As a new student arriving on a college campus, there are many new things to get used to, sometimes very quickly. One of the new things may be living with a roommate, having classes at odd hours of the day, or eating every meal in a dining hall. Another aspect of many college campuses across the country, Greek Life, is something that many new students have to adjust to during their first year of college.
Getting Ready for Recruitment
Every year, college campuses set aside a portion of time for Greek recruitment, in which interested students are encouraged to join a sorority or a fraternity. All schools, as well as all organizations, have requirements that students must meet in the areas of academics, campus involvement, and judicial status with the school before becoming eligible to join. The most common is a minimum grade point average (GPA) that is needed before being extended membership. Be forewarned, however, because Greek recruitment week, once known as rush week, is not what television makes it out to be.
According to The Sorority Life, a website designed to answer young women’s questions about Greek life, “Being in a sorority is not what you see on TV and in movies. Yes, there are social functions, fraternity men and visitors from the inter/national organization, but life does not revolve around these things.” The website also offers tips on things to remember during recruitment week, including keeping an open mind, taking time for homework, and being genuine.
Greek Recruitment Terminology
Being Greek is sometimes like speaking another language. Five terms commonly used during Greek recruitment are sorority, fraternity, philanthropy, honorary/honor society, and bid.
A sorority is a Greek fraternal organization for women. The first sorority was founded in 1851 at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia, and is still a thriving organization today. However, some of the nation’s oldest sororities are still called fraternities because, when they first began, the term “sorority” had not been created. There are two main types of social sororities: (inter)national and local. (Inter)national sororities have chapters across the United States and sometimes in other countries, while local sororities only have groups in a particular state, region, or school.
A fraternity is a Greek organization for men. As with sororities, fraternities can be divided into the same two distinctions, (inter)national and local.
A philanthropy is a charity or cause to which a sorority or fraternity contributes time, money, and resources. As a part of Greek life, members dedicate community service hours to their specific philanthropy, in addition to raising money and awareness. Some organizations also require that members document a specific number of community service hours per month or academic term, which is something to consider when joining.
An honorary/honor society is a different kind of Greek society that often has its own recruitment process. These organizations also use Greek letters, have rituals, and may call themselves sororities or fraternities, but are not classified as traditional social Greek organizations. These organizations are often for leadership or a particular field of academic study and students are eligible to join as many honoraries or honor societies as they can. A student may only join one social sorority or fraternity in their lifetime.
Greek recruitment week ends when prospective members receive a bid, or an invitation to join an organization. Individual schools and organizations have rules as to which student and when a student can receive a bid, but it is often at the end of recruitment week after a student has been determined to meet the minimum GPA requirement and has fulfilled other qualifications and paperwork required by the college or university.
Hazing and Greek Life
A concern with many college students and their parents is hazing. Hazing is not something that is unique to Greek life; at one time, most college or university groups had some kind of hazing practice. In today’s Greek community, hazing is strictly forbidden and those who are found in violation of this rule are strictly punished. The National Panhellenic Conference, which is the umbrella organization of the 26 (inter)national sororities, and the North-American Interfraternity Conference, a similar organization for the United State’s 73 (inter)national fraternities, have strict rules and policies regarding the act of hazing and hazing prevention.
While the recruitment process may be confusing at first, it is something that is understood more and more with experience and understanding. If a student has questions, a school’s recruitment staff or Greek Affairs office will be able to answer questions and provide more information about a school’s Greek community and recruitment process.
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