“When I was a senior in high school, I hated (frats),” said Matt Morici, a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and a construction management senior. “But when I came here, it was nothing like that. They’re not your stereotypical meatheads.”

Lambda Chi Alpha, with its 60 active members, conducts its fall and spring rush weeks the way other fraternities on campus do.

Rush week for fraternities begins with open houses, where existing brothers meet with prospective members. Those who rush learn about the fraternity’s philanthropy and values. At the end of the week, fraternity brothers “bid” for their favorite prospective members to join the fraternity, and the new members are welcomed into the house.

The process of spring rush is conducted in the same fashion by most sororities, as well.

Kait Rector, president of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, said the sisters choose pledges based on who fits most closely with the sorority’s values.

“Every house brings something different, and not everyone in every house is five-feet-ten-inches and size zero,” Rector said. “We’re here to make the best community and make friends.”

Rector said the sorority rushing process is strictly monitored by a computer system through the Panhellenic Council.

Eric Lessens, recruitment chair for Lambda Chi Alpha, said the fraternity’s focus is friendship and brotherhood. This was evident at the open house, when mingled with nearly every new face they saw.

“We’re going to help you grow socially and help you grow as a man,” said Matt Flynn, a pre-law political science senior and Lambda Chi Alpha member.

Economics sophomore Andrew Gettel said he was rushing a fraternity because he felt comfortable after meeting a Lambda Chi Alpha brother who lives down the hall from him.

“Everybody here is really down-to-earth,” he said.