The spring semester is here and with that comes recruitment. At Stevens, recruitment is a four-day process for women planning on joining one of five Panhellenic sororities that takes place during the last weekend of winter break. The process begins with an event known as Round Robin, which lasts approximately seven hours. During Round Robin, the girls are briefly introduced to each chapter and get to talk with a few of the sisters to get a taste of what each one is about. At the end of this process, the girls get to rank the sororities and pick the four they are most interested in. The girls then wait until the next day to see if one or more sororities have decided to call them back. However, there is a possibility that no sorority calls them, and they are then released from the process.
The following day, the girls are split up into their groups to see which sororities called them for the next round: Philanthropy. The girls were able to get called back to four sororities, including the one they ranked the lowest. However, they also could get called back to only three, two, one, or possibly none. As a result, each girl was given a different schedule in which they would revisit the ones that called them back. This round dedicated thirty minutes to each organization where they would explain their philanthropies to the girls and then do a small activity that revolved around their philanthropy. Each sorority supports a different cause through their fundraising events, so the idea is to allow the potential new members to see which cause resonates most with them. The girls then rank the sororities again and await the following day.
The next day is a little different than the others and is known as the Preference Party. The girls were required to dress in formal attire and were invited back to a maximum of two sororities, but could also get called back by one or get released from the process altogether. This day allotted 50 minutes to each sorority, where they expressed why their chapter was unique and worth rushing. The girls ranked the sororities again, and then had to wait until the next day to see if they received a bid. A bid is given to a girl by the sorority as a type of invitation into their sisterhood. The girls could accept the bid given to them the following day, or they could also reject their bid if they did not want to join the sorority that chose them.
If they accept their bid, they are invited back again the following day to the final event, bid day. This event occurs much later in the day than the other events and is significantly shorter. The room is full of excitement while the girls finally meet all of their soon-to-be sisters. Songs are sung and photos are taken before each sorority gathers somewhere separately in order to get to know the new members.
This four-day process results in lifelong friendships; however, the process is stressful for the women involved. Madison Sheehan, a freshman, participated in this year’s recruitment and found it taxing. “It was a very stressful process,” she said. “I did not know anything about recruitment at first. However, it was worth it because I was able to join a sorority in the end.” She ended up accepting her bid to Delta Phi Epsilon and was pleased with the turnout. “I would highly recommend going out for recruitment. You could always drop out if it’s not for you, so you should definitely try it!”
Looking at it from the other side is an entirely new perspective. The sororities must plan their events, make baked goods, come up with games and decorations, and even put together PowerPoints and presentations.
Michaela Thompson, a senior Engineering Management major and a former President of Phi Sigma Sigma, continues to be actively involved in the recruitment process. “This year, in order to prepare for recruitment, I first attended our sisterhood crafting sessions, where we would be painting posters or cutting decorations or hanging lights, and it is our creative outlet as a sisterhood,” she said. “We all bring something unique to the table and that is my favorite part about crafting. Next, we begin to practice conversations — because we are nervous, too! — and share why we love our chapter so much with each other.”
“Without the worry of classes just yet,” Thompson added, “this is a great opportunity for our sisterhood to catch up with each other, while also being reminded of what brings us all together. Finally, we are able to set up our spaces for each day of recruitment. Whether that is utilizing the crafts we made or just moving some furniture around in a classroom, this is a great way for us to let our personality shine while also making the potential new members feel comfortable and welcome.”
Thompson also described the stress that comes along with being a member of a sorority during recruitment. “Preparing for recruitment takes a ton of planning and hard work. Being best friends with our two recruitment chairs this year really made me understand how important all the details are, and how far in advance they are thought up. Recruitment can be tiring and stressful, but I really think it is one of the most enjoyable things about a sorority experience. Being on the recruiting side of it for three years has been amazing, and I think it is so enjoyable because we get to share our experiences with women also looking for a similar thing.”
Regardless of how stressful recruitment may be, Thompson does recommend going through the process. She went through formal recruitment in January 2017 and has been on the other side of things ever since. “The recruitment process is a time of forming new relationships and bonding,” she added. “If you are a potential new member, right off the bat you get to meet other women on campus in your group. From walking around together between rounds you are able to make friends in this process, even if you don’t end up in a chapter. If you are in a sisterhood, you collectively put so much work into recruitment and the time spent together makes it the best bonding time of the year. Either way, it is ultimately an opportunity for new relationships while also being a celebration of old ones, which is a winning situation for everybody.”
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