Sorority Collage

From left: Delta Zeta, Chi Omega and Sigma Sigma Sigma. Various sorority houses at East Carolina University. ECU's Panhellenic formal recruitment is gearing up.

As East Carolina University begins its classes, Panhellenic sororities chapters will begin holding formal recruitment starting this week from Aug. 22 to Aug. 28.

The registration cost is $150 and the deadline for registration is tomorrow, 8 a.m. Women looking to register can do so on the Panhellenic Recruitment Information webpage or email greeklife.ecu.edu for further information.

According to Lillie Rhodes, Panhellenic vice president of recruitment, about 600 women are expected to be participating in the formal recruitment process to be inducted as new members into one of the ten Panhellenic sororities on campus.

The 10 current Panhellenic sororities on ECU’s campus, which can be found on the Panhellenic Recruitment for ECU webpage, include Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Xi Delta, Chi Omega, Delta Zeta, Kappa Delta, Phi Mu, Sigma Sigma Sigma and Zeta Tau Alpha.

Associate Director of Student Life and Learning at Indiana University, Sarah Cohen said she was asked by ECU to discuss with the ten women’s organizations how to better recruit new members and have genuine and authentic conversations.

Cohen, a research associate for the consult group, Dyad Strategies, said she feels the steps ECU has taken to decrease the stigma around Greek life will make the recruitment process run more smoothly.

“It can be a nerve racking experience, but I think at a place like East Carolina where they’re taking so many proactive steps to make it less nerve racking, it diminishes a lot of the preconceived notions that people have,” Cohen said. “It allows for the women who are choosing to join sororities to have a much more low-key, laid-back experience.”

This Wednesday, a mandatory orientation will be held at 5 p.m. or 8 p.m. in Wright Auditorium for all women who have already signed up for formal recruitment.

According to the schedule, the orientation is going to serve as a time for PNMs to meet with their recruitment counselors, or Pi Chi’s, then receive an overview of the recruitment week, learn about the recruitment rules and finally hear a presentation about the Circle of Sisterhood, which serves as the University’s Panhellenic philanthropy.

On both Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., PNM’s will have the opportunity to “Meet and Greet” with all 10 sororities at the Greenville Convention Center at 303 Greenville Blvd SE, according to the schedule. “Meet and Greet” parties will be held on both days to give each individual PNM and sorority an opportunity to have casual conversations in person.

According to the schedule, Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., the PNMs will then visit a personalized list of eight chapters held at the Greenville Convention Center and will learn about that particular chapter’s philanthropy.

Sunday starting at 8 a.m., the schedule states participants will attend House Tour day, which includes house tours given by the top five chapters included on a PNM’s list. The day will begin with a check-in held at Wright Auditorium.

Monday serves as the final day of formal recruitment, titled Preference Day on the website. The day will begin with a check-in located in Wright Auditorium followed by recruitment participants attending up to two preference ceremonies held at each individual chapter’s home.

After the ceremony, PNM’s will then fill out and sign a Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement, MRABA, which states they would be willing to receive a membership invitation from any group listed on their form, according to the schedule details.

Tuesday will be the final day of recruitment, also known as Bid Day, according to the online schedule. PNM’s will receive an invitation to join one of the organizations they listed on their MRABA form, then will become a new member of the Panhellenic sorority of their choosing.

Bid Day will begin at 4:30 p.m. in Minges Coliseum and then continue on throughout the night at each individual chapters home where new members will have the opportunity to get to know other new members and inducted members of that chapter.

Along with the social and academic benefits of Greek life, Rhodes said there is also a charitable aspect that is expected out of each organization and its members.

“Every sorority also has a philanthropy that they raise money for every year. A lot of these organizations have local branches such as Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Ronald McDonald House and the Food Bank,” Rhodes said.

Rhodes said most chapters have required service hours in which so members are actively getting involved in the community. She said many Panhellenic women are heavily involved with additional organizations and clubs at ECU as well.

The average new member semester cost is $1,370.33, according to the Panhellenic Recruitment Information webpage.

According to Rhodes, who said she can only answer on behalf of Panhellenic, despite the closures of several ECU Greek organizations, she believes Greeks still have a lot to offer any student at ECU, despite what they are hearing in the media.

To combat the misconceptions within Greek life, Rhodes said she wants to highlight specific benefits she feels Greek organizations provide. Rhodes said Panhellenic holds groups who don’t live up to their values accountable.

“Joining Greek Life allows you (to) not only make lifelong friends but join an organization that can connect you with thousands of women across the world,” Rhodes said. “Panhellenic Sororities at ECU have an average GPA that is higher than the All-Women’s GPA at ECU. We take pride in our academics with every chapter having a minimum GPA and many sororities requiring study hours as well.”

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