Women's recruitment wraps up

Sporting boots with formal dresses, masses of shivering women braved the sudden blast of winter weather this weekend to participate in the final rounds of women's formal rush. Over 1,000 IU students took part in the Panhellenic Association's formal recruitment program this year, which culminated yesterday with three-party.\nBrooklyn Diamond, a freshman, said the recruitment activities made for a very full day. \n"Rush drained me emotionally, but it was well worth it, being able to meet all the girls and see what all the houses were," Diamond said.\nInterested women were invited to sign up for recruitment as early as October through informal presentations at the Student Sports and Recreation Center and at the residence halls. Formal recruitment began in November with 19-party. Potential members toured all 19 sororities on campus and talked with members at each chapter.\nFollowing 19-party, potential members chose 12 chapters they wanted to visit for the second round of formal recruitment. Last Thursday and Friday's 12-party enabled the women to view skits and talk to more chapter members.\nThe process of mutual selection was completed Saturday and Sunday with six- and three-party, which allowed potential members a closer glimpse into the activities and lifestyles of women in the chapters the visited.\nFollowing three-party, potential members ranked their top three chapter choices. If the chapter they chose also selected them to become a member, they will be informed of their mutual selection tonight at "bid night." \nSenior Andrea Thompson, the recruitment coordinator for Kappa Alpha Theta, said three-party gives an extremely important final impression for both the houses and the candidates. \n"It gives the women a final chance to see what each member is all about," Thompson said. "It can be a trying experience from the standpoint of talking to a lot of people and wearing high heels in the snow."\nDiamond said she thought the party system was a good idea. \n"The best thing about each party is that you talk to the same people," Diamond said. "Your conversations get deeper as the parties go on. You see the characteristics of the house and how close the sisters are."\nDiamond said that while she realizes a potential member might not always get a bid with her top choice, "the best thing to bring to recruitment is an open mind," she said.\nSophomore Katie Killebrew had a variety of reasons for wanting to rush. \n"I wanted to meet people, get involved and do campus projects, and I knew I could do that in a sorority," Killebrew said.\nFormal recruitment isn't the only option available to women interested wanting to get into a sorority. Sophomore Erin Miller chose to go through informal recruitment, which is for those who have already been acquainted with a particular sorority, whether through mutual friends or activities, and wish to join that sorority. \n"I was invited by a member of Alpha Delta Pi, and I toured the house and looked at the members. I did not have to go to all the houses," Miller said.\nRegardless of which type of recruitment program potential members choose to pursue, Miller said the processes are both positive. She had heard negative comments about the IU greek system in the past and said her experience with informal recruitment dispelled those myths.\n"Everyone was so nice up there (Alpha Delta Pi)," Miller said. "It didn't seem stereotypical or anything. I have some friends who are really critical of the greek system, and it's not like that."\nThompson said the current recruitment system is the best way to recruit new members into IU chapters. \n"No one else has come up with a more efficient system for 1600 girls to meet 100 girls at 19 houses," she said.