Nicole Diseker
Staff writer
SE sororities, Alpha Sigma Tau and Sigma Sigma Sigma began celebrating open recruitment Sept. 12 with a volleyball game in front of Shearer Hall.
The two chapters held a game night in the student union on Sept. 16. The women attended the SE football game on Sept. 21.
A philanthropy night is prepared for Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. in the second floor loft in the student union. For any questions, contact Brittney Bailey, assistant recruitment director at (580)-230-1913.
Formal recruitment weekend began Thursday, Sept. 12 and lasted through the Sunday, Sept. 15.
Thursday kicked off the formal recruitment process. Videos featuring each chapter were shown.
Afterwards the groups attended SE’s first football game of the season.
An informational party on Friday, Sept. 13, allowed SE women to ask questions about the sororities in a group setting.
“Questions about what their colors mean, costs, their community service projects. Any question you can think of,” said Liz Howard, student life coordinator.
Saturday morning, the two chapters held themed parties. Alpha Sigma Tau had a tea party with an Alice in Wonderland motif.
Sigma Sigma Sigma said “Be our guest,” with a Beauty and the Beast set up.
Decorations, food and fun gave the women an opportunity to experience sorority life and determine whether it was truly for them, according to Howard, even if a person is really shy.
Preferential parties went on Saturday night. These parties are referred to as “pref” parties and provide sororities the opportunity to make final decisions about who to invite as new members.
They also give women the opportunity to say which chapter they prefer.
These parties are more serious. The women share feelings, stories and try to connect on a deeper level with their potential sisters, giving them a feel for sisterhood.
“They have a bond and they want to share that,” said Howard.
Recruitment week ended on Sunday, also known as bid day, the final process of the recruitment weekend.
The chapters gave their “bids,” also known as formal invitations to join a sorority.
According to Howard, some women get one, others two and some none at all.
Whether they were invited to pledge or not depended on a number of things: GPA, involvement on campus and how many spots were available.
Each sorority is allowed 40 members each. Twenty women were recruited this semester, 10 to each sorority.
After the women accepted their invitations, a “meet and greet” took place.
They then followed arrows drawn with chalk on the sidewalks across campus. The arrows led to their chosen sorority’s meeting place.
The chapters accepted their newest members and celebrated that night, putting a cap on an event-filled weekend.
Alpha Sigma Tau alumni, Mika Knight rushed during her freshman year.
“It affected me to be more outgoing, encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone and helped me gain confidence,” said Knight.
Knight met one of her best friends while rushing, and is still in contact with many of the women from her sorority.
“Fall is better because you get to bond with all the girls you’re rushing with. You can call any one of them and they’ll be there,” said Knight.
Knight’s favorite part of being in a sorority was the experience she gained.
“I didn’t know anything about Greek week or homecoming competitions. The organizations build floats; it’s all really fun,” said Knight.