Interested in Rho Sigma

Ouachita uses deferred recruitment, which means that a student cannot join a social club until he has successfully completed one semester. The social clubs recruit and pledge men

early in the spring semester each year.

For more information and to register for spring rush,

contact the Office of Student Life.

Rush week, the period of time when the men’s social clubs recruit new members, takes place early in the second semester. During rush, candidates for membership attend several informal parties hosted by the various clubs. At these parties, they learn more about the host clubs and get to know the members. The clubs then issue bids––invitations to join the club––to the men they want as pledges. Each candidate can then either accept or refuse the bid.

Rush Week will begin on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 and end on Friday, January 17, 2025. To participate, men must meet university requirements and register with the Office of Student Life in advance. Ouachita requires that to be eligible for social club membership, a student must be enrolled full-time, have completed at least 12 semester credit hours with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better, and not be on university probation.

Red Shirts are chosen on merit and potential rather than wealth or social background; there have never been any bars to membership in Rho Sigma based on race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Red Shirts look for congenial men of good character, above average students with useful skills who are committed to the goals and values of the Fraternity.

Rho Sigma is the only men’s social club at Ouachita that has always required unanimous approval for membership. When a man receives a bid from the Red Shirts, he knows that all members approve of him and not just a simple majority

Induction is a probationary period used to determine whether or not a pledged man is a good fit for the club, and vice versa. In addition, inductees bond with the members and learn the history, traditions, and lore of the club.

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Induction Week begins on Monday, January 20, 2025 and ends on Friday, January 24, 2025. All clubs are expected to comply with state and university regulations, which forbid hazing in any form.