With recruitment quickly approaching, a team of sisters from various chapters are gearing up to show everyone interested the upside of going greek.

The four sisters, from various unnamed chapters, have made stops at Lawrinson, Brewster-Boland, Flint and Watson residence halls during the past week to introduce groups of women to the processes of recruitment. They were in both Haven and Shaw residence halls Wednesday.

‘For me, joining the greek community was instant involvement,’ said Jackie Keyes, a senior anthropology and history major. ‘You become really close friends with everyone.’

Keyes will participate as a Rho Chi, or guide, for a group of girls throughout the recruitment phases. During recruitment, Rho Chis are not affiliated with their chapters, so not to create bias from one to another.

Jen Hotsko, who is the recruitment co-chairwoman for Panhellenic Council led the meeting and tried to put as positive a face on greek life as possible.

‘We just want to get the word out, let people know that greek life is actually like, not what they see on TV,’ Hotsko said.

Hotsko guided the group through the three phases they will have to go through should they choose to sign up. The first phase is spread over four days as the girls visit the houses of all 13 chapters. Hotsko cautioned everyone about the strict rules involved in the phase, including not removing anything from any of the houses they visit, even tissue paper.

‘They can only serve you water and hot chocolate,’ Hotsko said. ‘But the hot chocolate is very good.’

During the second phase participants will be able to interact with current sisters on a more personal level as they participate in an arts and crafts session. Each girl will make a flowerpot or stuffed teddy bear to be donated to the New York City relief effort.

In the third phase, all the participants select three houses that they have narrowed down and rank them one through three. This determines what chapter they will join when the sororities choose who they will admit.

Kate Santangelo, an undecided freshman in The College of Arts and Sciences, said that the meeting broke down negative stereotypes. She will probably sign up for recruitment when it begins, she added.

Hotsko said that when they are chosen by a sorority they would be put through an alcohol-free rush. The rule was put in place not only to avoid cases of hazing, but also because most freshman participants are less than 21 years old, she added.

‘It is not only a Panhel rule, it is the law,’ Hotsko said. ‘Not that we always follow the law, but we always follow Panhel rule.’

The sign-up session begins Nov. 26 and costs $25 per person. The goal for this year’s recruitment attendance is 700, Hotsko said.

Wendy Sikorski, a Rho Chi and sophomore speech communications major, warned the crowd against dismissing going greek because of a fear of lack of time.

‘When I first came here I said to myself that I wanted to take a break,’ Sikorski said. ‘I was so bored by mid-freshman year.’

Published on November 14, 2001 at 12:00 pm