As the Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils host formal sorority and fraternity recruitment this week, hundreds of freshmen will receive bids to join Greek organizations.
It is no secret that sorority and fraternity commitments take up a large part of a student’s time. This intensive commitment may be the reason there is a lack of athletes, ROTC members and band members involved in Greek life.
“There weren’t any athletes in my pledge class,” said Kelle Esherick, senior hospitality management major and former Kappa Alpha Theta. “I don’t think people usually do both.”
She mentioned that despite the lack of athletes in her pledge class, the sorority definitely looked for people who were well rounded and involved in the school and community.
Junior Phi Kappa Psi and ROTC Army member Andrew Mann said he doesn’t think his involvement with both ROTC and Greek life benefited or hurt him in any way during recruitment.
However, Mann, a junior criminal justice major, did say that his dual involvement makes things a bit more stressful for him.
“This past week I missed part of rush because of ROTC, and in the past I’ve had to miss things because I had to drill for the National Guard.”
Mann maintained that when it comes down to it, ROTC comes first.
Junior exercise science major Taylor Irby, track and field high jumper and member of the Kappa Delta sorority, said she feels she has more stress than the average student.
“It’s pretty frustrating sometimes when I’m sitting in class and hear people talk about being tired or stressed,” she said. “I wouldn’t want it any other way. I love track and my team and I love my sorority sisters.”
Irby and Mann both encourage students with other commitments to still go through recruitment.
Mann said there are benefits of being dually involved. He gets to spend time with different people with different goals and attitudes. He did mention that other students should first consider their schedules to decide if they can do both activities.
Ole Miss Assistant Director of Bands Randy Dale, a 2001 graduate, said that when he was a student, the pressure of involvement in multiple campus organizations greatly affected his decision not to rush.
He said being in band or similar activities allows students to feel that joining a fraternity or sorority is unnecessary.
“Talk to other students who have done it first,” Dale said. “Get an idea and feel out what you’ll be doing. Sometimes students don’t realize the commitments that you take on until it’s time for midterms.”
