Sorority rush participation decreased by 10.3 percent this semester, although there was an increase in fraternity rush.

Greek Adviser Dawn Sturma said 479 women registered for sorority rush last month, resulting in the lowest figures since the fall of 1988.

“It’s hard to figure out why it’s lower,” Sturma said. “We plan to figure out how to target the students better.”

Not all who registered are current pledges. Voluntary withdraws totaled 120 women, and 74 of the participants did not receive a bid from a house.

Sturma said women withdraw as a result of several factors, including financial concerns and time commitments.

Samantha Cotton, vice-president of membership selection, said some students withdraw when they realize their GPAs are too low.

Although rush went smoothly, there were complications, Sturma said.

“We weren’t able to notify some of the girls who didn’t receive bids in time,” Sturma said. “It’s hard to get dropped the last night.”

Six of the sororities that participated in fall Rush made quota. The four sorority houses that did not receive 37 pledges held informal Rushes this week, she said.

Women who were not matched with a house received invitations from the sororities holding informal Rush this week, Sturma said.

The Panhellenic Council is considering holding Rush after the start of the school semester in the future to increase the number of rushees, she said. They also are looking more at targeting sophomores and juniors, she said.

The numbers of men participating in fraternity rush this semester, however, increased by 21.8 percent from last fall, said Interfraternity Council President Steve Sliga.

New pledges total 335, averaging 22 new members per fraternity, Sliga said.

Lambda Chi Alpha received the highest number of pledges, resulting in 32 associate members, he said.

A new Rush policy was used this semester in which the chapters only were allowed to advertise in a Rush booklet. This eliminated the inequality between the larger and smaller fraternities, Sliga said.