Greek recruitment processes, explained

Neither sororities nor fraternities formally recruit new members during the fall semester. Panhellenic sorority recruitment takes place five days prior to the start of the spring semester, IFC recruitment takes place during the first two weeks of classes and CGC’s recruitment process does not have a set time frame. (Shana Lichaw/B&W Staff)

Greek life at Lehigh has existed for nearly as long as the university itself.

Students who wish to become a member of a Greek organization at Lehigh must go through a recruitment process that differs depending on the type of chapter they would like to join.

Women wishing to join a chapter under Lehigh’s Panhellenic Council must go through the formal recruitment process, which is a mutual selection process that generally takes place a week before the spring semester begins.

Panhellenic President Emily Brown, ’19, said recruitment lasts for five days, with each day focused on a different aspect of sorority life. Potential new members visit different chapters each day to narrow their decisions. This academic year, recruitment will be held Jan. 16- 20, 2019.

Unlike sorority recruitment, the Interfraternity Council’s recruitment process occurs in the spring semester while classes are in session. Students interested in joining fraternities attend events hosted by chapters they like. If a chapter expresses interest in a student, he will receive an offer to start the new member education process.

“Historically, the Panhellenic Council has had a lot more structure in (its) recruitment process, whereas fraternities are a lot more laid back and have a lot fewer rules,” Brown said.

IFC President Matt Tracy, ’19, said fraternity recruitment technically occurs throughout the entire academic year. He said the council tries to plan one or two kick-off events during the fall semester.

“Last year we did a mandatory carnival night for (potential new members) and all chapters,” Tracy said. “It wasn’t terribly successful because people didn’t want to play carnival games.”

He said IFC decided to host a different event this year — watching a NFL football game in Lamberton Hall.

IFC chapters can take potential new members on trips, which would be considered a recruitment infraction for Panhellenic chapters.

Tracy said this system allows potential new members to get to know each other better, as well as create stronger, more cohesive bonds with their potential fraternity brothers.

Although potential new members of Panhellenic chapters cannot go on trips, they are given other opportunities to get to know sorority women. Brown said Panhellenic Meet and Greets allow students to get to know the different chapters in the council.

Potential new members of Panhellenic chapters are also assigned Rho Gammas, Panhellenic representatives who assist students through the formal recruitment process. Rho Gammas disaffiliate from their chapters during the fall semester and formal recruitment process.

Emily Passalaqua, ’20, applied to be a Rho Gamma to take a step back from Greek life.

“I chose to be a Rho Gamma this year because I know how difficult and stressful the process can be, and I think it’s great to have a Rho Gamma that’s there to listen,” Passalaqua said. “If there weren’t Rho Gammas, there would be a ton of unanswered questions, as potential new members can ask anything they want. In return, Rho Gammas are there to listen and be honest.”

For IFC recruitment, potential new members are assigned Brotherhood Recruitment Officers. Brown said these officers as less involved with the potential new members than Rho Gammas are, and are mostly there to provide basic information and move potential new members from place to place during the recruitment process.

Eliza Dent, ’19, the president of the Cultural Greek Council, said the CGC takes a different approach to its recruitment style.

“It’s nothing too formal,” Dent said. “It’s more of getting to know each other along with establishing a relationship to see if that person would be a good fit for your organization professionally and emotionally.”

The CGC is a smaller organization compared to the Interfraternity and Panhellenic councils, and doesn’t have a set time frame for formal recruitment.

“We personally invite young men and young women we are interested in and then if they are interested in joining our organization, members are able to join during both the fall and spring semesters,” Dent said.