Women's rush begins with 19 Party

A group of women stood in front of every sorority house on campus at about 11 a.m. Saturday, nervously laughing and doing some last-minute clasping and readjusting of their outfits and accessories.\nWhen the doors finally opened, the women stared raptly ahead as the deafening cheers of the sorority members trembled and erupted out of the houses. The 2001 sorority recruitment had begun.\nAbout 1,600 women gathered together this weekend for the two-day event called "19 Party." Potential members spent half an hour at all 19 houses, getting to know the women in each house. \n"I think they're looking for someone who has a personality, someone who can carry on a conversation," said freshman Emily Schroeder, a potential member.\nMembers of each house agreed that they were looking for people who were relaxed, comfortable, acted like themselves and stood out. This could be difficult because conversation was limited to certain topics.\nSorority members would ask each woman where she was from, her year, major and hobbies. \nBut the majority of conversation consisted of questions women had for each sorority: what they're like and what kinds of activities they participate in. \n"The purpose of recruitment is for potential members to be exposed to the greek system and everything it promotes," said senior Mercy Wagner, president of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She listed sisterhood, activity, diversity and philanthropy as among the most important attributes.\nOne potential member, freshman Miranda Ross, said her purpose for going through recruitment was "to meet people, to see what it's like."\n"I'm going to keep an open mind and make my own decisions," she said.\nThe majority of women said they were there to meet people and wanted to experience the greek system for themselves. They were more concerned with seeing what sororities were like than worrying about whether or not they would get into one. Most hadn't really considered what sororities were looking for in them.\n"I don't know what they're looking for. I have no idea what to expect," freshman Jessica Sample said.\nThat's where Recruitment Counselors help out.\nRecruitment Counselors are sorority members who have temporarily deactivated from their sororities for the sole purpose of being an unbiased guide to women interested in the greek system. They meet with a small group of potential members before the event, answering any questions they have about what to expect, what to wear, advice on etiquette and how to make an impression.\nSomething that assisted potential members with making an impression was their photo and list of activities they put on an index card and turned in to the woman they talked to at each house. This makes it easier for the house members to remember everyone they talked to, so they know who they would like to invite back.\nThose who make the cut after "19 Party" will continue on to the next series of recruitment parties that begin toward the end of Winter Break. Potential members go to "12 Party," "6 Party" and "3 Party," until they do or don't get a bid by the house of their choice.