Greek community gets ready for new members

Greek life is a staple at big colleges like IU, and students new to campus or upperclassmen looking for a new activity can learn all about it this September.
For fraternities, fall recruitment or “rush,” starts at 4 p.m. Sept. 12 at a kick-off event in Dunn Meadow, in which students interested in joining a house can talk to active members.

“It’s kind of the University’s formal way of introducing anyone who wants to take a look at fraternities,” said Pat O’Marro, Sigma Phi Epsilon President.

Delta Kappa Epsilon President Vince Marshall said meeting guys at Dunn Meadow is important for potential members to scope out the fraternities on campus.

“It gives them a feel for what the guys are like,” Marshall said. He also said he and other current members get a list of any new male students interested. Then the current members invite the new recruits to rush events.

For women interested in going Greek, Women’s Formal Recruitment starts with a meeting, “Greek Opportunities for Women,” on Sept. 23. Kappa Delta Vice President of Membership Katie Snodgrass said the meeting is a chance for chapters to share information with girls interested in recruitment.

“It’s like a meet-and-greet,” Snodgrass said. “It’s a positive way to promote joining a sorority and going Greek.”

On Dec. 6, girls start visiting the 19 sororities on campus and finish the process when they return early from winter break for invitations to houses. Girls are invited to join a sorority at Bid Day on Jan.11.

“19 Party is really fun,” said Kappa Delta President Dana Rissley.  “It was not what I expected, but it was a surprise in a good way. All the houses were very welcoming.”

Before 19 Party, sorority members can invite potential recruits to their houses throughout the fall. Snodgrass said one event Kappa Delta puts on is “‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Night.” Active members bring girls to the house for a night of breadsticks, soda and TV.

Compared to female recruitment, fraternity recruitment is less formal, and fraternities find new members in their own ways.  

“For every fraternity it differs,” O’Marro said. “A lot of fraternities just recruit on rush. Rush isn’t our biggest thing.”

O’Marro said Sigma Phi Epsilon has an application to fill out, which can lead to an interview and invitations to rush events. The fraternity also starts searching for recruits out of high school with a scholarship award.

However a student finds a Greek house, Marshall said going Greek has many positive benefits.

“It’s a great way to make new friendships,” Marshall said. “It will hopefully take me far in business and networking.”

Rissley also said she is glad she chose to go through sorority recruitment.

“There are 19 houses on campus so there’s something for everyone,” Rissley said.
“Most people are pleasantly surprised when they go through recruitment.”