MSU Recruitment

Along with my internship this summer, I will be returning to Starkville in July to prepare for Panhellenic Recruitment 2005. Recruitment is a week long process in which college women have the opportunity to join a sorority. Mississippi State offers potential membership into six Greek sororities: Delta Gamma, Kappa Delta, Chi Omega, Zeta Tau Alpha, Delta Delta Delta, and Phi Mu. Over the years, many misconceptions have developed about the process of recruiting new members into sororities. Contrary to popular belief, there is no “hazing” (pressure to participate in cruel or embarrassing activities) involved in the recruitment and initiation of sorority women. At Mississippi State, this week simply provides a time for potential new members and existing sorority women to become acquainted with one another.

Recruitment Week can offer women a fun way to meet other new collegians and sorority women through the different events. Panhellenic is the governing body for sororities that organizes and regulates the process. The Panhellenic Council and Recruitment Counselors start the week off with an orientation session where potential new members get to know one another and become informed about the upcoming events. Orientation is followed by four events: Water Event, Philanthropy Event, Theme Event, and Preference Event. During the Water Event, women tour each house for approximately thirty minutes while talking to members and enjoying glasses of water. The next day, women participate in the Philanthropy Event where they find out about each sorority’s charity. Women also make a craft to give to the charity during this longer visit. Theme Event is the most fun night! The potential new members and sorority women are allotted more time to converse, and the sorority women perform skits and songs about their sisterhood. Preference Night is the last and most serious step in the recruitment process. During this night, the potential new members visit their top two choices only, and each woman must select the sorority that she wants to join at the end of the event. Finally, the women celebrate joining a sorority on Bid Day.

Although the Recruitment process is only one week for participants, I will begin work with the other council members in July, cutting my internship somewhat short. I look forward to the discussions and planning. My hope is to make the 2005 potential new members’ experience as wonderful and memorable as mine was. As an out-of-state freshman, Recruitment Week helped me meet friends, gain conversation skills, and receive membership in an organization that has changed my life. In conclusion, I hope that you have gained some insight into the confusing steps of sorority recruitment. By the way...ABC33/40 Weather Team, I am putting my request in early. I need beautiful weather for the Recruitment Week in August!