Abstract
The effects of soft repulsions on hard particle systems are calculated using an avoidance model which improves upon the simple mean field approximation. The method not only yields a better free energy, but also gives an estimate for the short-range positional order induced by soft repulsions. The results indicate little short-range order for isotropically oriented rods. However, for parallel rods short-range order increases to significant levels as the particle axial ratio increases.