Subway inspired ad for the start of the rush season for Sigma Delta Tau. @SDTMANHATTAN/INSTAGRAM
Sarah Rolka Asst. Features Editor
With the beginning of the spring semester underway, this current period marks the start of rush season. Manhattan University’s (MU) different chapters, known as Sigma Delta Tau (SDT), Alpha Pi Phi (APP) and Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE), begin their operations to welcome in a new group of sisters and brothers.
Amelia Boswell-Penc, SDT’s vice-president of recruitment and rush, writes about what is entailed with rushing, especially here at MU.
“Rush week is honestly such a fun and enjoyable experience to be a part of,” Boswell-Penc wrote. “All you need to do is show up and let us welcome you in. We have three main nights: Philanthropy Night, Academic Night and Sisterhood Night; each night has a fun dress code theme so you can get excited and creative while getting ready…”
Anthony DeGaetano, DKE’s rush chair, additionally shared his thoughts on what the rushing process looks like, and commented on how it’s a time to meet new people.
“Rushing in general is a great way to meet some of your closest friends,” DeGaetano wrote. Rushing is the process for [someone] to learn what it means to be part of a fraternity. It’s a chance for potential new members and current members to get familiar with each other. We usually do organized events where you can meet new members, learn about the values of the fraternity you are joining and see if it’s a good fit for you.”
Each person The Quadrangle spoke to emphasized how important it was to not feel intimidated by rushing. They said they make the experience open and welcoming to everyone who’s thinking of joining.
“Throughout the week, you get to talk to different girls each night, play games, do a craft, learn something new and start building friendships from the very beginning,” Boswell-Penc said. “It’s truly nothing to be afraid of.”
Ally Haskins, current president of SDT, added on to the topic that people shouldn’t feel intimidated, since in the end, it will be worth it because of all the people you meet and connections you make.
“…It can feel nerve-wrecking and long since it takes place for three nights in a row and social batteries may feel low,” Haskins wrote. “But I wish I could tell all potential new members how amazing it will feel to connect with new people and meet girls that will become your friends for life…”
Many current members of Greek life never initially thought that when they came to college, they would rush. Former SDT president and current sisterhood chair, Maggie Shediac, spoke to The Quadrangle about her experience rushing for the first time, and commented on how she never saw herself as a part of Greek life in the beginning.
“I know how intimidating it can be, I never thought I was going to join a sorority when I was looking for colleges,” Shediac said. “But I ended up rushing the spring of my freshman year, and it was definitely intimidating walking into a room full of girls who I’ve never met before, but that was kind of the best part of it…Even though it’s scary, it’s totally worth it.”
Haskins additionally commented on her first rush experience, and agreed that while it was intimidating, it was entirely worth her nerves in the end.
“I was super-duper nervous when I first rushed, but I immediately met who became my ‘Big’ and her friends, who made me feel so welcomed,” Haskins wrote. “Since then, I’ve gotten to meet so many more amazing people and it genuinely changed the trajectory of my college life completely.”
Greek life isn’t just for resident students. Commuters are also encouraged to rush as well. Shediac remarked on how they try to be as accommodating as they can for everyone.
“We have a good amount of commuters and we actually have a position on the director’s board – the commuter chair. She organizes events for the commuters,” Shediac said. “…We try to be as accommodating as we can…definitely don’t let that stop you from joining.”
DeGaetano agreed with that statement, and added that when a few commuters rushed for the first time, they ended up holding even higher positions, displaying that it’s not hard for commuters to feel welcome at DKE.
“It [rushing] is most definitely an option for commuters,” DeGaetano wrote. “Our current president, vice president, sergeant at arms and treasurer all rushed as commuters. Them holding such high executive board positions shows that commuters have no problem contributing and feeling valued in the fraternity.”
For freshmen, rushing will be an option come this spring semester. Riley Kopceuch, a freshman looking to rush this semester, wrote to The Quadrangle her thoughts on what she wants to gain from this experience, as well as her general feelings heading into the new season.
“The hope for rush is always to make it into the sorority and be inducted, but I feel like there is so much more to rush than being labeled as a Sig Delt,” Kopceuch said. “During rush, you get the opportunity to meet and talk to so many people that you might not have had the chance to speak to regularly on campus…I am extremely excited to rush.”
To stay up to date with each of MU’s different chapters and upcoming events they have, follow their Instagrams: @sdtmanhattan, @dkemanhattan and @alphapiphi_mu.
The 2026 Vision board for Sigma Delta Tau’s ’26 season. @SDTMANHATTAN/INSTAGRAM