IU sororities kick off rush with 19 party

The Pi Beta Phi house was silent on Third Street as 86 potential sorority members stood outside, staring in and waiting.\n“Three minutes!” a Rho Gamma, or formal sorority recruitment leader, shouted.\nSuddenly, there was pounding on the door from the inside and banging on the windows as Pi Beta Phi members broke out into their chapter chant. The crowd of recruits began to cheer.\nWhen the door opened, the 86 girls were greeted by smiling chapter members who were singing on the staircase.\n“We’re all excited to be here,” Pi Beta Phi Recruitment Chair Brittany Ryan said. \nMore than 1,600 potential new members visited IU’s 19 sororities Saturday and Sunday to complete the first phase of the formal recruitment process, and were greeted by cheers before entering each house. \nRyan said at the beginning of the second day of 19 Party, chapter members were staying enthusiastic by any means possible. The chapter had snacks, pictures of the members doing funny things and dining room dance parties to give everyone “an energy rush.”\nAnother group of potential recruits walked down the Jordan Avenue extension from Alpha Gamma Delta to Alpha Epsilon Phi.\n“If you miss one house, you’re out,” freshman and potential sorority member Sarah Ziker said as a Rho Gamma took attendance.\nZiker said that at each chapter house, each potential member was paired with a chapter member who would give her a tour of the house and talk with her one-on-one.\nThough there were some “forced” conversations, Ziker said she felt the process showed that all the chapter members were really trying to get to know her.\nWhile potential members fretted about conversation, Pi Beta Phi Vice President of Membership Alex Guttman said all the girls were well-prepared for the event.\n“(The potential members) have all been wonderful,” Guttman said. “Sure that’s what they all say, but they are.”\nKelly Robertson, Panhellenic Association vice president of recruitment, agreed the event went off without a hitch. \nShe said the event’s success this year is due to the dedication of the Rho Gammas and an “overhaul” of Rho Gamma training.\n“This year we’re trying to focus a lot more on values,” Robertson said. “Behind the social aspect it’s the sisterhood … That’s what we’re trying to put at the forefront; that’s what being in the greek system is really all about.”\nFreshman and potential sorority member Kelsey White said she was unsure about going greek but decided to rush to “meet a bunch of people.” She said 19 Party allowed her to do just that. She said she “met a lot of really nice people … in a really upbeat environment.”\nWhite said the enthusiasm of sorority members and Rho Gammas helped her solidify her decision to continue with the rush process.\n“(The sorority members) are so proud of their sorority (that) you know it’s a good place to be,” White said.