More Than a Bid: Finding Home Through Rush
Photo by Miranda Duarte
The various student perspectives on Greek Rush
Pacific Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) Recruitment (or Rush) week began on Tuesday, September 9th. For students who have been on campus for a decent amount of time, Rush Week is one of the most cherished and exciting periods of every semester. However, for a lot of first-years, transfers, and international students, rushing presents an opportunity to meet new people, and possibly, find a new community to belong to.
The Pacifican sat down with David Ogutu, former President of Beta Theta Pi, and asked about his rush experience. “It changed the course of my college life. I had no conception of Greek life, my culture has no perception of Greek life. The sheer idea of Greek life and its associated stereotypes would get nothing but admonishment from my culture.” Ogutu stated, “Joining Beta was a big point of growth for me, as it pushed me into new social and professional organizations. But aside from making friends along the way. I saw their growth, and wondered ‘how I would grow with them.’”
Despite the stereotypes, Ogutu’s statement proves its validity, as another fellow second-year FSL member stated they felt welcomed and comfortable with the organization’s members, which led them to accept the bid. They added that they would “strongly recommend” any freshman consider rushing.
With the doors to Rush formally open, opportunity presents itself at everyone’s doorstep, even if they are uninterested in joining Greek life. For many, fraternity and sorority rush is more than just joining an organization—it is about exploring what community means in college. The weeklong series of events is designed to let students meet members, ask questions, and see where they might feel most at home, with minimal commitment required.
Greek life offers a wide range of benefits that extend beyond social events. Many chapters emphasize academics through study groups and mentorship, while also providing leadership opportunities through chapter officer roles and campus involvement. Philanthropy and service projects remain at the heart of most organizations, connecting students to causes larger than themselves. One of the biggest examples of this being Beta Theta Pi’s annual Halloween Haunted House, which a quarter of the proceeds historically have gone to the Delta Humane Society.
Perhaps most importantly, fraternities and sororities offer a sense of belonging. For new students navigating the transition to college life, Greek life can provide a “home away from home,” along with friendships and networks that last well beyond graduation. From alumni connections to lifelong bonds, students who go through rush often find themselves part of a community that shapes both their college years and their future.
These positive perspectives do not just reach domestic students, but also international students too. The Pacifican was also able to hear from Ayhan Yasar, an international student from Stuttgart, Germany who came to Pacific in the 2024-2025 academic year. Yasar’s story is a rather public one, as in the fall of 2024, brothers from across campus, from different fraternities, joined together in solemn request to allow him to stay another semester. “My college life has been profoundly shaped in a positive way by joining a fraternity,” he told The Pacifican, also explaining that his membership helped him develop stronger discipline with deadlines and coursework, while also giving them a deeper understanding of American culture than they would have experienced on their own. For international students, another door is opened, one that gives a clear view to the American university experience.
Finally, The Pacifican spoke with Henry Geistlinger, a first-year student at Pacific who is interested in rushing this week. Geistlinger eagerly told The Pacifican that he was interested in rushing because they want to find a supportive community similar to the brotherhood they experienced in Scouts. While they value independence, they added that they do not want to feel isolated and believe joining would give them a sense of belonging. This goes to show that regardless of what someone’s position is on campus, even if they have no intention of joining an organization, the doors of Greek life are open to everyone. Every Pacific student is encouraged to enjoy themselves at the various events being put on by Fraternity and Sorority Life.