Planning for 2002

Introduction

In 1998, President Vest decided that the Institute would require all
freshmen to live on campus starting in the fall of 2001.  Since then,
due to delays in the construction of the new dorm, MIT has moved the
transition from 2001 to 2002.  Preparing for these changes has been a
primary focus of the house during the past year.  The house has
discussed changes in rush, the pledge program, and other aspects of
life at ET which will be affected by not having residential freshmen.

Rush

The IFC is currently proposing that rush will be held over the last
two weeks in September and the first week of October.  This would
allow freshmen to participate in a longer, low-key rush early in the
freshman year.

Epsilon Theta is planning to hold rush at the same time as the IFC.
The Living Group Council, the organization for independent living
groups, is also considering holding a rush in the spring.

To prepare, the house has been holding spring rushes for several years
now.  Every spring for the past several years has seen new pledges
join the house.  Spring pledges have contributed greatly to all
aspects of the house.  In the past few years, members of spring pledge
classes have held two terms of commander, helped to run five rushes,
been spring POO and fall POO's assistant, and held numerous smaller
offices.

The Pledge Program

During the fall of 2000, the house held many discussions to decide
what was important about the pledge program.  During these
discussions, the house decided that the most important goals were to
preserve house unity, to allow pledge classes to begin bonding as soon
as possible, and to ensure that every member has spent time living in
the ouse before they are initiated.

To accomplish this, the house divided the current pledge program into
two distinct parts.  The first part will take place during the term in
which the individual pledges.  The pledges will, as a pledge class, do
bonding activities such as Tech Trek and Mission.  This will help them
get to know their pledge sibs as well as the upperclassmen in the
house.  They will also go through some of the traditional pledge
meetings, like learning about the history of the house.  To promote
bonding with the house, the pledges will be given big sibs early on,
and will be strongly encouraged to participate in the house's meal
program.  The second part of the pledge program will occur once the
pledges have moved into the house.  This portion will focus on the
practical aspects of living in the house, like house duties and
roommates.

New Programs

The house has also begun to offer new programs which will help involve
on-campus residents in life the house.  This year, we began offering a
meal plan so that campus residents who were considering joining the
house could have all of their meals at the house.

During the fall of 2001, the house is planning to offer a freshman
seminar to both freshmen in our house and freshmen who are residing on
campus.  This seminar has the support of the Experimental Studies
Group as well as funding from several deans.  By offering such a
program, we hope to build a larger community which is tied to the
house, but has a strong presence on campus.

Social

Over the past year, the house has tried new social events designed to
engage people who don't live at the house in low-key activities which
are representative of the house's lifestyle.  One of these is called
"not-coffee night."  Every Thursday, the house has had home-made hot
cocoa, as well as other drinks, available in the pit.  Friends of the
house who live on campus were invited to come over, drink hot
chocolate, and socialize while working on their homework.

New Horizons

While the 2002 transition period will require changes on the part of
the house, the house has been working to ensure that the ideals which
bind us together as a fraternity remain as strong as ever.  If you
have any questions, ideas, or suggestions, please feel free to talk to
any of the actives, or ask for Emily.