue in the process of becoming a member, tell us. Then if the guys think you're a good man, soon you will most likely become a pledge. Being a pledge is a lot of fun because you will be part of what is called a pledge class. These other men, who also were rushing, will probably be your friends for life. Because DKE is a secret society, we can't tell you much more, but that's the fun of pledging and that's one reason why we feel that our brotherhood is so strong at the Beta Phi chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon.

Some Famous Dekes who you may recognize :

• Joseph C. Wilson, Beta Phi - founder of Xerox

• Edward Bausch, Beta Phi - founder of Bausch & Lomb

• Rutherford B. Hayes, Delta Chi

• Theodore Roosevelt, Alpha

• Gerald R. Ford, Omicron

• George Bush, Phi

• J. Danforth Quale, Psi Phi

• Henry Cabot Lodge, Alpha - Past Senate Majority Leader

• Mario Garcia Menocal, Delta Chi - Past President of Cuba

• John F. Akers, Phi - Former CEO of IBM.

• Herb Kelleher, Gamma Phi - C.E.O. of Southwest Airlines

• Irving H. Chase, Phi - Chase Manhattan Bank

• Dean Witter, Jr., Phi - Dean Witter & Co.

• William W. Wrigley, Phi - Wrigley's Gum

• Howard Heinz, Phi - Heinz 57 Varieties,

• Howard Johnson, Phi - Howard Johnson Motor Inns

• James M. Gamble, Lambda - Proctor and Gamble

• Rear Admiral Sidney Souers, Kappa - First CIA. director

• Robert Peary, Theta - first man to reach the North Pole

• Alan Bean, Omega Chi - Apollo astronaut

• J. Pierpont Morgan, Alpha - financier

• Charles Ellis, Gamma Phi - designed the Golden Gate Bridge

• Joe Paterno, Upsilon - Penn State football coach

• Tom Landry, Omega Chi, former Dallas Cowboys Coach

• George Steinbrenner, Epsilon - owner of NY Yankees

• Paul Brown, Kappa - past coach of Cleveland Browns

• Hugh Culverhouse, Psi - owner of Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• A. Bartlett Giamatti, Phi - past Commissioner of MLB

• Dick Clark, Phi Gamma - New Years Eve giant

• Harry Hamlin, Theta Zeta - actor

• Cole Porter, Phi - composer

• Jonathan Winters, Lambda - comedian