A bench on campus has been chalked to encourage students to "Go Greek." (CU Independent/Ilana Finer)
The success of last year’s first fall recruitment is leading sororities to use the fall rush system once again.
With 877 students registered overall last year and 500 already registered this year, the sororities are hoping for another successful turnout.
During rush week potential candidates can rush for Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Phi, Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta and Pi Beta Phi.
“[Fall recruitment] is more successful because we can contact women earlier in their college experience,” said Courtney Krebs, the membership recruitment coordinator. “There is more time to build a relationship so the women can get acclimated [to the sororities]. Numbers are always better in the fall than in the spring.”
Rush week kicks off for the CU’s National Panhellenic sorority chapters on Friday, Oct. 2 and ends on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
The deadline for registration is midnight on Thursday, Oct. 1, and is available online on the CU Boulder Greek Life Web site.
Rush Week opens with convocation on Oct. 2 and continues with three datebook nights, preference night and bid night. The first datebook is an open house and is then followed by the themed philanthropy and skit datebooks.
For the final round, Preference Night, the candidates attend a special ceremony for a maximum of three chapters.
On Bid Day, the last day of Rush Week, the candidates find out which sorority they have been invited to join.
Some students on campus say they feel rushing would be a fun part of the college experience and introduce them more into the college environment.
“I think [joining a sorority] would be a fun way to meet new people,” said Lindsay Baum, a 17-year-old business major. “It’s a good community to be involved with and you get friends for life.”
Eighteen-year-old Molly Herwehe, a fellow business major agrees.
“A lot of my friends joined sororities and they enjoyed their experience,” Herwehe said.
According to CU Boulder’s Greek Life Web site, the sororities maintain a higher collective GPA than the overall women’s undergraduate average. Each chapter also has an average grade requirement of at least a 2.5 for joining.
While the GPA requirement is not enforced during Rush Week, candidates with below average GPAs have lower chances of receiving a bid.
According to Krebs, each house conveys service through the chapters’ chosen philanthropy with fundraisers and projects throughout the year. Through these and other events, the members are given leadership opportunities all the while developing a bond with their sisters in a caring environment.
“The most important thing is that they are committed to the community and to making a contribution,” Krebs said.
For more information about Rush Week and Greek Life, check out http://www.colorado.edu/greeks/.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Rose Heaphy at Josephine.heaphy@colorado.edu.
