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Formal recruitment is weeks away, but Greek Week is here. This week, fraternities and sororities have already begun to meet and lure new students into Pepperdine’s active Greek system.
Some recruitment selling points are that members of Pepperdine’s seven sororities and four fraternities annually participate in school-wide events, such as Songfest and Step Forward Day. In addition, each group helps support their own philanthropy or charity by participating in fundraising activities throughout the year.
“It’s a great way to meet people. I wasn’t personally interested in sororities at first, but now look at me,” Diana Hernandez, vice president of social outreach for Panhellenic, said.
Hernandez works as one of the recruitment counselors, which are sorority members who disaffiliate from their sororities to guide potential new members during recruitment.
Hernandez said that, although recruitment (formerly called Rush Week) begins in a few weeks, she suggests that those interested attend Greek Week events like the Greek Barbecue.
While the barbecue is not a required part of formal recruitment for the university’s fraternities and sororities, it is an informal event for those interested in the Greek system to meet members and each other.
Members of Pepperdine’s Greek system say they want the atmosphere of recruitment to be inclusive and as free from stereotypes as possible. In a sorority recruitment packet handed out at the barbecue students are informed that “There is no way a stereotype can encompass every single person, which is why it is a stereotype … we strongly recommend attending the Informal Recruitment events … and approaching recruitment with an open mind.”
“We’re really excited about it. We want everyone to get out there and get involved,” Jon Crabtree, rush chair of Sigma Chi fraternity, said Pi Beta Phi’s President, Emily Samuel agreed.
“It’s a great way for anyone to get involved,” Samuel said.
Freshmen on campus interested in taking part in Pepperdine’s Greek system are also excited about the opportunities presented by fraternities and sororities on campus.
“It’s pretty sweet,” freshman Michael Rennaker said, “There’s free food, laser tag and other stuff. Joining is about brotherhood, plus there’s free stuff involved.”
Other informal events include sorority smoothies on Tuesdayand an orientation in the Caf the next day.
“I really liked the energy of the barbecue, and how nice everyone was,” Bridget Nielsen said. Nielsen said she looks forward to making friends within a sorority and participating in philanthropic projects.
New to this year’s festivities will be an “Elimi-Greek” game, in which members of each group will compete within their fraternities and sororities.
Members will be required to wear certain items each day to be safe from elimination by other members.
Formal recruitment will take place from Sept. 21 through Sept. 26 and will include philanthropy night, where groups talk about their chosen philanthropy,open-house nights and video night.
Submitted 09-08-2005
MALIBU, CA
