Female students rushing sororities will find themselves scurrying from house to house earlier than usual this fall.

The Women's Panhellenic Association moved the beginning of rush week from October to this Saturday to avoid a conflict between exam week and the eight-week new-member process, said Carol Cox, assistant director of student activities for Greek Life.

"Rush itself is a mutual selection process in which fraternities and sororities invite interested people to join," she said. Rush is a necessary process to receive greek letters.

WPA has also restructured rush, said Carey Johnston, WPA president. Many of the gatherings will take place on the weekends instead of during the week.

"When you're just starting class, (rush) doesn't interfere with class time," Johnston said.

The WPA initially was concerned an earlier rush week would result in fewer prospective members, but Johnston said rush numbers are consistent with previous years.

In 1996, rush brought OU's 10 sorority chapters 433 new members, Johnston said.

"Before classes started we had the same amount as last year," she said. "We've gotten a lot in the last couple days."

WPA first sent rush notifications to upperclassmen during Spring Quarter, but the response was lower than expected.

"There weren't a whole lot of upperclass students that signed up until they came back," Cox said.

This year, sororities had sign-up tables at the Ping Center, in the dining halls, and at Welcome Day.

"We have given out 600 applications since Saturday," Cox said. "I am not worried about rush numbers for the fall."

Women still wanting to sign up can do so until 5 p.m. today in Baker Center 312. Rush orientation is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday in the Grover Center auditorium.