Potential new members wait outside the Alpha Chi Omega house on Lumpkin Street during Panhellenic Rush Friday.

Sororities see increase in recruits

By: HALEY TEMPLE

Posted: 8/18/08

A new class of University Greeks will emerge today - Bid Day - after a week-long recruitment process that saw a bump in participants this year.

"Last year, Greek Life had 1,265 women participating, and this year [they] have 1,318," said Claudia Shamp, associate dean for Greek Life.

Distribution of bids will occur at 5:30 p.m. today, where some recruits will be invited to celebrate at social events at their respective sororities.

"Each organization has a social event for those chosen to join," she said. "But it really runs the gamut because the day is usually based on each sorority's preferences and is ultimately left up to them to decide how the ceremonies are held."

For those who did not get bids, it may be time to hang up their pearls.

"We often encourage people go through rush just to meet people," Shamp said, so those who do not receive bids have other reasons to enjoy recruitment.

During recruitment, which began Aug. 12, Greek hopefuls met with small groups and Gamma Chis, also known as Recruitment Counselors, to kick off the week.

"Gamma Chis are really awesome and really helpful," said Sara Ashley Phillips, a freshman recruitment participant from Hartwell, Ga. "You can give them your cell phone number and, if you want, they'll even call you in the mornings to wake you up so that you don't oversleep."

The days following orientation are "pretty exciting," said Ashton Emmerich, also a freshman participant in recruitment from Hartwell, Ga.

Wednesday through Sunday marked a series of rounds that weeded out the sororities that the girls were not interested in joining and vice versa.

"It's very mysterious," Emmerich said. "And your first impression is made within twenty minutes."

Phillips compared the process to speed dating.

"They pass you along to different conversations as you keep talking," she said.

The girls are not the only ones "rushing," however. Fraternities host recruitment over a period of three days. The first day is allotted for orientation meetings, according to the Interfraternity Council Web site. The days following are for mandatory visitations of each chapter house. Afterward, potential new members are allowed to visit any of the houses for the next two days.

"The fraternity recruitment process is a little more unstructured than the sororities'," Shamp said.

"They host activities, and anyone who is participating in rush may come visit the houses in order to make a decision at this time."

Despite the sometimes awkward "speed dates" with sorority members, Emmerich said she enjoyed "learning a lot about the philanthropies and the different organizations" that are offered at the University.