More than 200 University of Memphis students participated inthis year's Greek recruitment week, taking advantage of theopportunity to meet new people, Greek officials said.
"If you do not know anyone at the start of school, this is agood chance to meet a lot of other freshmen as well asupperclassmen," said David Driscoll, Interfraternity Council vicepresident of recruitment.
A total of 119 women received bids for the seven Women'sPanhellenic Council sororities at the end of the recruitment week,Sept. 21. The IFC's 10 fraternities recruited 147 men duringinformal summer recruitment and formal fall recruitment during theweek of Sept. 2.
Each night of rush week focused on a different aspect of eachsorority and what role membership plays in someone's life, saidParice Tyler, Greek Affairs advisor for the InterfraternityCouncil.
"I believe that even if students do not bid (on a sorority orfraternity), they acquire new friendships... throughout the week,they meet so many new people that are also nervous and excited andgo into the experience with similar interests," Tyler said.
Tyler said each day of recruitment worked up to the final night,Preference Night, in which participants narrowed their decisions totwo mutual choices.
Driscoll said Preference Night within the IFC included theparticipant's top three choices, and the final decisions occurredon Saturday morning when each chapter passed out bids.
The other nights of sorority recruitment included details abouteach sorority's philanthropy as well as involvement in othercommunity and campus activities.
"We are definitely interested in increasing our recruitmentnumber and in getting more quality students who are interested ingiving back to the community, serving others and who want to be apart of a true brotherhood or sisterhood organization," Tylersaid.
Tyler said the quota for WPC sororities is currently 18 for eachsorority. The IFC does not have a specific quota for eachfraternity, but its goal was to reach 150.
Driscoll said each night of recruitment involved participantsmeeting with members of different chapters.
"Throughout my Greek affairs experience, when students becomeaffiliated, one of the reasons they stay in school is due to thesupport and motivation from the Greek system...It also buildsleadership and gives students opportunities to gain experience,"Tyler said.
Tyler said the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) differs fromIFC and WPC in recruitment times and processes. Its recruitmentinvolves three main components: the orientation period, initiationand education program.
Each organization makes its own guidelines and principles forthe Membership Intake Process.
