UF Fall fraternity rush week will be held completely virtually due to COVID-19.
The announcement came Tuesday evening from the UF Interfraternity Council, which oversees most UF fraternities, six days before recruitment begins on Monday.
Potential new members must register for the virtual recruitment, which will be Sept. 14-18, by Friday, according to the announcement posted on the council’s Facebook and Instagram.
Recruitment orientation will also be held virtually on Sept. 12, according to the announcement.
This Fall, potential new members will meet with fraternities of their choice on Zoom during one-hour time slots throughout the week, according to the announcement. Students can also watch virtual tours of the fraternity houses before choosing.
UF Panhellenic Council, which oversees 18 UF sororities, hosted a completely virtual rush week Aug. 20-27. On the last day of recruitment, Bid Day, the council allowed sororities to have in-person events to celebrate new members.
In a normal recruitment week, about 1,000 men flood Fraternity Row and move freely between houses, said UFIFC President Stephen Greep on July 2.
“Orientation will be important this year as IFC will be going through expectations, rules and how this modified recruitment process works,” the Tuesday announcement read.
On July 31, IFC delayed its recruitment week from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4 to the current dates and announced it would have virtual house tours and orientation.
It is unclear if the virtual process will affect recruitment costs.
Lianna Hubbard is a reporter for The Alligator’s Investigative Team. The UF women’s study major began as a freelance reporter three years ago. She founded her community college’s award-winning newspaper before beginning at The Independent Florida Alligator. See an issue in your community or a story at UF? Send tips to her Twitter.
