August 12, 2014
2014 sorority recruitment sets registration record
Submitted by Office of Greek Affairs
More K-State students have signed up to go through Kansas State University's 2014 sorority recruitment than ever before.
A total of 896 women have signed up for recruitment, which starts Sunday, Aug. 17, and ends with bid night at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22. Last year, 812 women registered for the 2013 recruitment.
Brianna Hayes, assistant director of Greek affairs and advisor to the Panhellenic Council, said that interest in sorority life continues to grow.
"It's great that our numbers keep increasing significantly each year," she said. "I think it's a reflection of the positive aspects of Greek life, especially in sorority life. People want to be a part of it."
The potential new members will move into their residence hall rooms on Sunday. Sorority Convocation, which explains the weeklong process, begins at 6 p.m. Sunday in the K-State Student Union Ballroom.
Nicole Wasserman, a senior in management, and Chelsey Ast, a junior in marketing, are the two Panhallenic Council directors who have been coordinating recruitment, along with Hayes. More than 30 sorority women will serve as recruitment guides and will be assisting the 896 women through the week of recruitment.
Potential new members will meet and tour all 12 of the Panhallenic Council sororities throughout the week in the mutual selection process. They will be introduced to six chapters on Monday and the remaining six on Tuesday. After Tuesday, the potential new members select their top nine chapters, while the organizations select women then want to invite back.
On Wednesday, the potential new members visit up to nine organizations where they learn about the philanthropic efforts of the chapters. The women then narrow their search down to their top six.
On Thursday, the potential new members visit up to six organizations and learn about the sisterhood at each chapter and get a tour of each facility. At the end of the day, they narrow their search down again, as the chapters also select women they want to join their organization.
On Friday, the potential new members visit up to three organizations. The chapters share parts of their ritual and missions with the new members. If the women make it to Friday and follow all requirements, they are guaranteed a bid, or invitation, to join an organization.
This spring, 1,911 undergraduate women were affiliated with a sorority, about 21 percent of the total female undergraduate population. That number will increase with recruitment numbers so high.
"It's great that so many women want to go through sorority recruitment to join our Greek community," Hayes said.
For more information about the Greek community call the office at 785-532-5546.