My fourth and final recruitment process was seen through the eyes of a “Pi Chi” within the Greek neutral system. I both stood on the outer edges of recruitment, and carved a path through it. I enjoyed serving as a neutral leader for the women who went through recruitment this year, and the process reiterated to me that there are fantastic women in each and every organization at Emory.
Sorority recruitment’s biggest claim to fame this year was its delay: due to weather conditions that rocked Atlanta so badly that Emory’s campus was closed for a week straight, sorority recruitment began one week after it was originally scheduled. While the delay was perhaps a bit of a sigh for some women looking to go ahead and jumpstart recruitment, it ultimately proved to be a wise decision, despite the extra week of strict silence during which women in sororities and potential new members are not to speak to each other by any means. Deliveries of bid day sweatshirts, foodstuffs, and recruitment items could arrive on time, and women who were snowbound in cities across the United States had no extra stress in returning to Emory.
Greek Life at Emory University is more than an ABC family television show and an occasional overdone themed party in a dirty house. Emory’s Greek community has the highest GPA in North America (that includes Canadian chapters) and regularly raises thousands of dollars for their respective philanthropies each year. Individuals join for so many reasons, whether they are looking for fraternity and friendship, more structured social outings, leadership positions, or just having something else to do. After four years at Emory, I have to say that joining the Greek community was a great decision, and one that I will always remember fondly, through the energy of rush and all the ups and downs. Of course, the process is a different experience for each and every woman; it is both personal and impersonal, fun and boring, exciting and tiring. The experience is truly individualistic for every girl.
In the end, Greek Life and Recruitment provoke a variety of dissenting opinions from a variety of students. In any event, Emory University is lucky to have a Greek Life that produces positive results and (generally) stays out of trouble. Its inclusiveness is reflective in the diverse and engaging student population of Emory. And while the process of becoming Greek is a long one, full of wide smiles and trying conversation, the end result is certainly worth it. Congratulations to all those women who are new members of sororities this year. And for those who chose to forgo Greek Life, keep being awesome. Lucky for us, Emory is full of kids who work hard and play hard, and this shared mentality extends across the entire campus.