User talk:Macampeau

About

Rusk Eating House, Inc. is an eating club at Davidson College.

History

Rusk became the first all-female eating house to join Patterson Court at Davidson College in 1977. Similar to a sorority, an eating house provides a non-nationally affiliated fraternal dining environment.

Only a few all-male eating houses existed before 1972. All-male eating houses closed or became co-ed in 1973, when women were first accepted to the college.

In 1977, forty-six female students joined Rusk. Nineteen of the women were rising juniors and seniors and twenty-seven were sophomores. That same year, Rusk moved into house 11 on Patterson Court. The college helped furnish the house, and Kappa Alpha donated picnic tables. Board was $270 per semester.

Rusk was so popular by the early 1980s that it filled to capacity. Warner Hall opened in 1982, relieving Rusk's over-population by taking girls from its waiting list.

Rusk was named after Dean Rusk, Class of 1931 and Secretary of State during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. The name began the tradition of naming female eating houses after notable Davidson alumni.

Membership

Women join Rusk through the Self-Selection system used by all Davidson Eating Houses. An inversion of the traditional sorority bid system, freshmen women rank their house preferences in the spring of their freshmen year and are placed into one of four houses by random lottery. Davidson women are then welcome to join the house at the beginning of subsequent the semester.

Once house members, Rusk women are encouraged and expected to eat at the house and as participate in social and service events. In addition, Rusk women meet weekly over dinner for a required house meeting.

Major Events

Fall Semester


 * 2nd Night Down BBQ


 * Housewives & Handymen


 * Destination Unknown


 * Viva Las Vegas


 * Freshmen Brunch


 * Dancing Through the Decades (Fundraiser for Barium Springs)


 * Hot Damn, It's Cold Outside (Finals Study Break)

Spring Semester


 * Self-Selection Breakfast


 * Rusky Business Self-Selection Party


 * Junior Men's Champagne


 * Big Sis/Little Sis Week


 * North vs. South


 * Cheeseburger in Paradise (Kick-off to Spring Frolics)


 * Anything But Clothes (ABC) Party


 * Service Destination Unknown


 * Spring Formal

Leadership

Rusk encourages all of its members to take an active role in the house. In addition to its own Executive Board, Rusk has leadership opportunities in the Davidson Student Government Association, Patterson Court Council, and Patterson Court Judicial Board.

Current Executive Board

Related Links

 * List of Rusk Eating House Presidents: http://library.davidson.edu/archives/ency/eating_houses_rusk_presidents.asp


 * House Cleanup Schedule: http://www3.davidson.edu/cms/x33466.xml


 * Official Website: http://ruskeatinghouse.webs.com/