Secrets of pledging a sorority

Nicole Gordon, Chiara Brunori and Swee Shankar hurried down Liacouras Walk at 4:50 on Monday, Sept. 23, nervously chatting to one another. The three freshmen were on their way to the first sorority recruitment meeting.

“I’m really excited, but at the same time, nervous, and a little scared that the girls won’t like me,” said Shankar, a business major.

Temple’s three National Pan-Hellenic sororities hold a weeklong recruitment for potential members during the fall semester each year. During this time, the girls should be able to get a feel for which sorority would best fit them. And before the first meeting, the potential members have no idea what to expect.

“I really have no idea what it will be like,” said freshman nursing major Francy Colmenares.

So sophomore Elle Crofton sought to find out.

“I just came to check it out and see if it’s something for me,” said Crofton, an elementary and early education and dance double major who became a new member of Phi Sigma Sigma on Saturday. “I think it’ll be fun, I’ve never heard anything negative about it.”

Each night of recruitment began with a meeting with five to 10 other girls and a current sorority sister, who was there to help answer any questions, and assist the girls in making their decisions. This member kept it a secret which sorority she was in, so she could give the potential members an unbiased view.

After that, the girls would go to three “parties” in turn – one for Delta Zeta, Phi Sigma Sigma and Alpha Epsilon Phi. There they would have a chance to chat with members from each sorority and judge which sorority was a good fit for them.

“I think what we’re looking for is someone in good academic standing, who has strong leadership skills, and that’s interested in making an impact on their community,” said Emily Toigo, a senior English major who couldn’t reveal which sorority she’s in.

Midway through the week, the potential members had to choose which two of the three sororities they wanted to pursue. By this time, the girls had spent more than eight hours learning about each sorority.

“I knew which one I wanted the first day of recruitment,” said freshman public relations major Sydney Rubin. “When I went into Phi Sigma Sigma’s room, I just got this feeling, and knew it was the one for me.”

Freshman public relations major Natalie Shaffer added: “When it came down to choosing between two it was difficult, but the girls in Delta Zeta seemed just like me. One girl in particular I like, fell in love with. On Preference Night, I actually cried in the Delta Zeta room, and I just knew where I belonged.”

The feelings seemed to go both ways, as most girls were very happy with the bids they received.

“The first night I was invited back to all three sororities, but I declined one with interest because I did not feel a strong connection as I had with the other two,” said freshman strategic and organizational communications and public relations major Jade Barnes.

Come “bid day,” the girls were able to rank which sorority they would most like to be apart of, and then were offered bids, usually their first choice. Following the ceremony, the new members were immediately immersed in their chosen sisterhood.

“Since becoming a new member I’ve been learning about Greek life,” Shaffer said. “We also got Turtle Pals, which is a sister we can talk to and who can help us really get into Delta Zeta.”

Becca Bleznak can be reached at rebecca.bleznak@temple.edu