Phi Mu girls fill the door of their sorority house as they cheer to the visiting potential new members.
Photo by Katie Williamson
In case you haven’t noticed, Greek recruitment at The University of Mississippi is a serious thing. Friendships are created and tested, sleep and time are rare and precious commodities, and the stress is endless for freshmen.
Of course, fraternities and sororities do things differently.
In line with the Greek system’s overall refresh, the Ole Miss Interfraternity Council has made two significant changes to the recruitment process this year.
According to Council President Gabe Labonia, recruitment is split into two different weekends as opposed to the Wednesday-Sunday schedule seen in years past to reduce the effects of recruitment on grades and more evenly spread the time invested.
Round one was held last weekend, and rounds two and three will be held this weekend, Oct. 5-6, with bid day on Sunday.
The second major change is an academic requirement: If potential new member of a fraternity has fewer than 12 completed college hours, his cumulative high school GPA must be 2.5 or greater.
Labonia said he believes these changes have improved the overall experience.
“There are over a thousand men signed up for formal recruitment this year, and things are going great thus far,” Labonia said.
Sororities do not have a GPA requirement for recruitment, nor is their recruitment split into two weekends. According to the Panhellenic Society website, young women experience recruitment in one full week of activities, starting on Oct. 1 and ending on Oct. 6. Those six days contain three rounds: Philanthropy, Skit and Preference. Bid day is Oct. 6.
The moods of freshmen participating in both fraternity and sorority recruitment generally fall between nervous and excited.
Freshman biochemistry major Blake Sowers appreciates the laid-back atmosphere of fraternity recruitment.
“We all just get to hang out and act pretty casual through the whole thing,” Sowers said. “Recruitment is going well, but it’s definitely a long process. As tiring as it is, it’s still a lot of fun at the end of the day.”
Freshman international studies major Elizabeth Romary has enjoyed visiting the sorority houses and meeting active members.
“I can tell that the sororities are just as excited for recruitment as we are,” Romary said. “Everyone is so friendly and welcoming.”
