Potential new sorority members whispered outside the University Ballroom while they waited for philanthropy night during the second day of the Women's Panhellenic Council (WPC) Recruitment Week.
"Are ya'll excited?" Sigma Kappa Lindsey Donovan asked as she tried to pump up the nervous crowd.
Freshman nursing major Amy Cain stood off in the distance.
"It's a lot to take in," she said. "There are a lot of girls to meet and a lot of things to see."
Sept. 7 marked the start of WPC Recruitment Week, which culminated Sunday with Bid Day. More than 200 girls, mostly freshmen, participated in the five-day process that featured four parties. WPC sororities are traditionally white groups, but have diverse membership. Traditionally black sororities (Pan-Hellenic Council) will recruit later in the year.
Potential new members of Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Gamma Delta, Delta Gamma, Kappa Delta, Phi Mu, Pi Beta Phi and Sigma Kappa attended the different parties and theme nights to get to know each chapter and see which one they liked best.
On Wednesday each chapter showed a short video highlighting what they do throughout the year. Thursday potential new members made school boxes, flowerpots and other crafts for philanthropy night. At Friday's parties, 15-20 minute skits were performed by each sorority.
Greek advisor Whitney Rice organized the entire process. Rice said she's been planning all summer to make sure potential sorority members are at the right place at the right time.
"Philanthropy and skits provide some type of entertainment," Rice said. "It's pretty intense for a week."
During preference night Saturday, potential members narrowed down the sororities to their top two choices and spent an hour with each chapter. This helps potential members make up their minds about which sorority would fit them best.
"As soon as you walked in the room, you could feel that they (the Sigma Kappa members) had a family bond," said Meagan Albritton, who accepted a bid from Sigma Kappa.
Sororities use a mutual selection process to determine who goes to which sorority. And computers match up those going through recruitment process with a sorority, based on the preferences of both students and sororities.
"It's all a numbers game," said Erin Griffin, president of the WPC. "Some will leave, and some won't go all the way."
"We probably have 85-90 percent retention," she said.
For the women who get in sororities, it's about academics, community service, leadership and sisterhood, Griffin said.
"We're pushing these women to better themselves in school," Griffin said. "There's a place for everyone to do their own thing."
As the WPC Recruitment Week came to an end Sunday, the jitters felt earlier in the week subsided.
Freshman elementary education major Katie Milford said she met so many girls during the last week who she can now call her sisters.
"I don't know if I can even put into words what I felt when I walked through the Alpha Gam door other than I just felt at home," she said.
