For the first time in 20 years, ISU men will have the opportunity to explore the fraternity chapters on campus during the fraternity fall rush on Oct. 22-23.

The event is a form of recruitment for many of the fraternity chapters on campus, as well as a chance for other men to get a glimpse of what greek life is like.

Students interested in joining the greek community will receive an inside look at different fraternity houses.

Dan Renner, one of the vice presidents of recruitment for the Interfraternity Council and sophomore in business, said that the fall rush is an “opening for students to explore other options on campus.” He said many people are unsure about the greek community, and this is an opportunity for them to learn more.

Each man participating will have a recruitment group led by an older member of the greek community, who will act as a guide and mentor throughout the process.

The recruitment groups will see three different fraternity houses each night. Each house will offer house tours and different activities the men can partake in, including video games, lawn games, basketball and poker tournaments. Dinner will also be provided.

Normally, fraternities recruit new members during the summer, a process that is more informal. Students showing interest in the greek community can be invited to spend time with members of a particular house and see if they would like to become a part of the chapter.

Patrick Cole is the recruitment chair for Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and a freshman in pre-journalism and mass communication. He said the difference between the informal summer recruitment and the fall rush is that instead of prospective students contacting the greek community, the fraternities are contacting the students in order to encourage participation.

Renner said that the informal summer recruitment has usually been successful for most chapters, which is the reason that they stopped organizing the fall rush 20 years ago. He said the Interfraternity Council decided to bring it back as “another add-on, something different that will catch the appeal of students.”

“The interest is still out there, but a lot of people don’t know how to get involved,” said Erik Wheater, the other vice president of recruitment of the Interfraternity Council and junior in journalism and mass communication. He said right now only about 12 percent of ISU students are members of a greek house. “Our goal is to make that 15 percent.”

Wheater said the main idea for the men going through the fall rush is to build connections with fraternity members. “Every chapter has their own style,” he said. “The men look to match their personality with one of them and build connections.”

Cole agreed, saying that the members of his fraternity look for men who will get along with others in the house. He said that they want outgoing people who want to get involved with the chapter.

Fall rush is something that the Interfraternity Council is looking to expand in the future. “Our biggest goal is to learn from our mistakes and gain momentum for next year,” Wheater said. “It’s just really important we get something going.”