<h1>1: There’s nothing inherent about being an Asian socialist atheist girl that would prevent you from fitting in at Rhodes. We’re not Reed, so you won’t find a lot of other asian socialist atheists, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have a good time getting along with the non-asian socialist atheists. With respect to your ethnicity, there are about 75 Asian-American students at Rhodes, and probably another 30 Asian international students, mostly from China. Based on freshman and senior surveys, Rhodes students are very evenly distributed across the political spectrum, with the plurality self-identifying as moderates, though there are strong contingents of students self-identifying as “left” and “right”. Also on the freshman survey, about 20% of students answer “None” when asked their current religious preference. I suspect that lumps atheists, agnostics, and ambivalents into the same category, though.</h1>
<h1>2: We ask graduating students whether or not they rushed at any time during college, and 70% of those graduating did. The number of first year students rushing is probably closer to 55 or 60%. Most students go through rush in the fall of their first year, though there are always a few sophomores and juniors who go through the process as well. The stereotypes of Greek organizations don’t hold very well at Rhodes, though you’ll see that for yourself when you get here. One of the purposes of rush is to introduce you to the Greek system here so you can decide whether it’s worth your while or not. FWIW, I think you can comfortably be a non-drinker in a sorority here.</h1>
<h1>3: You can decide for yourself whether you’d be able to mold the Search program to your liking. I will say that Search is short for the Search for Values in the light of <em>Western</em> History and Religion. That said, go to <a href=“http://www.rhodes.edu/images/content/College_Catalogue/Catalogue-2008-09.pdf[/url]”>http://www.rhodes.edu/images/content/College_Catalogue/Catalogue-2008-09.pdf</a> to view the College Catalog. The course descriptions indicate what degree requirements each course fulfills, and you’re looking for F1 courses. Religious Studies has a couple that are outside the Judeo-Christian context. There are also F1 courses in Philosophy, Greek & Roman Studies, History, and probably elsewhere. In situations where you have something very specific you’d like to study, you might be able to get a professor to sponsor a directed inquiry and get it approved for Search credit. I’d talk to Prof. Copper ([Rhodes</a> College | Faculty & Staff](<a href=“http://www.rhodes.edu/academics/5645_5649.asp]Rhodes”>http://www.rhodes.edu/academics/5645_5649.asp)) when you get here about a DI on Chinese Singaporeans. Prof. Dagger (<a href=“mailto:daggerr@rhodes.edu”>daggerr@rhodes.edu</a>) is the chair of Search; I wouldn’t hesitate to contact him directly about Search-specific questions.</h1>