Many carried flowers tied with sorority ribbons. Some embraced by the elevators or excitedly phoned friends and family. A few girls, red-faced and crying, were consoled in corners of the lobby.

The scenes from Winter Rush, repeated for women across campus, concluded Tuesday night at Norris University Center when rushees received white envelopes bearing the name of their new sorority.

Of the nearly 600 women who registered for rush, 489 finished, said Francesca Rodriguez, Panhellenic Association president. The total was up from last year’s 475, which Rodriguez attributed to changes such as a longer registration time and a large informational forum before Rush Week.

Keeping tabs on fraternity rush is difficult, because men do not formally register, said Mike Saxvik, Interfraternity Council vice president for recruitment. He estimates between 350 and 400 men participated, with 286 accepting bids as of Saturday night.

Last year’s Winter Rush saw 325 fraternity bids accepted. Saxvik, a Weinberg senior, said this year’s reported total is incomplete, since bids still are coming in. Fraternities usually give out between 270 and 320 bids, he said.

Kappa Sigma President David Privitera said almost 30 men accepted bids at his fraternity, more than in past years.

Privitera, a Weinberg senior, said he was surprised at the increase, since it was the first time in recent years the fraternity has gone through rush as a dry house and on social probation. He thought “some people might be dissuaded” by the probation, but the fraternity had one of the highest numbers of accepted bids on campus.

Phi Delta Theta rush chairman Ryan Benz said Rush Week allowed fraternity members to get to know potential members.

“We don’t really rush, we just make friends,” said Benz, an Education junior.

Many women, however, described Rush Week as overwhelming. Rho Chi Lydia Kruge said the week can be difficult on rushees.

“You don’t sleep, you’re thrown into all of these houses and are trying to impress people, and you can’t be yourself,” said Kruge, a Weinberg senior and Kappa Kappa Gamma member.

Weinberg freshman Liz Moum said despite the hectic parts of rush, she felt comfortable with the process.

“It’s not like the stereotypical rush of other schools where you’re judged from head to toe,” said Moum, who got a bid from Kappa.

Although some rushees were disappointed they didn’t get bids from their favorite houses, Moum said if she hadn’t received a bid, she would have been “upset to an extent but not broken-hearted.

“You can always rush next year,” she said.