Sororities hold informal recruitment
Two weeks of chaotic shuffling among 12 sorority houses has been replaced with casual barbecues over several months.
This fall, two sororities are conductingan informal bidding process.Unlike spring recruitment, this typeof bidding is only done by chapters whohave not acquired enough membersequal to the average number of girls inall campus sorority houses.
This number is called total, andit determines the number of girlsneeded for each sorority. It wasrecently increased this fall from 95to 111 members, and only sororitiesunder total can participate in informalrecruitment. The Panhellenicboard presented the bill to delegatesfrom each chapter, which then votedin favor of increasing total.
‘We reviewed the numbers for each chapter and averaged them to get 111,’ Thompson said. ‘Total is basically to make an equal playing field and give equal advantage, so smaller chapters aren’t weaker.’
Two years ago, total increased from 70 to 95. Thompson said the jump this year from 95 to 111 came about because of increased interest in greek life. She said she hopes by reviewing total every year it will increase gradually.
Thompson said reactions to the new total were mixed.
‘They weren’t jumping for joy over it,’ she said. ‘They were a little disappointed, but they also thought it could help them. It gives them an opportunity to get more girls so they’re on an equal playing field.’
Emily Harris, vice president of the Panhellenic Association at SU, said total is ‘just a guideline, not a requirement.’
‘It just gives the average so chapters can get to approximately the same number,’ she said.
While the Panhellenic Association is uninvolved in informal recruitment, there is an initiation deadline two weeks before final exams.
Informal recruitment events range from big dinners to small gatherings.
As women trickle into sororities for informal rush, fraternities gear up for their fall rush period. Fall fraternity rush, which includes all 18 houses, runs Oct. 13 to Oct. 18.
A rush expo for all interested male sophomores and juniors will be held in Goldstein Auditorium Oct. 13.
Mike Schottenstein, vice president for external affairs, said the week will consist of two nights when the chapter houses will be open, and a third night when chapters invite back their choice of potential new members. At the end of the week, potential new members will receive bids.
Students must have a least sophomore standing to participate in fall rush.
Matt Abdifar, president of the Interfraternity Council at SU, said fraternities, unlike sororities, have no total.
‘It depends on the frat and what they want,’ he said. ‘My frat will only give out six or seven bids in the fall; others might give out two.’
Published on October 5, 2008 at 12:00 pm
