Rush week, the week that consists of sororities and fraternities hosting various activities in order to recruit new members, took place from Aug. 29 through Sept. 9 at California State University, Stanislaus (Stan State). Panhellenic recruitment weekend occurred from Sept. 22 through the 25.
The fraternity Theta Chi held games such as volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, knocker balls and flag football. Other Greek organizations followed suit with their own game nights and socials.
All organizations ended the week with Bid Day, the event where pledges – those who are trying to become members – find their Greek “homes.” These “homes” can either be a local fraternity, sorority or even national ones like Panhellenic.
“Panhellenic is an umbrella organization with 26 national and international autonomous sororities,” says Karla Ramirez, the Director of Recruitment for Stan State.
The Panhellenic sororities on campus, Phi Sigma Sigma, Phi Mu and Alpha Xhi Delta, hosted a recruitment weekend rather than a rush week that lasts Thursday through Sunday.
Thursday consisted of an “info night” where the potential new members got to learn about the unique Panhellenic sororities and the process of recruitment.
On Friday, the potential new members were scheduled to meet with each sorority as the chapters explained their philanthropy and community service work the next day.
Following was Preference Day, the event where the potential new members learn about deeper bonds. If the women receive a bid (an invitation to join) on this day, they get to pick two preferences of sororities at most.
Once they get extended a bid, they can accept or deny their bid into a sorority, and it’s a mutual selection process. This selection occurs on Bid Day, which is usually the day after Preference Day.
If a student of Stan State is interested in joining a Panhellenic sorority, Bianca Mar-Elia (senior, Liberal Studies) from Phi Sigma Sigma says Panhellenic looks for women who are committed.
“We’re very inclusive. We look for girls who are interested in joining Panhellenic, who want to have relationships with other people and other schools, who want to do community service, who want to do philanthropy work,” said Mar-Elia, who also stressed the importance of possessing a GPA of at least 2.5 to be a member.
Phi Mu member, Andrea Inocencio (senior, Kinesiology), remembers going through recruitment last fall and is participating in recruitment this year as a member.
“To me, everything is so exciting because I know where the girls have been, I know what they’re feeling, and I know how it is,” said Inocencio.
“But I’m also nervous because I want to be their support. I want to be someone they can feel comfortable talking to, and I don’t want to mess up.”
“The part of recruitment that is the most fun is getting to meet all the new girls,” said Selene Ortiz (junior, Psychology), a member of Phi Mu.
But the Greek life does not just boost your social circle; some say it has bettered them in a way nothing else could have.
Ortiz and Haley Edwards (senior, liberal studies) both agree that students who are interested in Greek life should join because it helps one grow and enriches the college experience.
“My mom’s even told me from when I joined last fall that I’ve grown so much, and that she can see how much happier I am, how much fun I’m having in school. I’m just not going to school and going home,” said Edwards.
“Don’t be afraid to join! Don’t be afraid to be outgoing! Walk up to our booth, and ask us a question,” said Mar-Elia.
“Walk up to anyone wearing letters because that’s what we do when we recruit. We walk up to girls who aren’t wearing letters and ask them if they want to join, so do the same thing.”
Ramirez shared other ways to get involved in Greek life if a student is unsure about joining an organization.
“Some of the events that anyone can attend are Relay for Life, Autism Awareness Week, Dance Marathon, School Supply Drive, and Phi Sigma Sigma Easter Egg Hunt,” said the Director of Recruitment.
The local fraternities and sororities had a very different experience than Panhellenic during rush week, which is not an actual week for some.
“It lasts 2 weeks, and it is basically giving everyone a taste of what our fraternity is about. It sort of allows outsiders insight on what the fraternity has to offer,” said Isaac Sada (senior, Biology), Recruitment Chairman of Theta Chi Fraternity.
Fraternities also look for different traits in pledges than sororities.
“We are looking for Resolute Men. To elaborate on that, we are looking for men that have ambition, leadership, and for someone that wants to have fun at the same time.”
Sada is also happy to announce that they managed to recruit a whopping 25 members this fall.
There are also subject-oriented sororities and fraternities such as Sigma Alpha Iota (SAI), Stan State’s International Music Fraternity. SAI is going to be holding recruitment very soon with a game night event on Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. in the music department.
“SAI Presents our first Recruitment Social for Fall 2016! Come join us for free food, xbox, wii, board games and more! In collaboration with Phi Mu Alpha, the men’s music fraternity,” said a SAI member.
You can check out this event on Stan State’s SAI Facebook page, and you can see a list of Stan State’s Greek organizations here.