A Word of Advice during Recruitment from a former Greek Life Graduate Assistant

Now that the first two weeks of school have come to a close, many universities have started their recruitment processes for joining Greek organizations (please refer to previous blog post here) for the Fall 2014 semester.

While this is usually an opportunity for each chapter to truly show potential new members what the chapter has to offer, I am going to urge all you sorority women to go one step further and not only show what your chapter brings to your college/university but what Greek Life in general brings to your campus.

Now, I know this may seem a bit unorthodox, but the reality is YES we want to continue to grow the legacy of our individual chapters but without the support of the university in which we are chartered, our chapters would not exist. Therefore, it is just as important to promote “RUSH (insert chapter name here)” as it is to promote “Going Greek” in general.

It is your responsibility as a Greek Life member to not only promote and protect your chapter but also the other chapters that exist on your campus, because  at the end of the day, you all reflect what Greek Life at your university gives to its students to the University administrators. 

In the end, the being unified (also known as “Gruinty” at Pace University”) provides you with the greatest chance to prosper as a chapter, as a community, and as a vital piece to campus life.

With that being said, I hope you all take this opportunity during recruitment to not only talk about your experiences and your chapter, but also describe and promote Greek Life as a whole.

Why Should You Join a Sorority?

1. You get to meet a ton of great girls, who can possibly be your sisters.
2. It teaches you to work together.
3. It will allow you to break out of your shell.
4. You get involved with your campus community.
5. Gain connections with other Greeks.
6. Getting a BIG sister!
7. Formals
8. Opportunities to step up and be a leader in Greek life or PanHellenic.
9. Lifelong Friendships.
10. Home away from home. Place of belonging.
11. Emphasizing academics.
12. Teaches you to aim high in all your goals.
13. Always have someone to hangout with and grab dinner.
14. Networking, with people in Greek life and your own sorority.
15. Philanthropy involvement.
16. GREEK WEEK competitions
17. Hold officer positions.
18. Taking a LITTLE!
19. Making memories to last a lifetime!

Greek Stereotypes

              College life is just one big party. Your drink, make friends, have hookups and who cares about studying, especially if your in a sorority! All those girls do is hangout only with each other, always have to look pretty not to mention they are the brattiest people on the campus. Every sorority hates one another and that's just how it is and will continue to be.
              This is a HUGE misconception! Don't get me wrong, every campus is different. Almost all of the sorority women I have met are women of substance. They believe in their values and ideals but they are also there own person. Yes sorority girls love to hangout with their sisters but they also have friends outside of them. I know I have multiple friends in other sororities, and outside of Greek life. Not every sorority is known for partying, some are known for their pride in their philanthropy! Every sorority is different which means this idea of the "stereotypical sorority girl" needs to be broken for people to see the opportunity and the genuine character of the girls. 
             I know at my school, and at many other we are doing a great job breaking down this barrier, and if ever someone does stereotype like my teacher did in one of my universities health classes we have to stand up to it, bring awareness and let people know that isn't how it works now. I know my sorority sister and I were terrified when my professor said something negative about Greek life, sororities, or fraternities, but we raised are hands and said no. We explained ourselves and he fought back, but we continued to disagree in front of a huge lecture. These letters on my chest help make me the person I am today, I am not going to let someone who thinks they know what they stand for or who I am tell me what they are. Awareness is something we don't think about too often when are with sisters, but everyone is watching a judging. Lets continue to strive to make a good mark on people, colleges, and universities for all of Greek life! 

How do you choose the right sorority for you?

            It is half way through summer, which means for most sorority girls it is almost recruitment time! That means fun florals, bright colors, Greek lettered shirts, and lots and lots of sister time!
            Fall of 2011 I had no clue what the hell I was getting myself into when I walking into the Student Union Building planning to go through recruitment. I talked to so many girls and forgot most of their faces. I remember the second night I walked into a room and a girl walked right up to me and asked me "Brooke, how was your day today? I am so glad you came back out!" I was astonished! Why would this awesome, fun girl remember me? There were hundreds of us, and I even forgot their names but lucky they had name tags. Finding your sorority should be the girls that you leave an impression on and that they leave one on you. Don't get me wrong the day I chose what sorority I wanted to put first on my preference card was scary... It was like deciding if you liked a guy and he liked you back. Will Phi Sigma Sigma want me to be a sister of there amazing sorority? Not going to lie and say I wouldn't have been completely devastated if they decided to pick another girl over me but the next day at bid day I was beyond pleased to be holding a Phi Sig bid!
             When going through look for a group of girls you can connect with, sometimes all that glitters is not gold. Although there may be some cool sororities with fun colors, you have to find the best sorority for YOU. They are also trying to find the best potential sisters for them! My suggestions is try to find a connection with their philanthropy, an event, mission, creed, values, some of their sisterhood events, one of the sisters... there is so many different things potential new members can do to find their home away from home.
               One final piece of advice I would give a potential new member who is going through recruitment, is to research. Research about all of the sororities you are going through especially through their national website. Also, if your friend from another school said a Zeta Zeta Zeta sorority was horrible at hazing and they are always mean doesn't necessarily mean the one at your school will be the exact same way. Just like how every class in high school club is different, doesn't mean they all act the same way and all run their meetings the same. Talk to upper class men or different faculty on campus... they usually have a pretty good perspective but do not use Greek Rank. I personally think that it is very negative outlook on the Greek community and that it is also not very accurate... I mean at all.
              But go through recruitment & walk your own path... and if you don't like it you can create a new one, with it hopefully leading to the sorority of your choice!

Greek Unity

Theta Phi Alpha, Phi Sigma Sigma, and Zeta Tau Alpha

Everyone is unique and different in their own way. That is what makes you...well, you. In the same way, every sorority is different. They have their own rituals, traditions, and beliefs, but does that mean you should be hating on them?
No, it is completely and totally wrong. If you think you are high and mighty and above everyone else, then you have got to be kidding me. Being Greek is all about sisterly love, friendship, leadership roles, learning rituals, and the biggest of all, philanthropy!
You can't completely hate a sorority because, for example, you just don't like one girl in it. Isn't that wrong? I mean pick out all the ones you like and be friends with them. I'm sure when you're going into job interviews a few years down the line you are going to meet someone in Greek life. Are you going to say, "Ouch, that sorority you were in really sucked and I didn't like anyone in it"? No, you want to say "I have friends in that sorority and they really enjoyed being apart of such a great legacy."
Greek Unity could bring so many more girls through rush or recruitment because they see that it isn't as catty as they thought it would be. It could be such a great marketing tool to get different girls of various backgrounds and upbringings to Greek life.
At my school, I put together a petition against Greek rank to show our campus, and everyone that, as Greeks, we stick together. I have had numerous people sign it and comment on how great it is, but overall, it is all about what your school makes of Greek unity. Don't get me wrong, if you go on Greek Rank now, you will still see current people posting, but to see that many people in Greek life have signed a petition against it warms my heart.

Phi Sigma Sigma and Sigma Alpha Epsilon
for our annual Thanksgiving Dinner

A Greek organization can do amazing things separately, but when they come together, so much more could happen. You get to meet so many people you never thought you would get the chance to know so well. I am so lucky and fortunate to say I have so many best friends within the Greek community with our sororities, fraternities, and our multicultural Greek life. I consider myself blessed everyday for getting to know these people and being apart of something so great at our school.This is one of my previous posts for Little Problems