Women hoping to go greek flood Alumni Hall Tuesday

Chatter, laughter and greek letters filled the Indiana Memorial Union Alumni Hall on Tuesday night at “Greek Opportunities for Women,” the start of women’s recruitment.

The event featured two meetings, one at 7 p.m. and the other at 9 p.m., to introduce girls to the greek community.

Kelsey Schroeder, senior and Panhellenic Association vice president of recruitment, said the event is important for all women looking to join a sorority.

“It really helps break down barriers between people who know everything there is to know and people who don’t know anything,” Schroeder said. “It helps people who don’t have any idea of what they’re getting into. It gets them familiar with the process, as opposed to someone who has had eight sisters go here and knows it like the back of their hand.”

With a larger incoming freshman class than last year, the Panhellenic Association is expecting between 1,800 and 2,000 girls to participate in recruitment compared to last year’s 1,600. Tuesday the doors opened at 7 p.m., and by 7:15 p.m. Alumni Hall was standing-room only.

Schroeder and PHA President Sara Stombaugh opened the event with an overview of the greek system and sorority life. They both pointed out the other greek organizations on campus, the Interfraternity Council, the Multi-Cultural Greek Council and the IU Panhellenic Council.

Stombaugh said going greek is more than popular events like the Little 500, IU Sing and Homecoming, so women should join for the right reason.

“I challenge you to join for sisterhood,” Stombaugh said.

A slideshow followed Stombaugh’s presentation, and then Schroeder spoke about requirements for recruitment.

A new requirement this year is chapters will be able to see potential members’ judicial records. Schroeder said the new rule is a good addition to rush.

“It helps Panhellenic because it shows them we’re going to hold them accountable for being good people and following the rules,” Schroeder said.

After Stombaugh and Schroeder presented, girls moved to a break-out session where they could talk with active members of the different chapters on campus.

Before the meeting started, girls waited outside Alumni Hall with their own ideas about their future in greek life.

Sophomore Tiffany Davies said she is excited about going through recruitment even though she is not positive she wants to join a house.

“I’m still 50-50 on it. I’m still trying to decide,” Davies said. “I’d be the first one in my family to do it. I have a lot of friends in houses, and they really enjoy it.”

Freshman Iris Summers showed a different side of the girls because she said she is sure she wants to rush.

“My sister was in a sorority here at IU, and my brother was part of the IFC,” Summers said.

“They told me about all the activities greek life presented them with and also the connections they made for jobs outside in the real world.”

Kate Cottrell, a junior and Delta Gamma member, said Tuesday’s kick-off event was important for girls starting out in recruitment because of what it promotes.

“It opens up the other point of view to greek life,” Cottrell said. “They may think it’s just a way to get into the social scene, meet boys and go to frats. It’s more about this is where you can find your long-lasting friendships.”

Like Stombaugh and Schroeder stressed in their opening speeches, Cottrell said sisterhood is the most important part of joining a sorority.

“It’s a big sisterhood thing,” Cottrell said. “We’re all our separate houses, but at the same time we’re all greek. Even though our rituals are separate, we all share the same bond that we’re greek. We’re all supposed to be sisters together.”