Fraternity rush is swinging into high gear this week with more than 20 fraternities recruiting for this year's fall pledge class.

With this column, I am going to try to persuade freshmen, transfer students and nongreeks to check out what the greek system has to offer. Fraternities present an opportunity to expand your social network.

Many of you may feel overwhelmed by the enormous student body. It's easy to feel nonexistent on a campus with so many strangers. Joining a fraternity provides a framework in which it is easy to meet many people.

In fact, the people you meet will become the best friends in your life, during and beyond the college years.The contacts you make as an undergraduate fraternity man extend far beyond the campus, with the potential to improve your career.

You will also have the opportunity to meet some of the most beautiful women around campus (600 of whom went through sorority rush last week).

Contrary to popular belief, you will make better grades than the average nongreek as a fraternity man.

It has been documented that the all-fraternity grade-point average has been better than the nongreek men's average for 10 straight semesters.

This is because fraternities stress academics as a fundamental part of the college experience. Emphasis is placed on study halls that encourage greeks to make good grades.

As an organized group, greek students are the most active on campus.

The current student body vice president and previous president, along with the last two Student Congress chairpersons, have been greek.

Greeks have also been strongly active in the Campus Activities Council, President's Leadership Class and Honors housing.

Greeks have also participated in activities involving OU athletics, including football, basketball and baseball, as well as many other groups on campus.

If you have an interest in getting involved in activities on campus, fraternity life is a great start.

You will have a tremendous opportunity to make a positive impact on your community.

One of the most stirring moments in my life occurred a couple of weeks ago, when I attended my fraternity's national convention.

A young high school graduate who has a form of muscular dystrophy was a keynote speaker at the conference.

She spoke about her courageous struggle with the disease and the toll it has taken on her life. She thanked our organization for what we'd contributed in helping to fight the disease.

She made us proud of what we'd contributed, yet left us wanting to do so much more.

Last year our fraternity system gave 21,000 hours and raised $75,000 for the community.

By now I hope I have done a wonderful job of convincing you that you want to be a greek man.

Even if you are just slightly curious, I want to invite you to see for yourself the experiences the greek system has to offer.

We have an open, informal rush system in which every fraternity house is open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday through Wednesday in a quest to sign the sharpest pledge class ever.

The best part of rush is that it's free, with all the food you want and with no obligation to join a fraternity.

So Saturday night, when you are sitting on your couch and wondering how to salvage a boring evening, make what could be one of the best decisions of your life -- come check out the OU fraternity system.
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